Page 83 of Pucking Obsessed

Don’t say anything. Don’t say anything. Don’t say…

“You don’t need to threaten him to get results,” I burst out.

Fuck the no comment rule. Fuck not back talking.

Colton is trying to destroy me. He’s getting at Shay to do it. At least I can tell Colton what I think about his coaching techniques.

I wish that I could tell all coaches, including my ones at college.

“Stop being a snowflake.” Colton studies Shay, as Shay hits his first goal into the net with a stunningly accurate shot. Colton doesn’t shout any encouragement or praise. Of course not. Shay hesitates like he’s waiting…hoping for it…but then continues, lining up for the next shot. “I’ve been using physical, conditioning consequences for years. It’s effective at focusing players. Who is the coach here? My methods work.”

When Shay misses the next shot, he flinches.

But then, he obediently begins to skate the punishment laps.

“It makes players more stressed and anxious, which is bad for performance,” I reply, icily. “It tires them out and it wastes practice time.”

Colton reddens in rage. “You always do this. Who do you think you are, captain? I offer every bit of advice and trainingthat I can, but you know that I don’t accept whiners. I’m the coach. This is how I was trained. It never hurt me.”

“Tradition, huh?” I reply, dryly. “And nothing that our parents or teachers did in the past was ever wrong. There’s never a point that we should be the ones to break the cycle.”

“Listen to yourself. You’re a joke.”

My gaze darts to Shay.

He skates toward the goal with the puck. His shot is dazzling, hitting the side of the post on the corner and spinning into the back of the net.

I’m going to bite him on his nipple and make him scream in just the way he loves for that one.

“A joke is focusing on the punishment and not the reward,” I reply. “You don’t see professional archers being forced to do push-ups because they miss the target. We should spend the time on the skill that we need improving, you know, repetition.”

Colton really is Stick no Carrot.

Shay shoots and scores again.

I smile, knowing that he’s putting in the effort for his reward later and not out of the fear of the consequences from Colton.

It’s the same result that I’ve found with the other subs.

I may have only played with them for one day or night but it would have been my failing, if I’d needed to force them to submit to my orders through fear of punishment.

I didn’t want to make them stressed or anxious but rather, mindless with pleasure.

I motivate with rewards and not threats.

Of course, my contracts with Robyn and Shay do include discipline but that’s different.

It suits our dynamics for me to hold the control.

So far, the most discipline I’ve needed is to order Shay to clean the kitchen, as a consequence for leaving jam smeared over the counters.

I couldn’t resist going over and cleaning the kitchen myself afterwards.

I probably disciplined myself more than Shay.

When Shay becomes too hyper, breaks shit, or clearly needs to get out his energy, I send him on runs or do the opposite by commanding him to kneel at my feet, while I play the piano.

His fascination and love of the music calms him down.

---