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'The Ultimate Newsletter for Minor Hockey'
Fall 2006 ISSUE 10
Click here for our archive of past "Well Said" Newsletters
WELCOME to WELL SAID! - 'The Ultimate Newsletter for Minor Hockey'. This Newsletter, along with The Hockey Source comprehensive website, television show and product lines is part of our vision to provide you with valuable information about minor hockey so you can make sound decisions and have more fun. Whether you are a Player, Coach, Manager, Official, Trainer, Scout, Agent, Parent or Fan, you are sure to find valuable information on hockey topics.
Small Games Anyone?
The challenge faced by Coaches is creating practice plans that flow at the pace of a regular hockey game and not only develop the technical and tactical skills of the players. Coaches prepare for a season with the aim of making it both challenging and fun for their young hockey players. Coaches identify what skills need to be developed and devise a plan to help attain those goals. Without game-like intensity, players can become complacent, and often develop bad habits. And the transference of a skill learned at practice pace to a situation with game tempo is usually an incomplete and lengthy process.
Since the ability and opportunity to “teach skills” in a game situation is extremely limited, the use of “Small Area Games” is an effective technique available to a Coach. Small area games:
- Create a fun, competitive, game-like environment.
- Compliment and facilitate skill development by using the concept of “space reduction”
- Offset the game intensity lost by the reality of a smaller number of players in a practice session.
By using small area games, coaches are able to create an environment in which players do not have a great deal of time or space to make plays; the same conditions that exist in an actual hockey game. Players not only learn how to perform, but do so under game-like, competitive conditions, without the extra pressure that comes with a real game.
Here are the TOP 10 REASONS for utilizing Small Area Games:
- The number of puck touches per player is always greater in a practice setting, which is why the learning factor is greater in practices. The number of puck touches is radically increased for all players through Small Area Games.
- As a result, young hockey players become more comfortable and confident with the puck on their stick, and are willing to attempt creative puck control tactics.
- The players also increase their puck protection skills, and with the limited space, more shots and offensive opportunities are developed.
- The puck carriers learn in a much shorter time period, how to manipulate the puck and find their teammates in an effort to maintain possession. And knowing that the puck carrier has limited options, teammates are forced to move their feet and find open spaces in order to receive a pass and prolong possession time.
- Appreciating that hockey is a game of angles, players will learn that using the boards as support will increase the team’s puck possession time. The limited time and space in small area games promotes this tactic at an even faster pace.
- Small area games also help to develop the player often ignored in practices – the goaltender. Increased puck touches for players results in increased scoring opportunities. This means a higher percentage of puck touches (saves) for the goaltenders. And because of space restrictions, the goalie is often called upon to make not only the first save, but also the second or even third. And goalies are no exception when it comes to learning best in game situations, except here they don’t count in the standings. What a recipe for skill development and confidence building.
- Hockey is a game of transition, and small area games teach players effective transitional play. They encourage players to be creative with their decision-making skills, and develop overall hockey sense. No matter what side of the puck they are on, players are required to read and react at a much quicker pace.
- Small area games are an excellent assessment tool that coaches can use to evaluate player development. These small area games identify a player’s technical and tactical skill set, as well as the intangibles of play, such as work ethic, intensity level, competitive spirit and desire to work as a team member.
- The concept of small area games allows the coaching staff to create a controlled environment where space boundaries can be set based on the skill that needs to be developed, the current skill level of the player and the team, and the implementation time available.
- The small area games act as an excellent forum for conditioning, since players are practicing at game pace, if not higher. Small area games allow players to compete in close quarters, where their overall speed, endurance (aerobic and anaerobic), stamina and coordination are constantly tested, taxed and increased.
There are a number of game efficiency drills available for coaches to use throughout their practices in an effort to imitate a game-oriented environment. However, by implementing the use of Small Area Games on a consistent basis, a spirited environment of overall skill development can be created. It is an environment that encourages creativity, and challenges young hockey players to expand their comfort zones, while experiencing the positive aspects of competition and maximizing the confidence and enjoyment that comes with positive personal development.
We have put together 3 small area games that you can immediately implement into your next practice plan. Click on this link to download yours now!
Never Give Up!
“We have to amputate your leg”. Imagine a doctor telling you this and you are an active player, official or coach in hockey. On June 9, 1999, in order to reduce risk to his life, Paul Rosen’s right leg was amputated above the knee.
It all started in 1975 while playing Midget AAA in a hockey tournament. His right skate got caught in a rut in the ice and he went down. The result was his right leg being broken in 14 places, ligaments torn and severe knee damage. Over the next 24 years, Paul went through dozens of operations. Against advice from doctors, Paul continued to skate and play hockey, but his dreams of a professional hockey career ended when he could not pass the medical for a Junior A team.
Disappointed, yet undaunted, he decided to become a Coach. In 1997, Paul was assistant coach for an Israeli hockey team and was on his way home from a hockey tournament. Having finished lunch, Paul stood up to leave and his leg broke again. The next 18 months brought 14 more surgeries, including knee replacement.
During his months of recovery and rehabilitation, Paul heard about Sledge Hockey, and the competitive love of the game started to grow again within. Through a friend, he became involved with a sledge hockey team, and after a few months was being told that he should try out for the Canadian National Team. At the age of 40, he would be competing against players half his age, or even younger.
One year after his operation, at the age of 41, Paul made the Canadian National Team as a Goalie. A year later he played in the 2002 Paralympics in Salt Lake City. Paul is ranked as one of the top sledge hockey goalies in the world, and in March 2006, he led his Canadian National Team to the World Paralympics Championship in Turin, Italy.
Paul spends his time off the ice delivering speeches with a key message to people “no matter what your age or situation, you can overcome anything if you just believe in yourself and put your mind to it and never give up”.
Progressive Partnerships!
In the last issue, we wrote about our dialogues with Major Hockey Organizations.
The Hockey Source is excited to report that it has signed a four-year agreement with USA Hockey that will enable the two organizations to work together, to provide adults and children with resources and tools to make their experience in hockey more enjoyable.
Kevin V. Huhn, founder of The Hockey Source and author of “Hockey-ology” was quoted as saying, “The winners in this agreement are the people who are involved in youth hockey, such as coaches, parents, players, managers, trainers and volunteers.” The Hockey Source exists to make people’s experience the best it can be for them.”
The types of resources that will be available throughout the U.S.A and supported by USA Hockey will include:
- Team Management Training Course (TMTC) – 4-hour training and 57-page Manual.
- Team Management System (TMS) – Customized Manual (Team Name, Level, Logo and Colors) with over 45 forms.
- Team Management Training Program (TMTP), which includes:
- TMTC.
- TMS.
- One-hour expert consult.
- Unlimited email support for full season.
- One Puck Catcher.
- One Copy of “Hockey-ology, The Ultimate Guide To Fun & Success for Minor Hockey” – A book with a 360-degree perspective of the game.
The Hockey Source knows that this partnership with USA Hockey strengthens the THS vision, which is aimed at making people’s experience in minor hockey, the very best that it can be for them.
Bigger Value - Games or Practices?
The Hockey Source posed a question in one of its regular “web-polls’, and specifically asked:
What is the proper ratio of practices and games for a minor hockey team?
The responses from hundreds of respondents to the poll were as follows:
- One practice for every game: 26.9%.
- Two practices for every game: 50%.
- Three practices for every game: 23.1%.
This spawned further investigation. We found the following information presented by Hockey Canada:
- Each player will experience puck possession for about 8 seconds per game, but 8-12 minutes in a regular practice.
- Each player will average 1-2 shots on net during a game, while at least 30 during a regular practice.
- Almost all (99%) the feedback given by a coach to a player is when the latter has the puck, which happens to be about 0.2% of the time in a game situation.
- To become good at a skill, the average player has to repeat the skill correctly about 500 times; to become proficient at that same skill, the number of required repetitions is closer to 10,000.
- One properly structured practice will provide a player with more skill development time than can be gained from 11 games.
- The majority of players say that the best part about hockey is scoring goals, handling the puck, passing, and skating. Doing these things as much as possible and getting as good as possible at them is what brings the enjoyment and confidence.
If all of this is true, then why do more than 25% of folks involved in the game seem to feel that one practice for every game is acceptable, if not desirable? And if a minimum of 2 practices for every game is the proper ratio, then how does this get achieved, while still recognizing that there are other important facets of life for the players, such as school, family events and community activities? And if the desired outcomes for the player are personal development, skill acquisition, enjoyment and confidence building, then why not have an even higher ratio, and truly invest in the professed objectives?
Some other key questions are:
- What is most important for players? Development, learning skills, increased confidence and fun…or…winning and scoring goals?
- Where do players get their sense of what is important?
- Where would parents see their financial contribution being the best investment?
- Is hockey for the players or for the associations, coaches and parents?
- What does a game provide of value that a well-run practice cannot?
- What does a good practice provide that is hard to acquire in a game situation?
- Is lack of available ice a real factor, or an excuse?
- Would the cost of hockey be affected if the emphasis were to change?
- How many games does it really take to make a good season?
- Are there some “game occurrences” that might never have to be experienced if there was more emphasis on practices?
What do you think?
If you have further questions or points of relevance to further develop the discussion of this issue, please write to us with your input at comments@thehockeysource.tv.
Managing Made Easier!
MANAGERS, COACHES AND PARENTS…IT IS NOT TOO LATE!!!!!
…and we will not be surprised to hear that already it feels like it has been months since the season began. Confusion and lack of clarity about who needs to be doing what, and when, with whom and why are immediate and quick results when organization is not the cornerstone and “having fun” is not the theme of the operation.
So we ask you:
- Do you want to have a successful season off the ice?
- Do you want your families to understand what you’re trying to accomplish this season?
- Do you want you your parents to support you this season?
Then make your next step and decision one that will bring you all of this and more.
“The valuable, time-saving tools and strategies, and the complete manual will alleviate stress”. – Stacey Lambert, Manager.
The formula for success is available to you. All that is required is you read more about our exclusive…
TMS - the customized resource manual – that will save you hours of tedious work and leave all involved with an increased sense of ease, especially you!.
TMT - the in-depth training course - that will provide you the steps, principles, strategies and information required to excel at communication, budgeting, fund-raising and travel management.
Visit “Team Management Training Program” for detailed information.
You can also get started NOW by ordering your customized copy of our exclusive – Team Management System – read more at Shop The Source.
Kariya's 'Quote'!
Did you know that Paul Kariya of the National Hockey League, and a member of the Canadian Men’s Olympic Team had the following to say about games and practices?
“In practice is where you become a better hockey player. You get to have the puck on your stick more, and take more shots on net than in any game. Even as a professional, you do not have the puck on your stick that much, and at a young age, it is crucial to develop your skills. You cannot do that in an organized game”.
This is supported by the fact that in the 2002 Olympics, on average, each player touched the puck a total of 7.4 seconds per game.
Dear valued reader - we would love to hear from you!
If you would like to comment on anything that you have read in this or past newsletters; if you have some input or opinions on material you have viewed in our website; or if you simply have some valuable information or experience you would like to share with the rest of our readers, please write to us with your thoughts at info@thehockeysource.tv .
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