The Minnesota Youth Hockey Coaches Association is dedicated to providing a platform for communication, education and support for youth hockey coaches
Link to newsletter:"Thoughts from the Bench"
The Last Gasp of Summer
We are into August and the official start of fall sports in high schools is the 11th. Most summer hockey program in Minnesota are now over and the fall fun leagues begin in a few weeks. Many in season programs around the country are beginning their team practices and activities in the next couple of weeks. We are fortunate in Minnesota that we do not begin youth hockey until late October so that the kids can play other sports.
Coaching Clinic Updates:
Minnesota Master Coach Clinic: This is the first year for this clinic which is technically a workshop designed to help coaches learn to teach fundamental skills more effectively and help them incorporate the skill work into their practices. This is for coaches who are serious about becoming better coaches and teachers. Each coach will spend two hours on ice and one hour in the Herb Brooks Training Center. The final session will be observing how to run a practice incorporating the skills work. The date is September 13th at the Blaine Super Rink and Schwann’s Center.
Each coach in attendance will receive either a level two or three sticker that extends their current CEP level. This clinic is not intended to replace the regular CEP clinics. Each coach in attendance will also be asked to become a member of the Minnesota Youth Coaches Association for an additional $10 fee at the clinic. The clinic will register only 25 squirt/U10 ; 25 pee wee/U12; and 25 bantam/U14 coaches. Be sure to bring your skates, helmets, gloves and a stick.
Registration is now available at:http://www.usahockey.com//Template_Usahockey.aspx?NAV=CO_12&ID=220328
While visiting with many other long time hockey enthusiasts, coaches and observers this summer our observations reinforce the need to continue to emphasize the importance of skill development and to change our definition of what constitutes a winner. Youth hockey is so much more than who won the pee wee state tournament or the latest invitational fundraiser. Many valuable life lessons are learned by players every day they participate and many of those lessons are delivered for better or worse by their coaches. Here is an excerpt from the Double-Goal Coach, by Jim Thompson, from the Positive Coach Alliance. The website iswww.positivecoach.org
Redefining "Winner" "A Positive Coach helps players redefine what it means to be a winner through a mastery, rather than a scoreboard, orientation. He sees victory as a by-product of the pursuit of excellence. He focuses on effort rather than outcome and on learning rather than comparison to others. He recognizes that mistakes are an important and inevitable part of learning and fosters an environment in which players don't fear making mistakes. While not ignoring the teaching opportunities that mistakes present, he teaches players that a key to success is how one responds to mistakes. He sets standards of continuous improvement for self and players. He encourages his players, whatever their level of ability, to strive to become the best players, and people, they can be. He teaches players that a winner is someone who makes maximum effort, continues to learn and improve, and doesn't let mistakes (or fear of mistakes) stop him or her."
This month’s articles are selected to help us prepare for the season. The first article by Larry Lauer, PhD, is“Power of Positive”. Larry always offers some great advice based on his research.
The next article from Fortune magazine discusses the ideas and“Secrets of Success”. I have presented some of the underlying research in the past regarding the findings that expertise can be developed. Practice with a purpose and a goal of skill mastery. The results will be better skilled players and better performing teams.
The next two articles address general trends in youth sports.“Children in Sports” address the concerns of fewer kids playing sports in Canada. Did you know that the most popular sport for kids in Canada is soccer?
The next article refers to the types of kids most of us are dealing with.“Not all Kids Are Hockey Superstars”.
Bob Richardson weighs in with his thoughts about right and left handed shooters and the importance of having the dominant hand on the top of the stick, club, or racquet. It is entitled“Too Many Righties”.
There were several replies to my request about how best we can help hold the cost of playing hockey in check. The “Readers Comment” has one of the responses that covered all of the replies. I think the author has some great ideas.
I did have a request for information about some guidelines to help parents select the proper stick for their youngster. If anybody on this distribution list can help in regards to proper flex etc it would be much appreciated.
Sportsmanship is one of the underlying values of all youth sports. Here is a link to a great story of sportsmanship.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVlKtI7yd_s
Pre season article links:
Early Season Team Meeting Agenda
Coaching Women
Cold Dry Hands; How Short is Your Bench?
Coach-Specific Skate
Do your feet get sore, day after day, standing on the ice all practice? If so, check out the new skate produced by the Anoka, Minnesota-based Torspo company. This skate is designed and engineered specifically for the comfort of coaches. The extra comfort is worth the extra look!www.torspo.com
Fishing & Fundraising Opportunity
Ballard’s Resort on Lake of the Woods, home of NHL’er Keith Ballard, has put together a win-win fundraising opportunity for youth hockey associations. Make sure the fundraising coordinator from your team and association checks out this great opportunity to raise money and spend some time catching walleyes on Lake of the Woods!
http://www.ballardsresort.com/raffle.shtml
Enjoy the rest of your summer for those of you in the northern part of the country and for those if you in the desert regions, winter (cooler weather) will arrive soon!
See you around the rink……
Hal Tearse
Coach in Chief, Minnesota Hockey
August 2008