Coach Crazy

In 1980, the Soviet Union's Hockey team were the elite club in the entire world. The Russian were a "professional team" with significant experience in playing international hockey. They had won four previous gold medals dating back to the 1964 games and had gone 27-1-1 in those contests. No matter how teams tried to alter their style of play, the Russians were excellent in every facet of the game. Outscoring teams by 131 goals is proof of their domination. They had the best goalie (Vladislav Tretiak), the best right-winger (Boris Mikhailov) and the best defenseman. They had supreme talent at every position—four members of the team became members of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Not only were the Russians talented; the players were highly competitive, playing each game with significant effort and never taking an opponent lightly. They were the ultimate team: talented, hard-working, competitive, and able to handle game pressure.

The Americans, on the other hand, were a work in progress. We all know the story of how American head coach Herb Brooks selected the best team, not necessarily the best players. What often goes overlooked in the Miracle on Ice story is how Brooks devised a method of playing. He would give his team the best chance of winning—in fact, it might be the only chance of winning. Brooks decided to play a "European Style." Playing this way meant creating an emphasis on wide-open play, being willing to initiate contact and play extremely physical. After the American tied Norway 3-3 Brooks was angry with their conditioning and had them skate Herbies. A Herbie consisted of sprinting from end line to blue line and back, end line to redline and back then end line to far blue line and back, finishing with end line down and back in the arena after the game. The custodians wanted to go home after the game, so the Americans skated Herbies in the dark. Brooks knew the only way to play the European Style was for his players not be in excellent condition but "elite" form.

Two weeks earlier on February 9, 1980, in an exhibition game in front of a sold-out Madison Square Garden, the Russians beat the Americans 10-3. During this rematch, the Russians became frustrated by not immediately dominating the Americans. They started to panic. In the second period, Russian head coach Viktor Tikhonov became frustrated and pulled his Hall of Fame goaltender Vladislav Tretiak with his backup. Tretiak called his benching "Coach Crazy," and the rest is history.

The lesson for us all to learn does not come from the America side, but the Russians. When competing against a lesser team, never panic because the results are not immediate. No one can beat anyone at a high level in anything in the first five minutes. In any business, we cannot allow the need for quick results to force us to make changes—players and workers can sense panic. They can sense despair. Who wins the marathon after the five-minute mark? Who gains a bonus after one week? No one. Coach and teach length, coach to the end, and behave as you coach.

How often have you violated the farmer's golden rule? Never dig up a crop to see if the roots are taking shape. Be patient, be strong, and know that your preparation will allow you to win when the game matters most—in the last few minutes.

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