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// MAY 2024 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM
All kids learn differently. Some, pick up things extremely
quickly, while others might struggle to focus and follow instructions.
For Zack Nowak, working with youth with different learning needs
and teaching coaches how to coach these kids is a long-time passion.
Prior to joining USA Hockey as a coordinator of the coaching educa
-
tion, he was an intervention specialist, working with kids with different
needs and learning disabilities, and holds a degree in special education.
Nowak recently hosted a USA Hockey Podcast on the topic of Coaching
Kids with Different Learning Needs. He shares some insights on how coaches
can work with kids with learning disabilities and/or different learners.
ILLUSTRATION BY Michael Iver Jacobsen
COAC H I N G K I DS
W I T H D I F F E R E N T
L EA R N I N G N E E DS
Getting
Parents Involved
Getting parents involved is the top priority
when learning about their players.
" Pa r e n t s k n ow t h e i r k i d s b e st ," N owa k
said. "Some of the kids that have learning
disabilities in schools will likely have edu-
cation plans that best help these kids under-
stand certain aspects of education."
While it's not appropriate to ask parents
if a child has a learning disability, gaining
parents' input builds trust and opens lines of
communication. Nowak suggests sending out
a questionnaire for both parents and players,
so coaches can get a better understanding of
their players.
"Asking questions like how can I best help
you learn? What do you love about hockey?
When you're struggling, what do you think
about? When you're doing well, what do you
think about? What are things you like outside
of hockey?" Nowak said. "This is for the suc-
cess of the kid, but also parents will feel like
you as a coach are listening, you're invested
with the parent and kid."
"From there, the amount of interventions
that you do to help your kids be the best they
can be will expand."
By Michael Doyle
