life lessons on a hockey rink...

Last night, on our way home from hockey camp, I had a chance to talk to our 12 year old son, Noah, without all of the other distractions of the day as it was just the two of us. We were talking about the new goalie coach our new association had brought in to work with the kids (and who would most likely end up being his head coach for the season). We were discussing the approach this young man was taking with the kids and how he was telling my son "Boy, you just don't get it do you, you just can't do it right.". The thing is, my son was purposefully taking a stance in how he was taught one method for the past three years and suddenly this new young coach was trying to train him in a different style of play, one he had been specifically taught not to do. My son was physically saying "I don't think so" as his verbal requests to discuss these coaching differences went unheeded. My son had been instructed by the coach he has been training with and following for the last three years, a coach who has been coaching D1 college goalies who have gone onto the NHL for twice as long as this new coach has even been alive, and by his parents to say no thank you to some well intended coaches who don't truly know the position. He tried to pay attention to this young new coach, to be respectful and to follow his instructions, but also not change his style and what he had been previously taught as it works well for him. But it is a touchy situation. As those of you who have been involved in sports know, coaches have a certain power over you and when they cannot see outside of their little box, life can be very difficult. We want our son to be respectful, follow his coach's direction and to work his butt off for the team. However, sometimes you need to say "no" to misinformed but well intentioned people and do it your own way. What is the best way to approach this? Our son does not want conflict but was getting very tired of getting yelled at and I don't blame him. My husband will try speaking with this young coach tonight, coach to coach, and I'm praying it goes well as last night it did not go well when another coach tried helping out a goalie. I told my son last night that I was proud of him and how he has handled the situation for the last two nights and that I know he will be strong and courageous in the remainder of his time with this new young coach. I know Noah will do the best job he can do while still being true to who he is. And that is all I could ever hope for.