Mark your calendars |
Edgcumbe Hockey Association is planning to host a coaches clinic
over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
Pleasant Arena, Saturday Nov 28 5:50 - 8:00PM Mites/Squirts
(skating, stick handling) 8:10 - 9:10PM Peewees/Bantams
(advanced skating)
We have a coach's
clinic scheduled for this Saturday,
November 28; starting at 5:50 pm until 9:10 pm at Pleasant Arena.
Thanks to Dan Muccio and Dan Herrick for the idea, initiative, and
getting this
set up!!
This
is a clinic to assist coaches with ideas for skill development.
It's a great opportunity provided by Minnesota Hockey for local
associations. I hope that you'll be able to participate if you
are in town over the weekend.
Can I
get a couple coaches to volunteer to round up 8-12 players for
each part of the clinic?
8-12
mites and squirts at 5:50;
8-12
peewees and bantams at 8:00.
It is
a coach's clinic, not a player's clinic, so we don't want entire
teams present. The players will need to be in full uniform.
I'm
going to invite our counterparts at Langford Park, City of Lakes
(successor to Edison), and DinoMights to participate as coaches
(but not to bring players).
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Reporting District 1 Boys Game Scores |
District One Information:
Reporting District 1 Boys Game Scores:
Bantam, PeeWee, and Squirt (all levels) League game reports, for
District 1 League games, must be e-mailed to
dist1scores@gmail.com within two days of completing the game by the
winning team; the visiting team is responsible for reporting games that
end in a tie. The e-mail should include the date, time, arena, total
goals for each team, and whether each team earned their Fair Play point
(see Minnesota Hockey Handbook for Fair Play rules).
The top copy of the signed score sheet for all league games must be
mailed to: Tom Mickus, 700 Parkview Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55117. Score
sheets may be mailed in batches, but no less frequently than every two
weeks.
League game standings will be posted on the District web site http://district1.pucksystems2.com
The STANDINGS and SCHEDULE buttons on the page will not be used.
Instead, look for links on the page for the League Schedule and League
Standings
District 1 Governing Rules
Name: Tom Mickus
Title: District Director
Email:
tojmick@aol.com
Phone Number:
(651)489-3394
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COACHING COMMANDMENTS |
“Never lose sight that we coach for the players ~ not for
the parents or for ourselves.”
Dennis Freed1. HAVE FUN
This is the sole reason why the players and coaches are brought
together. It’s simple, if you’re not having fun coaching then it is a
good bet that your players are not having a good time either. Players
will develop quicker and reach higher levels if they enjoy your
coaching. This does not infer that you don’t work them hard. You and
your players can still have fun while working very hard. A true
indication of a fun and productive practice is when the players leave
the ice dripping with sweat and brimming with a smile. (Thank you
Armand!)
2. THINK LIKE A PLAYER
Actually, think like a kid! Would you be having fun at your practices
or games? Would you have understood the drill or play the way you just
explained it? Is the play or drill too hard or simple for your players
at their current level? Ask yourself these questions before you begin.
Then remember – offer advice, praise and discipline on their level, not
yours. Follow the Platinum Rule, “DO ONTO OTHERS AS THEY WANT”.
Analyze the difference between the Platinum Rule and the standard Golden
Rule. If you apply the Platinum Rule you will create a team which is
having fun and winning.
3. TEACH BY GAMES - LET THEM LEARN ON THEIR
OWN
Part of your practice should consist of themed games which
teach the skills you are targeting during the practice. They learn &
practice the skill on their own thus reinforcing it. Juhani Wahlsten
and Tom Molloy's book "Hockey Coaching - The ABC's of International
Youth Hockey" describes in detail this method of teaching and gives many
examples. It is a suggested addition to your hockey library.
4. BY THE INCH IS A CINCH - BY THE YARD IS HARD
This is the Golden Rule of coaching, teaching and learning
anything! Teach new concepts and skills in pieces. Break down each
skill into individual components; and teach the entire skill over the
course of one or more practices. It is easier to digest small bites
than large chunks.
5. SINCERE AND HONEST PRAISE
Right out of Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence
People: Pointed, detailed, short praise to a player is more valuable
than hours of condemnation. Always praise a player for a proper action
before correcting them of an improper action. If you must discipline a
player, QUICKLY follow it up with praise once the player acts
correctly. Remember, children do not have the same tolerance for, and
understanding of, criticism as adults (most adults).
6. CHALLENGE
Adding challenge to the most basic of drills will motivate your
players tremendously. Athletes, at all levels, are competitive by
nature. Find unique ways to integrate challenges into all aspects of
your coaching. For example, the so-called “Suicide” drills demand the
most from your players – physically. Add a “rabbit” to the drill. The
last player(s) to finish the drill becomes the next “rabbit.
7. KEEP THE PLAYERS MOVING
Most line drills are BORING! Plan drills that keep the players
moving; or standing around as little as possible. In the event line
drills are absolutely necessary, divide the players into as many lines
or sections possible. Remember a good indication that your players are
bored or standing idle too long is that they are shooting pucks at the
boards or fooling around as they wait their turn to perform the drill.
Added bonus: your players’ endurance will benefit from constant
movement.
8. REPETITION
An average mite/squirt player must repeat a skill hundred,
sometimes thousands, of times before they can perform the skill
automatically. An average mite/squirt player must repeat a skill
hundred, sometimes thousands, of times before they can perform the skill
automatically. The more difficult the skill – the more it has to be
repeated. Repeat the skill in several forms both during a single
practice session, and over the course of several practices.
9. 20-SECOND EXPLANATION
Most mites/squirts lose interest after 20 seconds. Therefore, it your
responsibility to be concise in your explanation of a drill/skill so as
not to lose the players attention. Because the playing surface is so
large, it is difficult for players to hear or understand you if you are
moving and talking. Begin by explaining the drill in a stationary
position; then, follow it up with a demonstration. Also, address your
players with your back to the boards. This will prevent the players
from being distracted by other happenings taking place on the ice.
In addition: Try to keep drills to a maximum of eight
minutes. After eight minutes, drills become tedious and the players
will stop having fun. Occasionally, I will schedule several simple
three-minute drills to drive home a specific skill point. This approach
keeps practices moving and maintains the players’ attention levels.
10. DO NOT MAKE NEGATIVE COMMENTS TO PLAYERS IN FRONT OF
TEAMMATES OR PARENTS
Never put down or ridicule a player in front of other players or parents
– especially when that player is not present. Likewise, do not allow
other players or parents to make the same mistake. Other players are
keen to negative remarks made by coaches such as “that player stinks”,
and it reduces their trust and confidence in you. Simply put: Give a
dog a bad name and the dog will bite. Give a dog a bone and it will
perform tricks.
11. ESTABLISH A CODE OF CONDUCT EARLY
Establish a code of conduct and administer it equally (i.e. the
best player and the coaches’ sons/daughters). Lack of control will be
inevitable if favoritism is evident. Let your players’ parents know the
code also. If a player is not conforming to the team’s code let their
parents know promptly.
12. OLD DOGS CAN LEARN NEW TRICKS
As coaches, we should constantly seek out new ideas and methods. Swap
drills with other coaches, watch and read skills videos and books,
attend coaching clinics and keep abreast of the latest developments.
Hockey is played differently today than it was in the 60’s, 70’s and
80’s. Players are motivated differently too. A knowledgeable and
informed coach is a good coach – so keep learning new tricks!
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