When I started truly playing this game in grade 7, and gave up the NHL dream (which I wasn’t very close to btw), I started a journey which has challenged me and helped me grow. I have learned from my formal education at all levels, however in every journey we learn more through our experiences and interactions with others than we do in a classroom.

This is a page of gratitudes. Each person on this page has done so much for me and one page will not do it justice. This is by no means a complete list. The people here and so many others have had an influence on what I do in the game. Fortunately, for my development, the list keeps growing. For example, the 100+ books on coaching, teaching, leadership and management should all be listed as we take pieces from everything and turn it into our own.

First, my family deserve the credit for supporting my journey (obsession perhaps) that started in grade seven. From my parents and siblings to my patient wife Riki and understanding children Jamie and Ryan.

COAXING was a term I had heard Stephen Hart use when instructing coaching courses for coaches who worked with players at this level back in the late 1980’s. Joel MacDonald and I used this reference and began building booklets for coaches at u5-u9 when we worked together at Halifax City Wanderers SC (Halifax, Nova Scotia) in the mid 1990’s.  Since that time, I have been able to modify and build upon our work and have shared this with coaches/teachers in Nanaimo BC, Parksville BC, Powell River BC, Comox BC, Grand Forks ND, Missoula MT, and Victoria BC in a number of different Coaxing clinics. I am sure Joel did the same on his travels.

Next, my network of “good fortune”, or influences is larger than the list below. We acquire things from everyone we meet in life. As Daniel Coyle wrote: Tip #3 “Steal Without Apology”. No apologies but certainly I can’t go without giving credit for the lessons and opportunities within education and within the game (in alphabetical order).

Istvan Balyi, Wes Barrett, Kim Blake, Ian Bridge, Adrian Cahill, Candace Chapman, Angleo Cianfaglioni, ‘Coach’ Roy Clements, CJ Cooper, Camillo & Anna DiQuinzio, Costa Elles, Joshua Hart, Stephen Hart, Linda Hawthorn, John Herdman, Dwight Hornibrook, Brian Hughes, Ian Kent, Andrew Latham, Joey Lombardi, Joel Macdonald, Lois MacGregor, Bill Merriman, Jim Millinder, Angela Morrison, Tina Morse, Loralyn Murdoch, Lewis Page, William ‘Billy’ Patterson, Mick Pejic, Even Pellerud, Bev Priestman, Bryan Rosenfeld, Fabrizio Sani, Winter Sanor, Steve Simonson, Craig Smith, Trevor Smith, Blair Sturrock, Bill Thomson, Neil Turnbull, Peter Underwood, Corey Volk, Ken Wharton, John Walker, Richard Way, Peter Wicha, Bruce Wilson, Al Yarr & all of the teammates / players / coaches / teachers / administrators who have shared in some way throughout my journey.

For Peter, because we can always do better. Cheers.