life – John Johnson Does Stuff

Coaching Beyond the Rink: Year Two with the Twisters

We are a few weeks into this season, practices have been going amazingly, and I’m super excited about what is going on! This is my second year coaching in the Twisters Hockey League—and my second season stepping into the role of head coach for a team. Last Fall, I head-coached and assisted one of the other teams, and that head coach assisted me. We practiced together, but this season, I’m completely on my own as a head coach (Kinda, I’ve got a lot of support when I need it)

That might not sound like a long time, but it’s been long enough to realize something important:

Coaching kids ages 5–12 isn’t just about hockey.

It’s not just about running drills, teaching positioning, or improving passing and shooting. Those things matter, sure—but at this age, they’re not the main thing.

At this age, it’s about building a love for the game.
It’s about learning sportsmanship.
It’s about developing life skills that go far beyond the rink.

And if we get that part right, the hockey will follow.

Rethinking What Practice Looks Like

This season, I’ve been intentional about changing how I approach practice.

Instead of jumping straight into drills, I’m setting aside the first 10–15 minutes for something more foundational: life development.

We talk about effort—not just when it’s easy, but when it’s hard.
We talk about being a good teammate—encouraging others, not tearing them down.
We talk about handling mistakes, respecting others, and showing up with the right attitude.

Because the truth is, these kids are learning how to be people just as much as they’re learning how to play hockey.

If they leave the season with better character, stronger confidence, and a deeper understanding of how to treat others, that’s a win—no matter what the scoreboard says.

The Responsibility of a Coach

Coaching at this level carries a responsibility that goes far beyond the whistle.

These kids are always watching.

They notice how I respond when things go wrong.
They hear how I talk about referees, opponents, and even other coaches.
They pick up on whether I lead with patience or frustration.

Being a coach means being a role model—whether you intend to be or not.

So if I’m asking them to:

Show respect
Give full effort
Support their teammates

…then I have to model those things first.

Because more is caught than taught.

Raising Up the Next Leader

One of the things I’m most excited about this season has nothing to do with systems or drills—it’s about people.

I brought on a teenage assistant coach who plays in the older league.

She loves the game, understands it well, and, more importantly, she wants to invest in the next generation. She told me that when she ages out as a player, she hopes to come back and coach in the league someday.

My response?

Why wait?

So this season, I’m giving her 10 minutes during each practice to run her own drill. Not just help. Not just observe. Lead.

Because leadership isn’t something you magically step into one day—it’s something you develop over time.

This is about raising up young leaders.
It’s about giving responsibility, not just instruction.
It’s about trusting someone enough to let them grow, even if it’s not perfect.

And honestly, the kids love it. They connect with her in a unique way, and she’s already growing in confidence as a leader.

If we want strong leaders in the future, we have to start developing them now.

From Pastor to Coach

This shift in how I coach has also reminded me a lot of my time serving as a pastor.

When I was in that role, it was clear what the calling was: care for people, guide them, help them grow. It was structured, it was visible, and yes—it was a little bit of a paid position.

But over time, I’ve come to understand something deeper:

Pastoring isn’t just a job. It’s a posture.

It’s how you lead people.
It’s how you show up in their lives.
It’s how you take responsibility for their growth and well-being.

And that doesn’t stop when you leave a church role.

Now, instead of a congregation, I have a group of young hockey players. Instead of a pulpit, I have a bench. Instead of sermons, I have short conversations before practice.

But the heart is the same.

Care for people.
Be present.
Help them grow.

Coaching Like Jesus (Without Preaching)

This isn’t a faith-based league. I’m not there to teach Scripture or lead Bible studies during practice.

But that doesn’t mean faith is absent from what I’m doing.

Because all truth is God’s truth.

When I’m teaching kids to:

Put others first
Stay humble in success
Persevere through challenges
Treat others with kindness and respect

…I’m reinforcing truths that are deeply rooted in Scripture, even if I never quote a verse.

Jesus led by example.
He met people where they were.
He taught in ways they could understand.
He cared deeply about individuals.

That’s the model I want to follow.

So coaching like Jesus, in this context, looks like:

Choosing patience over frustration
Encouraging instead of criticizing
Correcting with care, not anger
Seeing each kid as more than just a player

I may not be preaching from the rink, but I can still reflect Christ in how I lead.

More Than a Season

At the end of the day, this season isn’t just about wins and losses.

It’s about impact.

It’s about the kid who learns to keep going after failure.
It’s about the teammate who starts encouraging others instead of staying quiet.
It’s about the young leader stepping up and realizing, “I can do this.”

And it’s about continuing to grow myself—not just as a coach, but as someone called to lead, serve, and invest in others.

I’ll be sharing more of these lessons throughout the season on the blog—both the successes and the things I’m still learning along the way.

Because this journey isn’t just about developing hockey players.

It’s about developing people.

And that’s a mission worth showing up for every single practice.

Keep my team in your prayers as we grow together

Father God,

Thank you for the opportunity to coach and lead these kids. I ask that we have a great year of growing together. Please be with them and me as we continue to grow, please give me the wisdom and discernment to lead them in a way that is according to your will.

Recently, I found myself on the receiving end of a copyright infringement claim from a third-party copyright compliance company* over a photo I had used in a cybersecurity blog post involving Charlie Kirk and the rise of cyber attacks that would follow his death. I typically don’t use photos that are not Creative Commons license, and I didn’t double-check myself and used the wrong picture. The settlement request was not asking for thousands of dollars, but still an amount that hurt. After speaking with a copyright attorney, who was surprised that they were going after me for a lower amount than she has seen before, I chose not to ignore it, fight aggressively, or hide — but instead to engage respectfully and negotiate.

In the end, they offered a good percentage reduction. I accepted it. Not because it was easy — but because it was right.

(*Note: part of my agreement is to keep the terms of the agreement confidentual so I have left out the company, the client, the amount, and the negotiation details. The facts, while they help build a great testimony, are not fully pertinent to the lesson of this post. I do not wish to breach my agreement, which may cause it to be disputed. Thanks for understanding.)

Owning the Mistake

The truth is simple: I used the wrong image unintentionally. There was no malice, no attempt to profit unfairly, just a mistake. But mistakes still carry consequences.

Integrity means acknowledging when you’re wrong, even when it costs you. It means resisting the urge to justify, deflect, or minimize. I pleaded my case honestly — explaining the public-service nature of my cybersecurity work — but I also accepted responsibility.

That balance matters: honesty without excuse, accountability without defensiveness.

Confronting Confrontation (A Cultural Struggle)

While researching this situation with the legitimacy of this copyright claim, this company, the tactics and aggression they used, I noticed a pattern in many people who have encountered them

Some people immediately wanted to trash the company first without really looking at the options.
Others went a different direction to avoid, hide, or hope it would disappear. To just bury their head in the sand and pretend the confrontation did not happen.

From a person looking into this, the recommendationsthat were being suggested seemed like they didn’t play out in most people’s favor and just escalated the issues. It also painted these people in a not-so-pretty light.

There were very few that encouraged calm, civil engagement.

Honestly, that reflects a broader cultural issue. We don’t handle confrontation well. We either escalate it or evade it. Yet growth, reconciliation, and wisdom often live right in the middle — in respectful dialogue.

Scripture reminds us:

“Blessed are the peacemakers.” — Matthew 5:9

Peacemaking isn’t passive. It often requires stepping into uncomfortable conversations with humility and courage.

Civility, Diplomacy, and Grace

Throughout the process, I intentionally kept communication polite and diplomatic. I explained my ministry-style cybersecurity focus, my desire to educate and protect people, and my lack of intent to misuse anyone’s work. (I’m an artist, my wife does photography. Take care of your artists.)

And to their credit, grace was shown. The reduction wasn’t required — it was extended. That reminded me that civility often invites civility in return.

Another verse that stayed with me:

“A gentle answer turns away wrath.” — Proverbs 15:1

That proved true here.

Accountability Still Matters

Grace doesn’t erase responsibility. I still had to make it right financially. Accepting consequences is part of integrity.

That accountability is actually healthy. It sharpens our processes, reminds us to double-check sources, and encourages better stewardship of other people’s work.

As Paul wrote:

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart… as working for the Lord.” — Colossians 3:23

That includes blogging, media use, and ethical conduct online.

What I Took Away

Here’s what this experience reinforced for me:

Own mistakes quickly and honestly.
Don’t fear respectful confrontation.
Stay civil even when stressed.
Accept consequences with humility.
Leave room for grace — both giving and receiving it.

Final Reflection

This wasn’t a fun experience, but it was a refining one. Integrity is often proven not when things go right, but when they go wrong. Why even blog about this? Well…owning accountability and being transparent is something I value. I failed here, but I learned a lot in this process. Failure is not bad; it helps us grow, hiding from it keeps us complacent and prevents us from growth.

If you ever find yourself in a similar situation — legal, relational, or professional — remember: accountability and grace can coexist. And sometimes the strongest witness we have isn’t perfection… it’s how we respond when we fall short.

Tag: life