IN THIS ISSUE
Oh the Places You'll Go...
Blackhawks Launch New Youth Service Program
7 Associations to Host THFF Events
Motzko's Most Valuable Tool
Skill Sessions Working Wonders in MA
10U Q&A: When Is the Time for Full Time?
Potulny on Playing Time in Youth Hockey
Dare to Chill
Goalie Coach & Coaches High Performance Clinic
Just for Coaches: On- & Off-Ice Plans
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Volume 4 Issue 10
October 30, 2017
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OH THE PLACES YOU'LL GO...
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A Letter to all Minor Mites & Their Parents
By Tom Gullen
I don't think I can write an article full of rhymes. But I do believe there is something special about your child's first hockey game. I would like all of you to take your phones out and take a video of your child. You don't need to do the entire game, just a shift or two. At the end of the year, do the same thing. The improvement will amaze you. Come to think of it, do this every year, in any sport or activity they do. Watch them progress.
You will likely see 10 kids within five feet of the puck, like ants finding food on a sidewalk. Don't tell them to "spread out" or "pass" because they aren't quite ready to comprehend those concepts. Occasionally they will come up with the puck on their stick. Occasionally they will shoot the puck and score. Relish that first goal whenever it happens.
Parents will yell
. Your kids won't hear you, but other parents will. Here is a good rule to follow: "Say nice things or say nothing at all." This includes your child, and other children. Cheer, have fun. If you do that, there's a good chance your kid will too. Set an example for your child and they will follow. READ MORE>>
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 Blackhawks Launch New Youth Volunteer Program: ServICE Crew
The Chicago Blackhawks ServICE Crew is designed to encourage youth ages 8-18 to take an active role in their community by volunteering and giving back. Participants of the program will be encouraged to spend their free time doing community service projects of their choosing. Each participant will register with a group and receive a volunteer log sheet to track hours spent doing volunteer projects. Projects are participant driven and may include anything from cleaning up their neighborhood to making cards for patients at a local hospital. Each month the adult representative will submit their group's total hours volunteered as well as a volunteer of the month. Top monthly groups and individuals will be featured on the Blackhawks website and become eligible to win prizes! The group with the most volunteer hours by the end of the program will be invited to participate in a group service project with the help of a Blackhawks player.
LEARN MORE>>
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7 Associations to Host Try Hockey For Free Events
On Saturday, November 4th and Sunday, November 5th, 7 local associations and/or rinks across Illinois will host Try Hockey For Free Day events! Participating locations (see below) encourage kids, ages 4 to 9, to come try youth hockey as part of Come Play Hockey Month. All locations will have limited equipment available for use.
COMPLETE DETAILS>
Decatur Amateur Hockey Association * Peoria Amateur Hockey Association * Leafs Hockey Club
Northbrook Bluehawks * Pekin Amateur Hockey * Firewagon Hockey * Admirals Hockey Club
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Motzko's Most Valuable Tool
Bob Motzko doesn't necessary like the term "small-area games."
"Small-area games is the title that's been given," the St. Cloud State University men's coach said. "What it is, though, is playing hockey."
Motzko regularly incorporates small-area games into his practices with the Huskies, as well as those with the U.S. Junior National Team, which he led to a gold medal at last year's World Junior Championship in Toronto and Montreal, and will coach again this year in Buffalo, New York. He says having them in his practice plans is important in his players' training and development. READ MORE>>
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Skill Sessions Working Wonders in Massachusetts
By Mike Scandura ~ When Massachusetts Hockey decided to hold special skill development sessions for boys and girls, they did so with specific goals in mind. T
here aren't always enough skill development-specific training opportunities during the season to make an impact," said Massachusetts Hockey Girls Player Development Coordinator Ed Bourget. "By adding these sessions, we're giving players a tool box and showing them what a high-level practice looks like, so they can have the tools to prepare themselves and get better. READ MORE>>
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10U Q&A: When is the Time for Full Time?
QUESTION: When should a goalie become a full-time goalie?
ANSWER:
Coaches and parents should be aware of a few things when asking this question about their son or daughter.
First, players should not go to the rink and be a backup goalie ever
before the age of 13. There is nothing fun about sitting on the bench for an entire game and then going home. Coaches should either allow one goalie to play another position for the game or split the crease-time between two goaltenders. Goalies can split the game in half, split each period in half or switch every three to four minutes. Remember that the goalie's experience each day is more important than the appearance of a goaltending pattern similar to what is seen in the NHL. Let them play. Let them develop. Let them be kids. READ MORE>>
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Potulny on Playing Time in Youth Hockey
By Mike Rand ~ As a former standout college and American Hockey League player, a current NCAA Division I men's head coach at Northern Michigan University and a father of 10U and 12U hockey-playing boys, Grant Potulny can see the issue of playing time through an interesting and diverse lens.
That doesn't quite make Potulny an expert on one of the biggest hot-button issues in youth hockey (and all of youth sports, really), but it does give him some insights into how to handle the questions and concerns that naturally relate to ice time during the course of a youth hockey season. READ MORE>>
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Do You Dare to Chill?!
Many sports parents do whatever they think it will take to help their kids succeed. However, as this video points out, the best way for that to happen is counter-intuitive: kids enjoy sports more, play longer, and even perform better when their parents relax and let youth sports be their kids' thing.
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Goalie Coach & Coaches High Performance Clinic
There will be a Goalie Coach and Coaches High Performance Clinic on Sunday, November 12, 2017 from 10:00am to 5:00pm at the Compton Family Ice Center in South Bend, IN. Coaches attending
this clinic can earn their Level 2 or Level 3 certification, or re-certify Level 3 certification. No Level 1 or Level 4 certification will be given for this clinic. Cost for the clinic is $70. Click HERE to register. When searching for clinic, select "CEP High Performance" from the Course Level drop down menu to narrow down options.
For more information, please contact Phil Osaer at phil.osaer@usahockey.org.
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ON-ICE DRILLS
12U+ Simultaneous Regroup:
A Passing Warm-Up
PURPOSE:
To create a FUN random passing drill that requires decision-making, awareness, passing execution, puck support and timing. VIEW PLAN>>
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OFF-ICE DRILLS
Off-Ice Drills: Body Contact
Coaching Drills for Hockey
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