IN THIS ISSUE
Are You Ready to Take the 2 and 2 Challenge?
2017-18 THFF Days Confirmed
8U: They Call it Summer Vacation for a Reason
10U: Learning Through Discovery
Self-Reflection Unlocks Your Coaching Potential
Christian Pulisic's Success Could Change How Athletes Are Developed in the U.S.
NARCE Video Highlights
Video: A Cautionary Tale
Just for Coaches: On- & Off-Ice Plans
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Volume 4 Issue 6
June 29, 2017
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USA FOOTBALL UNVEILS PROGRAM TO HELP KIDS GROW INTO THE GAME
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By Josh Barnett, USA Today ~ Looking to enhance the experience for young football players and ultimately help increase participation, USA Football is unveiling a pilot program Wednesday in 11 organizations around the country that features fewer players, smaller fields, no special teams and no three-point stances.
The Rookie Tackle program is intended to serve as a bridge between flag football and 11-man tackle football for kids to help them learn the game and develop their skills, USA Football chief executive officer Scott Hallenbeck told USA TODAY Sports.
"This is that middle entry point," he said. "Rookie Tackle is not going to replace 11-man football. We don't believe in that. That is not our position. This is additive and necessary for the ongoing advancement and growth of football."
READ MORE>>
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ARE YOU READY TO ACCEPT THE 2 AND 2 CHALLENGE?
Associations can get started growing for the 2017-18 season again with the 2 and 2 Challenge! The 2 and 2 Challenge guides youth hockey leadership through national programs and tools to drive participation at the 4 to 8 age group. By growing hockey at this age group, programs will experience long-term growth as these kids continue to develop.
The following Illinois associations successfully completed the 2 and 2 Challenge during the 2016-17 season. Please commend them on their continued commitment to driving youth hockey growth at the 8 & under age level!
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GOLD LEVEL
Sabre Hockey Association
Decatur Youth Hockey Association
Hoffman Estates Park District Hockey
Admirals Hockey Club
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SILVER LEVEL
Franklin Park Ice Arena
Pekin Amateur Hockey Association
Firewagon Hockey, Inc.
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CLICK
HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE
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2017-18 TRY HOCKEY FOR FREE DAYS CONFIRMED
The season's first nationwide Try Hockey For Free Day will be Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017, as part of Come Play Hockey Month. The second opportunity will occur Saturday, March 3, 2018, the weekend following the XXIII Olympic Winter Games closing ceremony. Local youth hockey associations and rinks can register to host on either of those dates.
READ MORE>>
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8U: THEY CALL IT SUMMER VACATION FOR A REASON
By Jessi Pierce ~ You'd be hard-pressed to find many professional hockey players who focused solely on hockey when they were children. Zach Parise, Meghan Duggan and Patrick Kane all looked forward to hanging up their skates at the end of the season.
Taking a break from hockey and transitioning into a variety of sports helped them become superstar athletes. And it kept their passion for hockey burning bright. READ MORE>>
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10U: LEARNING THROUGH DISCOVERY
By Michael Rand ~ There is an art to hockey, and every young hockey player is a blank canvas. The temptation might be to cram every bit of technique into every square inch of the sheet because, in theory, being able to execute the right brush strokes will lead to a good painting.
But art isn't just about repetition and copying of master works. It's about the imagination of the artist flowing freely. So, too, is hockey. READ MORE>>
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SELF REFLECTION UNLOCKS YOUR COACHING POTENTIAL
By Jessi Pierce ~ After months of hard work and team bonding, the hockey season is complete. By now, you've collected the team jerseys and parked your skates behind the golf clubs, or maybe the lawnmower.
So now what?
It's the perfect time for reflection and self-examination.
Most coaches send their players into the offseason with an evaluation, ideally one that suggests how they can improve for next year. But what about the coach who is looking to improve? How can he or she use the offseason to elevate their own performance? READ MORE>>
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CHRISTIAN PULISIC'S SUCCESS COULD CHANGE HOW ATHLETES ARE DEVELOPED IN THE U.S.
By Dan Wetzel ~ If you don't know
Christian Pulisic's name now, you will. He is the American soccer star that America has been waiting for, well, forever to watch.
He is 18 years old and hails from Hershey, Pennsylvania. He's scored four goals in his past five games for the
United States men's national team
as it attempts to qualify for the
2018 World Cup
. He is not hype. He is not just potential. He is a brilliant tactical player and already an established presence with
Borussia Dortmund
, a traditional powerhouse in the German professional league. Did we mention he is 18 years old? READ MORE>>
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NARCE: NORTH AMERICAN RINK CONFERENCE & EXPO
NARCE is held once a year in May for hockey directors and rink management to come together and discuss all things rinks and hockey. USA Hockey runs a hockey director track during NARCE that is 4 days of intense age appropriate development training that includes on- and off-ice instruction, guest speakers, and interactive classroom instruction. It is a great place to meet your peers across the country, check out some highlights in the video above.
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WHEN PARENTAL SIDELINE BEHAVIOR CAUSES PLAYER CUTS
Danielle Slaton is a Positive Coaching Alliance Trainer, who played soccer for the U.S. Women's National Team from 2000-2005, earning a silver medal in the Olympics and a bronze in the Women's World Cup. Here she recalls one of her elite soccer peers failing to make a team: Despite that player having the requisite skill and ability, her father's sideline behavior, such as yelling at officials, eventually kept the coach from adding her to the team.
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ON-ICE DRILLS
Sparta Agility
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OFF-ICE DRILLS
Dynamic Balance
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Copyright © 2017. All Rights Reserved.
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