Attracting coaches from all over the world, the IIHF International Coaching Symposium took place in Zurich, Switzerland.
photo: Marc Mutzner
When you’re an ice hockey coach, the pressures and expectations – both internal and external – can sometimes be overwhelming. That’s why it’s important to stage events like the 2026 IIHF International Coaching Symposium (22-23 May) in Zurich, bringing this community together.
More than 200 coaches from 25 countries registered to participate, with 75 percent hailing from Switzerland and 25 percent from abroad. The symposium represents an opportunity to connect with colleagues, trade tips and insights on this ever-evolving profession, and learn from and be inspired by an excellent, informative selection of speakers. It is organized by the IIHF in cooperation with the Swiss Ice Hockey Federation as an off-ice highlight of the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship.
Former Swiss national team players like Damien Brunner,Martin Gerber, Daniela Diaz, and Evelina Raselli were just a few noteworthy registrants.
IIHF President Luc Tardif opened Friday’s session by noting that he also spent years as a coach. He emphasized that it is vital for up-and-coming hockey nations to invest in coaching and development to spur their progress.
More than 200 coaches from 25 countries registered to participate, with 75 percent hailing from Switzerland and 25 percent from abroad. The symposium represents an opportunity to connect with colleagues, trade tips and insights on this ever-evolving profession, and learn from and be inspired by an excellent, informative selection of speakers. It is organized by the IIHF in cooperation with the Swiss Ice Hockey Federation as an off-ice highlight of the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship.
Former Swiss national team players like Damien Brunner,Martin Gerber, Daniela Diaz, and Evelina Raselli were just a few noteworthy registrants.
IIHF President Luc Tardif opened Friday’s session by noting that he also spent years as a coach. He emphasized that it is vital for up-and-coming hockey nations to invest in coaching and development to spur their progress.
IIHF President Luc Tardif addresses the International Coaching Symposium.
photo: Marc Mutzner
“For me, there is a huge future in development all over the world,” said Tardif, who will step down as President this year and be inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame. “Hockey is more international than ever. If we all together do our job, I think ice hockey can be one of the most important international sports.”
Under Tardif’s leadership, the IIHF’s ICE26 strategic plan has focused significantly on coaching and development, with 84 Member National Associations (MNAs) worldwide at present. Employing six staff members, the IIHF’s Development Department stages coaching symposiums and programs on coaching, leadership, and youth hockey around the world.
At the symposium on Friday morning, British-Canadian sports scientist Steve Norris – a longtime associate of the Canadian women’s national team – warned against early over-specialization in one sport and pointed out that children also grow physically at different rates in his talk, “Hockey Development: Understanding the Process.” Based on a survey, Norris noted that young athletes have simple but achievable needs: “Just let me play, encourage me more, let me express myself during games, teach me more in practice, avoid yelling, and provide drinks and snacks.”
Swiss sports psychologist Tim Hartmann offered useful insights in his presentation entitled “How Do We Motivate People to Learn?” The need to use body language, guide with questions, give praise, break down objectives, build commitment, and reflect on purpose were among the key take-aways for coaches.
Jackie Crum, a longtime assistant coach who has won six NCAA national titles with the Wisconsin Badgers women’s team, spoke powerfully about “Empowering Your Coaching Staff.” She underlined the importance of every staff member having a defined role, maintaining healthy communication, and keeping everyone aware that each person is more than a coach. “You need compassion, grace, and an understanding of when roles need to shift,” Crum said.
On Friday afternoon, former NHLer and current HC Davos head coach Josh Holden delved into the topic of “From Player to Coach: Leadership Perspectives.”
The IIHF Coach Development Framework and the IIHF Coach Education Framework are two important tools to help coaches improve and deliver best-in-class support and guidance for their players.
For example, the IIHF Coach Development Framework incorporates elements like coaching philosophy, athlete-centered approaches, essential coaching knowledge, core competencies, athlete outcomes, player development pathways, coaching environments, coaching workforce, and the well-being of coaches.
Right now, developing more qualified coaches for women’s hockey is particularly essential. There were 268,517 registered women’s hockey players worldwide in 2025, an increase of 11,067 (37 percent) since 2017.
Saturday’s program includes presentations by veteran bench boss Marco Bayer (“Step by Step: From Swiss Youth Coach to National League Coach”), broadcaster Ailish Forfar and certified psychotherapist Jessica Renney (“The Athlete’s Perspective on Mental Health and Safe Sport”), pediatric heart surgeon Dr. Rene Pretre (“Every Beat Matters: Preparation, Communication, and Self-Management”), and Columbus Blue Jackets assistant coach Scott Ford (“Developing Defence: Transferring Skill Development to the Game”).
Under Tardif’s leadership, the IIHF’s ICE26 strategic plan has focused significantly on coaching and development, with 84 Member National Associations (MNAs) worldwide at present. Employing six staff members, the IIHF’s Development Department stages coaching symposiums and programs on coaching, leadership, and youth hockey around the world.
At the symposium on Friday morning, British-Canadian sports scientist Steve Norris – a longtime associate of the Canadian women’s national team – warned against early over-specialization in one sport and pointed out that children also grow physically at different rates in his talk, “Hockey Development: Understanding the Process.” Based on a survey, Norris noted that young athletes have simple but achievable needs: “Just let me play, encourage me more, let me express myself during games, teach me more in practice, avoid yelling, and provide drinks and snacks.”
Swiss sports psychologist Tim Hartmann offered useful insights in his presentation entitled “How Do We Motivate People to Learn?” The need to use body language, guide with questions, give praise, break down objectives, build commitment, and reflect on purpose were among the key take-aways for coaches.
Jackie Crum, a longtime assistant coach who has won six NCAA national titles with the Wisconsin Badgers women’s team, spoke powerfully about “Empowering Your Coaching Staff.” She underlined the importance of every staff member having a defined role, maintaining healthy communication, and keeping everyone aware that each person is more than a coach. “You need compassion, grace, and an understanding of when roles need to shift,” Crum said.
On Friday afternoon, former NHLer and current HC Davos head coach Josh Holden delved into the topic of “From Player to Coach: Leadership Perspectives.”
The IIHF Coach Development Framework and the IIHF Coach Education Framework are two important tools to help coaches improve and deliver best-in-class support and guidance for their players.
For example, the IIHF Coach Development Framework incorporates elements like coaching philosophy, athlete-centered approaches, essential coaching knowledge, core competencies, athlete outcomes, player development pathways, coaching environments, coaching workforce, and the well-being of coaches.
Right now, developing more qualified coaches for women’s hockey is particularly essential. There were 268,517 registered women’s hockey players worldwide in 2025, an increase of 11,067 (37 percent) since 2017.
Saturday’s program includes presentations by veteran bench boss Marco Bayer (“Step by Step: From Swiss Youth Coach to National League Coach”), broadcaster Ailish Forfar and certified psychotherapist Jessica Renney (“The Athlete’s Perspective on Mental Health and Safe Sport”), pediatric heart surgeon Dr. Rene Pretre (“Every Beat Matters: Preparation, Communication, and Self-Management”), and Columbus Blue Jackets assistant coach Scott Ford (“Developing Defence: Transferring Skill Development to the Game”).