The Leader’s Handbook – 2025 Edition

Whether you are a player, coach, executive, or parent, this short handbook is for anyone striving to be a strong and effective leader.

COMMITMENT

✔ I am one of the hardest workers on the team, setting the standard for effort and dedication.

✔ I care deeply about the team's success and do what it takes to contribute positively.

✔ I am a competitive person who strives for excellence every day, in every practice, game, and challenge.

CONFIDENCE

✔ I believe in myself and my abilities, and I inspire confidence in my teammates.

✔ I embrace pressure situations, knowing they bring out the best in me.

✔ I maintain a positive mindset, learning from mistakes and responding with resilience.

COMPOSURE

✔ I stay calm and focused in high-pressure moments, leading by example.

✔ I remain positive and solution-oriented when faced with adversity, obstacles, or distractions.

✔ I manage my emotions effectively, keeping frustration, anxiety, and anger in check to perform at my best.

FEEDBACK & COMMUNICATION

✔ I regularly encourage my teammates to be their best and contribute to a strong team culture.

✔ I am a unifying presence, helping to bring the team together and elevate our performance.

✔ I communicate with determination and optimism, especially in challenging moments.

✔ I give and receive constructive feedback with respect, knowing it helps us all improve.

MODELING EXCELLENCE

✔ I lead by example—my actions, attitude, and effort reflect what success looks like.

✔ I push myself to improve every day and inspire my teammates to do the same.

✔ I hold myself accountable to the highest standards, knowing my leadership impacts those around me.

🚀 Leadership in 2025 requires more than skill—it demands resilience, adaptability, and a team-first mindset. Be the leader your team needs.

Ed Garinger is a seasoned hockey coach, mentor, and educator with over two decades of experience. A native of the Bruce Peninsula, he played minor and junior hockey before earning his BA and BEd from Nipissing University, where he also competed in varsity volleyball and extramural hockey.

Coaching since age 14, Ed has balanced his teaching career with an extensive coaching and development portfolio, working with players at all levels. He has coached in the Provincial Junior Hockey League, led youth and high school teams, and served as a learning facilitator for the OMHA. His experience includes elite programs like the OHL/OHF U15 and U16 camps, U17 Regional Camps, and Hockey Canada’s Skills Academy.

A Hockey Canada HP1-certified coach, USA Hockey-certified coach, and Chartered Professional Coach (ChPC), Ed is committed to ongoing professional development and continually seeks to expand his knowledge to better serve players and coaches. Now based in Orillia, he enjoys passing on his passion for hockey to the next generation.