ASU Women’s Hockey: The difficulties of coaching during a pandemic

(Photo: Reagan Smith/WCSN)

Coaching in 2020 has presented a set of challenges that have never been seen before.

There’s the unknown of when the next game or even the next practice will be. Who will test positive for COVID-19? Or, how an outbreak could affect their season?

These are all things out of a coach’s hands and cannot be totally controlled by the players, either.

 This set of problems is no different for the Arizona State Women’s hockey team who have some of the most unique challenges out of any program on campus. Because they are not part of the PAC-12, the team has not received the green light to start practicing or the rapid COVID-19 daily testing the PAC-12 has been implementing. They also don’t have a cemented schedule for the 2020-2021 season. 

 Nonetheless, head coach Lindsey Ellis and her coaching staff have been making the most of their precarious situation. In a year that has been difficult to map out a game plan, looking toward the future can be tough. 

 “You have goals and everything for the team, but when you’re not physically working toward them or our schedule’s not out, it’s hard to look forward when we’re still kind of at a halt,” Ellis said.

With a local recreation center back open, there is now a haven for the players to do their workouts together. Whether that be lifting weights or doing sprints on a treadmill. 

 Zoom workouts have also kept the team bonding together. Sophomore Abi McGee has hosted some of these meetings, according to teammate and junior forward Abby Steinman, where everyone does their exercise routines on camera.

 This time as a team is important, because this season likely won’t feature much travelling or time on the ice. They are also missing the presence of teammates who are out of state and are unable to join the team. This makes the Zoom meetings a unique chance to have most, if not all, the players in one setting. Something Steinman has missed the most during this pandemic.

 “In a time like this, it’s been a little bit difficult because hockey is all of our relief; Especially that we don’t have that outlet to go and travel away to different states with the team,” Steinman said.

 Assistant coach, Kenzie Lyons, who was added to the coaching staff this offseason, believes it’s all about the mindset of her players for preparation. Her job is to get the team prepared mentality before the season begins and be ready for what’s next.

 “They’re not just forgetting that ‘oh, pre-season hasn’t started yet’, we can’t be lazy, we’ve got to keep working for it,” Lyons said. “Because once the season does start and we do get confirmation that it is opening and we start practicing, that we’re not two steps behind. We want to be ahead of the team.”

 Communication is always key to any job. It’s even more crucial now to make sure the entire coaching staff is on the same page. 

 With so many unknowns it can be difficult to navigate and as a coach staff, keeping the players informed goes a long way.

 “Having the coaches make sure that the coaching communication is there, so we’re all in the same sync and all know what’s going on,” Lyons said. “As the girls look to us as the top leadership position, so having us stay positive and being focused is helping them stay positive and staying focused.”

 Goaltending coach Kaley Marino can be seen during a normal season helping her goaltenders practice hours on end. This year, that rhythm and timing cannot be solidified without time on the ice.

 With Jordan Nash-Boulden graduating, junior Macy Eide and freshman Hallie McClelland will look to fill the void in net. However, with McClelland being a freshman and Eide only playing in two games a season ago, practice would benefit both players tremendously. 

 Without that, learning the ins and outs of being a goaltender looks a bit different for coach Marino.

 “She [Marino] gives them different assignments; she has goalies do sessions where they go over different videos from the NHL and stuff to go over different techniques,” Ellis said. “Obviously, that is a position that you can’t just go out and stick handle and shoot pucks. You have to have someone else physically shooting on you to be able to practice. That’s super tough for them and Gibber [Marino] is doing the best she can with our situation.” 

 These challenges have brought the coaching staff closer together this year than any other as they try to find new ways to not only stay connected, but game ready as well.

Once a season does get established, every minute on the ice will be crucial to staying one step ahead of their opponent. 

 

 

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