January: Getting Through the Most Demanding Month of the Season

January came fast. The schedule fills up. Practices pile up. Games too. Not to mention tournaments. Almost every weekend (and many weeknights!), you’re at the rink.

The players come back from school tired. You too.

That’s the reality of January.
 

The January Trap
 

The trap at this point is often invisible.

You want to start strong after the holidays and take advantage of being back on the ice. You want to fix what wasn’t working before the break, and also keep moving forward with your season plan.
 

Why Overloading Happens
 

So, little by little, you add content. You stretch the drills. You talk a bit more. Without realizing it, you overload your practices.

Physically, the kids can still handle it. Mentally, much less.
 

The Real Risk in January
 

In January, the real danger isn’t the opponent. It’s wear and tear.

Energy is a limited resource. For the players and for the coaching staff too. Trust me - I’m speaking from experience.

Over time, I’ve learned that January isn’t the month to push harder. It’s the month to manage intelligently.

Less volume. More quality. Less—but better.
 

What Smarter January Coaching Looks Like
 

The first place where this management really happens is at practice. A lighter but active practice is often far more effective than a practice packed with two or three new concepts. When it comes to content, one or two priorities max. No more!

 

 

Don’t fall into the trap of saying, “Yeah, but I absolutely need to teach them the 2-3 press forecheck…”. Especially when you know your group is already tired, the schedule is heavy, and information is starting to pile up.

In January, more often than not, the solution isn’t adding systems or concepts. It’s reinforcing what’s already there.

Here’s a simple thing you can apply at your very next practice: choose one single priority, state it clearly at the start, and come back to it throughout the entire session.

Example: if your priority is the backcheck, say it as soon as the players step on the ice. Remind them before every drill. Correct it briefly during repetitions. Say the same message, using the same words for the entire practice. With only one priority in mind, players are far more likely to execute it properly.
 

Use CoachThem as a Support Tool
 

If you’re short on ideas or feel your practices are starting to get heavy, CoachThem can be a great support tool in January. You’ll find solid drills, small-area games, and clear teaching progressions from experienced coaches who understand the reality of busy schedules.

 

 

When the calendar is packed and your mental load is already high, CoachThem isn’t about adding more—it’s about saving time, simplifying your planning, and keeping your practices efficient without reinventing the wheel.

Sometimes, easing off the gas is a smart coaching decision. How I wish I would have done that a few times in the past… but I didn’t because I thought it was “soft”.

Being calm doesn’t mean being soft or accepting half-measures. It means managing energy properly, protecting your players, your staff, and the rest of the season.

The teams that arrive fresh in February are usually the ones that made the right choices in January.

So this week, take a moment to reflect.

• What could you remove from your practices?
• What could you adjust?
• What do you absolutely need to keep working on?

Ask yourself questions like:

• Do I really need to teach them a fifth option on an offensive zone faceoff, or would my time be better spent reinforcing the first four until they become very good at them?

More often than not, the best preparation isn’t doing more. It’s doing what you already do—but doing it better.

Bon coaching !
Coach Steve
 

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