Is There A Doctor In The House?

Quick! Quick!!! somebody find a doctor .... its mid-February and predictably every MWEHL U-16 team is stricken with the "Disease of Me".

Symptoms of the "Disease of Me" are easy to spot and include (but are not necessarily limited to) the following:

(a) Swollen sense of entitlement to more ice time.

(b) Extreme cravings for more recognition from scouts and recruiters.

(c) Attention deficit disorder towards team goals and achievement.

(d) Paranoia of conjured-up conspiracies and hidden agendas.

(e) Uncontrollable urges to point fingers and cast blame.

While the "Disease of Me" unfortunately cannot be cured completely it must be treated agressively and contained.

Last season's Belle Tire U-16 Team won both the Michigan State and USA Hockey National Championships because co-coaches Rob Smith and Kyle Krug did the best job treating and containing the "Disease of Me".

Nothing has changed in 2008. Plain and simple .... the coaches who do the best job playing doctor and contain the "Disease of Me" as it rampantly spreads across their team will have the most successful team at the end of the season.

But, as with all other medical conditions, no treatment of the "Disease of Me" can be rendered effectivley by any doctor-coach until his patients first acknowledge they have a problem .... and want help.