IN THIS ISSUE
What is Your Club's D.N.A.?
Try Hockey For Free Day a Huge Success in Illinois
8U Q & A: Speed-Building in Prep for the Next Stage
Girls Flocking to Monarchs' 10U Program
Vail Mountaineers Structured to Fit Community
Video: Parents, Let the Coaches Coach
Video: Expectation to Win
Just for Coaches: On- and Off-Ice Practice Plans
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Volume 3 Issue 2
February 23, 2016
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WHAT IS YOUR CLUB'S D.N.A.?
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By Todd Beane ~
"We pretty much let the coaches decide what to do with the players," a youth club director recently told me.
"Do you have any guidelines?" I asked.
"Well, the administration sells the uniforms and manages the money collected from club fees."
"Why?" I continued to probe.
Silence.
"That's what all the clubs are doing. That's how it works now. Todd, you have been out of the country a long time. Things have changed."
Fair enough. I have been living in Barcelona for almost fourteen years now and I hope many things have changed since I was training on the frosty fields of New England. Change is good. Innovation brings improvement. Progress is positive.
But in the end, is there not something that remains constant in a sea of variables? Is there not a foundation that should ground us as we construct our schools and sports organizations?
Don't coaches and athletes get confused and frustrated when they do not know what their club teaches, what their team values, and what direction they are supposed to be heading?
Don't parents feel frustrated when an organization that they are entrusting their child with is not clear on the need to provide positive role models, respect and encouragement for their child, and clear, consistent communication and reinforcement of core values?
READ MORE>>
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TRY HOCKEY FOR FREE DAY HUGE SUCCESS IN ILLINOIS!
On Saturday, February 20th, USA Hockey and 14 local associations across Illinois hosted Try Hockey For Free Day (THFF), presented by Kraft Heinz! Participating locations encouraged kids, ages 4 to 9, to come try youth hockey as part of Hockey Weekend Across America. Each of the three days of Hockey Weekend Across America featured a special theme. "Wear Your Favorite Jersey Day" was on Friday, Feb. 19, Saturday, Feb. 20, was "Try Hockey Day," and to cap off the weekend, "Celebrate Local Hockey Heroes Day" was held on Sunday, Feb. 21. Help grow the game and spread the word about Try Hockey For Free Days! Encourage your local rink and Association to hold their own Try Hockey For Free Day at any time; USA Hockey and AHAI will support.
 The 14 local rinks and associations across Illinois hosted over 300 skaters this past Saturday. USA Hockey provided sticks, certificates, and jerseys for the kids. AHAI provided One Goal gear for those that needed it. THFF Days are a proven way to grow the game in your community by introducing hockey to some for the first time. THFF days also help those children ready to move into youth associations get to know your club. Each rink added their own special touch to the day. Fox Valley Ice Arena brought out the Chicago Steel mascot Rusty, the Blackhawks hosted an outdoor clinic at Old Orchard, and Sabre Hockey Association hosted a "Girls Only" THFF day at Rocket Ice Arena to name a few. Thanks to all of those below that hosted and participated.
Sabre Girls Hockey (Rocket Ice Arena) * Sabre Hockey Association (All Seasons Ice Rinks) * Decatur Youth Hockey Association * Leafs Hockey Club * Rolling Meadow Renegades * Franklin Park Ice Arena * Fox Valley Ice Arena * Park District of Oak Park * Hoffman Estates Park District Hockey * Kankakee Coyotes * Admirals Hockey Club * Firewagon Hockey, Inc. * Pekin Amateur Hockey Association * Nelson Center (Springfield)
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8U Q & A: SPEED-BUILDING IN PREP FOR THE NEXT STAGE
By Joe Bonnett, ADM Regional Manager
QUESTION: I coach an 8U team. What's the best way to develop my players' speed heading into 10U full-ice hockey?
ANSWER: This is a fantastic question. I also have an 8U player and coach an 8U team, so I've studied this topic extensively.
As the 8U season progresses, some parents get anxious as their child nears graduation to full-ice games. They loved their child's 6U, 7U and 8U experience, but wonder if their child will be ready to play 10U. To be more specific, parents wonder if their player will be able to skate up and down the ice with speed. I hear many parents say that their 8-year-old needs to "air it out" or lengthen their stride. READ MORE>>
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GIRLS FLOCKING TO MONARCH'S 10U PROGRAM
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VAIL MOUNTAINEERS STRUCTURED TO FIT COMMUNITY
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By Mike Scandura ~
After enduring a setback, the New Hampshire Lady Monarchs are going back to their roots and building from the ground up.
The program fielded a 12U team for the past three years, and a fall prep team for ages 16-19, but now the association has decided to focus on player development at the younger levels.
"Last year, we reached a crossroads where we had some girls that would be moving up to 14U, some would stay at 12U and some would stay at 10U," said President/Coaching Director Jeremy Vega.
READ MORE>>
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By Mike Scandura ~
When the Vail Mountaineers take the ice, there's no question who they represent. That's because the association emphasizes a sense of community that's bigger than hockey. For example, every Memorial Day, Mountaineer kids place flags on graves of veterans. The nearby Camp Hale in northwest Colorado was where members of the 10th Mountain Division trained. The 10th was ordered to Italy in 1945 to spearhead an advance of the U.S. Army. READ MORE>>
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PARENTS, LET THE COACHES COACH!
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STAN VAN GUNDY
EXPECTATION TO WIN
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Joy Fawcett, former U.S. National Women's Soccer Team star, "Ultimate Soccer Mom" and Positive Coaching Alliance National Advisory Board Member -- reminds parents to let their kids' coaches coach.
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We bring back one of our favorite videos -former Miami Heat coach and current Detroit Pistons Head Coach, Stan Van Gundy. He summarizes some of the same issues that we all see in youth hockey.
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PRACTICE PLANS FOR ON-ICE
8U, 10U, 12U: Air It Out Drill
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PRACTICE PLANS FOR DRYLAND
Hockey Insights: Forechecking
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Purpose:
To enhance speed and stride length by using proper speed-building methods involving change of direction, brain response and an 8- to 10-second window.
VIEW PLAN>>
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University of Wisconsin Men's Hockey Coach Mike Eaves offers insights into hockey fundamentals, strategy and the rules of the game in this series of videos. In this video he offers insight into forechecking.
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