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'The Ultimate Newsletter for Minor Hockey'
Spring 2005 ISSUE 4
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 a variety of hockey topics.
How do you spell stress? T-R-Y-O-U-T-S!
If you could hover over a large geographical area and see the activities of hockey families as they race from one arena to another to secure a spot on a team, you would say that it makes any morning mad rush seem simple.
'Tryouts, tryouts…oh what they do to me!' Would you not love to have the royalties on this little jingle as it plays through the minds of parents and players all over the world?
As a parent or player, you may live in an area where there is only one team and you face the task of trying out for a spot on that team. If the number of people who want to play exceeds the number of positions on the team, the next choice may be to play for the house league program. You may also live in an area where there are multiple teams and you know you have a choice. The hard part is that the choice comes in a very short time period, and you can only do so much.
Whether you are skating with one team and wishing there were more choices, or you are attempting to skate with many teams wishing there were not so many, TRYOUTS SPELL STRESS, especially for players and families.
So how can you minimize the anxiety and maximize the experience?
- Decide on what is important to you as a family.
- Assess what other family activities you have that coincide with a hockey season.
- Be clear whether location of the team and travel is important in your decision.
- Establish whether you have budgetary boundaries and/or limits.
- Make a list of the expectations you have for a team and its coaching staff
This will help you narrow the search and simplify the tryout schedule.
Here are some indicators of a possible stress-free tryout and potential good fit with a team:
- The tryout is very organized. Directions to players as to where they go and when they need to be ready are given clearly and appropriately. A disorganized tryout session is indicative of how the team will be managed for the season.
- Families are provided with a written outline of the tryout session, which provides some information on costs of tryouts, schedule, criteria for player evaluation and expectations of what it means to make the team. If there is no clarity now, chances are there won't be any later.
- The coach and manager introduce themselves, since they are the key contacts for players and parents.
- The coach has a team of evaluators helping with the selection process. This is proof that the coaches understand this to be a complex process.
- The drills used on the ice appear intent on gaining a view of the skill level of the players. If they cannot run a good drill in tryouts, then they will probably not get better during the season.
- The coaching staff treats the players with respect during all aspects of the tryout sessions. Appropriate demeanor is not something that begins once the team is selected.
- The coach and manager are willing to listen to and answer any question that you pose in an appropriate fashion, or provide a very viable reason for why they cannot. Honesty and openness should be evident from the beginning.
- The final process of player selection is carried out professionally by the coaching staff. The coach and manager are willing to provide an overview on the entire process for the upcoming season, including transparency on all aspects of the administration and operation of the team including budget forecast and financial reporting, communication, role clarity, meetings, and expectations for players, parents and the coaching staff, season plans, player development and evaluation, conditioning and nutrition.
- You get a clear indication that player development and enjoyment are strong aspects of the program.
This is a time of the year that is trying on everyone. If you practice what you have just read, the stress will be less, and you will feel like you have some control. Be clear, be focused and be flexible. Enjoy and good luck!
A real winner!
In previous issues of this section, you have read inspiring stories about famous people like Beethoven, Michael Jordan and Thomas Edison. This issue presents a story of an individual that may not have such a famous name as those just mentioned, but who is equally inspiring. This individual is Bob Rucci. Some of you might recognize Bob's name as the winner of The Hockey Source's “Design-a-Jersey” Contest. One of the prizes for creating the successful jersey design was a pair of hockey skates of his choice up to a value of $500.
So why is Bob the focus of our Inspirational Corner? Well, in an email expressing appreciation for being chosen as the winner, he asked The Hockey Source if it would be acceptable for him to donate the value of the pair of skates towards the purchase of skates for one or two underprivileged youths, who otherwise, might not be able to afford such a purchase.
The Hockey Source group was quite impressed by Bob's offer, and was quick to agree to assist him in carrying out his request. As a result, one youngster in Bob's home town of Dudley, Massachusetts, and one youngster from Greenfield Park, Quebec the location of the contest sponsor, Mullins Sports, will be the lucky recipients of a new pair of skates each. A process is underway to make this a reality this month.
Thank you, Bob Rucci. You are a true inspiration!
What is next for The Source?
The Hockey Source [THS] has been very busy since the last Issue of this newsletter - “Well Said”. The debut at the Hockey Country Tradeshow held in Kanata, Ontario was a huge success. The Hockey Source took Centre Stage and met thousands of new friends, including singer songwriter J.D. Gordon, a hockey team from Finland, and Lord Stanley (The Stanley Cup).
The Hockey Source, in conjunction with The Hockey News and Mullins Sports successfully completed its first on-line contest called “Design-a-Jersey”. You can still read all about that event on the website.
The next component to The Hockey Source is the TV Show. Production of the pilot is complete which includes a tour of The Hockey Company (CCM & Reebok skate manufacturer) plant just outside Montreal. The Hockey Source got first-hand knowledge and footage of the step-by-step process resulting in the production of a pair of skates. You can check out some of our behind-the-scenes pictures at: http://www.thehockeysource.tv/sectiontvshow/ontheroad.php
The next few months will have The Hockey Source visiting a manufacturer of goalie equipment, presenting contest prizes in Dudley, MA and attending the OMHA tradeshow in Richmond Hill, Ontario.
Watch for the updates on our website: www.thehockeysource.tv.
Play where you live or where you want?
So what is wrong with being allowed to play where you want? If people can work where they want, why can they not play hockey where they want? Hockey experts in Canada and the United States have been debating this logic for years.
Every hockey season, there is a story that comes out of some community in North America about a player who wants to play in a community other than where he/she lives, but is not allowed to due to the rules that exist related to residency and releases. The reasons given for this desired change are usually cited as the child's desire to play in a higher caliber level of competition or to play for a better quality team.
As long as a player successfully makes the cut of a team, what difference does it make where he actually lives? If the family and player are willing to manage the extra stress, hours and cost related to playing with a team outside of their home community, why should they be denied that opportunity?
Well, what about the whole concept of community hockey? Is it right that a player in a community loses his potential to play because a player from another community takes his place on the team? Why should the money raised through registration, corporate sponsors and community fundraising be spent on players who do not even belong there?
Does where you live or does where you want to play truly have the best interest for minor hockey?
Send us your opinion at info@thehockeysource.tv
Next season starts now.
Products that help make your life in hockey more enjoyable.
Featured Product – Team Management System (TMS)
Does this sound familiar?
Bill, a father with three children in minor hockey, gets asked to be manager of one his son's teams. He agrees, hearing that he will get support from the other families. Quickly he realizes that the volume of communications to the other parents continues to grow. Bill has inherited a mixture of forms and materials from a variety of sources, but it is not complete enough or consistent. The management of fundraising efforts and tournament planning, along with all the required communication becomes daunting, and it feels like a second job. Bill would like to feel more organized and do this better, but the time is insufficient for him to create a system.
OR
George who is General Manager of a Hockey Association and he understands the burden of administrative duties that comes with the role of Team Manager. While the association has provided some forms and templates to be used by managers and coaches, the system is not comprehensive and the documentation is inconsistent across all the teams. George knows that the individuals fulfilling these roles on a volunteer basis have other responsibilities and commitments beyond hockey. But, he also knows that the management of all the team information, communications and proper records is critical to team, player, parent and association success and enjoyment. George is looking for a system and tool that will provide his teams with the correct combination of ease, thoroughness and consistency.
Well, if you are like Bill and George, your problems are solved! The Hockey Source has created the ultimate communication and planning tool - The Team Management System - a proven system for successfully managing any minor/youth hockey team.
TMS removes the hours of creating and designing forms. It includes tools to establish and enhance any team's communication for an entire season, from tryouts to playoffs. TMS instructs and guides in the process of systematic goal setting, and provides the material that will ensure proper success in the areas of event planning, fitness, nutrition and so much more.
This guaranteed tool of success is available to you now for less than $15.00 CAD per player*.
Do you want to be more organized as a coach or manager?
Do you want enjoyment to be experienced by players and parents?
Do you know the importance of efficient and timely communication between all parties?
Then maximize your time on effective management and player development and lessen the time spent on paperwork. Look professional and make your next season's experience a great one!
Order your customized Team Management System today!
http://www.thehockeysource.tv/sectionshop/shopimages/other/teammanagementsystem.htm
* based on a team of 15 registered players
Deep breaths. The stress buster!
Did you know that the world of minor hockey is in the most stressful period of time for most teams, players and families? For most teams it is the playoffs. Although this can bring some of the greatest memories, it can also bring some of the highest stress, since the competitive edge certainly increases with the picture of the season championship, now much clearer and closer.
“A simple, deep breath can be the difference between a major emotional outburst and the ability to remain calm and enjoy”.
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 ideas for future newsletter items; 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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