IN THIS ISSUE

Free-Play Boosts Creativity at 8U & Beyond

2017-18 Try Hockey For Free Dates Confirmed

24 Tips for Parents Raising Hockey Players

Alleviating Tryout Anxiety

Video: How Asst. Coaches Can Best Contribute to Team Success

Video: 3 Ways Coaches Can Create Caring Climate

Just for Coaches: On- & Off-Ice Plans


Volume 4 Issue 7
July 27, 2017
FREE-PLAY BOOSTS CREATIVITY AT
8U & BEYOND
By Michael Rand ~ If you were given a free night to do anything you wanted, chances are you might be paralyzed, at least temporarily, by all the possibilities. But eventually you would pick something, and you would have a good reason for it.

Dave Gleason, owner of Athletes Acceleration in Pembroke, Mass., assumed the same would hold true of the young athletes he trains. As a proponent of free play in his facility, Gleason recently was working with a group of 6-to-9-year-olds and decided to let them choose any activity they wanted to do that day.   READ MORE>>
ILLINOIS ADM NEWS
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>>
USA HOCKEY ADM NEWS
24 TIPS FOR PARENTS RAISING HOCKEY PLAYERS
Here are 24 tips for parents raising young hockey players:
  1. The kids pack and prepare their own hockey bag.
  2. Always be on time for practice.
  3. Make them put their dirty training undergarments in the wash.
  4. Tell them to give 100 percent at practice and games.
  5. The kids carry their own hockey bag in and out of the ice rink. That's carry, not wheel.
  6. Teach them how to tighten their own skates. 
CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL 24 TIPS
ALLEVIATING TRYOUT ANXIETY
By Mike Doyle ~ With a new hockey season beginning, it's a time for players to get excited about lacing up the skates again. However, the thrill of starting anew also brings an uneasy time for many in the game, courtesy of tryouts.

"We all love and know hockey is the greatest sport out there, all the things it does for you, the life lessons," said Joe Doyle, Air Force Academy assistant coach. "But let's be honest, tryouts are the worst weekend of the season. Everybody is on pins and needles - parents sitting in the stands, all the kids are nervous, even the coaches are a little bit nervous that maybe they're not going to pick the best kids or quote-unquote the right kids." READ MORE>>
ADM MULTIMEDIA
HOW ASST. COACHES CAN BEST CONTRIBUTE TO TEAM SUCCESS
3 WAYS COACHES CAN CREATE A
CARING ENVIRONMENT
In this clip, PCA's Jason Sacks describes how an assistant coach can add value to a coaching staff. Like any organization operates, each coaching staff member adds value based on his or her strengths and is held accountable for those contributions. When assistants are allowed to lead activities it allows them to grow as coaches, and is allows players to see a new perspective.

PCA's Mary Fry researches the benefits of a "Caring Climate," that is an environment created by a coach to make athletes as comfortable as possible so they can perform at their best. In this video, Fry shares 3 concrete ways coaches can create this caring climate.
JUST FOR COACHES
ON-ICE DRILLS
Pick 3 Tight Turns
8U Q&A: TOO EARLY FOR OFF-ICE?
Absolutely not. In fact, most experts in physical education encourage all youth to be very active in the ABCs (agility, balance and coordination). This is the perfect stage in a young athlete's development to be working on these principles. READ MORE>>

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