Motivating everyone a juggling act for Keefe
TORONTO, Ont. — On a team that will range from teens to a 41-year-old, Sheldon Keefe will have to use every motivational trick in his coaching manual.
While impatient Leafs Nation is already wondering if the team can finally win a playoff round whenever the NHL is back, Keefe must get them there first. And post-season comments such as Mitch Marner saying he wasn’t engaged enough in Game 1 against Columbus underline Keefe’s challenge to read the various personalities on the team.
To that end, he has compiled a large volume of notations the past 15 years, to which everything from practice music to a night-time text to players are indexed.
“Motivation is a funny thing. It comes, it goes, it wavers,” Keefe told host Danielle Emanuele on Sunday during the Maple Leafs’ online Coaches Open House. “We try and really tap into the players. What’s their inspiration, their passion? Why have they committed their lives to hockey? It’s not just on the back of motivation, they must be truly inspired by something. As coach, it’s important to learn what that is.
“You’re constantly looking for a way to connect the day with a story line, what a game has to do with the standings, what occurred against that team previously. But not everyone will respond to a certain message. Some players want it very direct, good or bad. Some, you have to build up with positives first. Some want to see it on video. Some want to talk face-toface. Some are good with just shooting them a text message to think about as they’re going to bed.
“A lot of our job is to keep the fire burning. You have to find ways to change it up. The season is long or the team is tired. That’s when I’ll bring in music at practice or more competitive drills, to get them moving.”
But he doesn’t pretend to have all the answers.
“In some cases, they’ll respond better to one of our assistant coaches or (general manager) Kyle Dubas, maybe a teammate. I might send them to the gym or strength coach and trust their expertise. Maybe they have to work on their own mental side. Sometimes (players) have great suggestions, sometimes they’re off-base.
“It’s very personal. You can’t have just one communication style.”
COMPETE, FOR PETE’S SAKE
Keefe says his time spent at the Seattle Seahawks training camp in 2019 made a huge impression on his coaching ethos. He’d read up on their leader, Pete Carroll, and was granted observer status and two 45-minute audiences in his office.
“Pete has a two-word philosophy: ‘Always compete’. The way he defines it is not just about competing against other people, it’s competing with yourself, to always be evolving, seeking to improve. There are lots of layers you can add to that, always competing to push your teammates, challenge your opponents and give yourself an edge.
“The dynamics of an NFL team have always fascinated me. I was fortunate to be inside with Pete and see what ‘always compete’ looks like on the field. The Seahawks have 28 coaches and their staff meetings are massive. It’s not so much coaching the players; it’s coaching the coaches and organizing them … I was fascinated with how they co-ordinate and execute all of that.”