IN THIS ISSUE
Try Hockey For Free on Saturday, Feb. 25
10U Q&A: Development Isn't Linear
If They're Not Failing, They're Not Improving
Maximizing 8U Development (and Enjoyment)
Small-Ice Games Net Big Benefits for Missouri
Jeff Barat Leads Flint Hockey into New Rink and New Era
Video: Coaching from the Stands is Confusing for Athletes
Video: The Car Ride Home
Just for Coaches:
On- and Off-Ice Drills
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Volume 4 Issue 2
February 20, 2017
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USA HOCKEY SETS 8 & UNDER PLAYER
PARTICIPATION RECORD
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Cora Dwyer, a 7-year-old from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, today became the 107,723rd 8-and-Under player to join USA Hockey in 2016-17, setting a single-season 8U participation record. It marked the second consecutive record-breaking season for USA Hockey in the 8U age classification.
"These are exciting times for hockey in the United States, and as our participation numbers indicate, the best is yet to come," said Jim Smith, president of USA Hockey. "It's truly a credit to what I believe are the greatest volunteers anywhere, along with initiatives like USA Hockey's American Development Model and Try Hockey For Free Days, which welcome young players to the sport and provide a safe and fun environment to enjoy the sport."
USA Hockey is also on pace for season-over-season player increases at the 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U, 18U and adult age classifications.
FULL ARTICLE>>
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16 ILLINOIS ASSOCIATIONS TO HOST TRY HOCKEY FOR FREE DAY THIS SATURDAY
On Saturday, February 25th, USA Hockey and 300 local association across the country will host Try Hockey For Free Day! Participating locations encourage kids, ages 4 to 9, to come try youth hockey as part of Hockey Week Across America. All locations will have limited equipment available for use.
Sixteen (16) Illinois associations, rinks and/or park districts will play host to Try Hockey For Free Day events. Check out the list below for the location nearest you! Help grow the game and spread the word about Try Hockey For Free Day! For any questions, please contact the event coordinator listed or USA Hockey at (719) 538.1124 or email
comeplayyouthhockey@usahockey.org.
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10U Q & A: DEVELOPMENT ISN'T LINEAR
Q: We're five months into the season and my children aren't playing any better than they did in October. What's wrong?
A: As adults, we become conditioned to expect dramatic performance gains quickly and steadily in our everyday lives. But remember,
children's development isn't linear. They don't have adult maturity, physically or mentally, and they don't have the broad foundation of experiences adults have to help them adjust quickly to a wide variety of challenges. So, before jumping to any conclusions about 10U children on the ice, keep in mind that their minds and bodies are in a constant state of change, and that it's normal for their performance to plateau or even regress for periods of time. If they are still having fun, still engaged and still giving a great effort, they're still improving, even if it doesn't always look like it at 10U.
FULL ARTICLE>>
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IF THEY'RE NOT FAILING, THEY'RE NOT IMPROVING
By Michael Rand ~ In the film "Apollo 13," actor Ed Harris famously utters the line, "Failure is not an option" in regard to the American mission to land on the moon for a third time.
The line reflects the life-or-death nature of decisions made in space, but one also needs to consider this: in order to conquer space travel in the first place, rocket scientists had to fail countless times.
Youth hockey is not rocket science, but we can still learn a valuable lesson by comparison. READ MORE>>
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MAXIMIZING 8U DEVELOPMENT
(AND ENJOYMENT)
By Michael Rand ~ Are you the kind of person who watches a college or pro sporting event featuring your favorite team and can't help but live and die with every big moment?
(Raises hand sheepishly, yet unapologetically).
Hey, it's OK. Sports are fun. They're intense. They can even be stressful.
However, there is a huge difference between Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final and your son or daughter's youth hockey game. READ MORE>>
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SMALL-ICE GAMES NET BIG BENEFITS FOR MISSOURI PROGRAM
By Mike Scandura ~ Development doesn't happen while players are standing around.
And the last thing the Kirkwood (Missouri) Youth Hockey board of directors wanted was for its young players standing idly by with little to do. As a result, the board decided to implement quarter-ice, 3-on-3 games for 6U kids using
QuickChange pads
, which allow for a speedy transition from skater to goalie.
Players remain on the ice for only 45 seconds and then either switch with other players or rest briefly to keep the game fast-paced. READ MORE>>
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JEFF BARAT LEADS FLINT HOCKEY INTO NEW RINK AND NEW ERA
By Greg Bates ~ When the Greater Flint Hockey Association (GFHA) got back up and running in summer 2014, it meant brighter days were ahead.
The previous two years were a dark time for the association after its home rink had shut down. But the reopening and renaming of the Crystal Fieldhouse Ice Arena in Burton, Michigan, meant local kids had another venue to be able to skate and play hockey.
Now the GFHA - which has been around for decades and battled through a number of rink shutdowns - is thriving at its "new" rink.
"We got a lot of support from the community," said Jeff Barat, GFHA president, treasurer and disabled hockey director.
Barat, who took over the three positions when the GFHA started back up, has been a driving force in helping the association get its numbers to gradually increase. READ MORE>>
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CHECK OUT THESE GREAT VIDEOS!
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The Car Ride Home
70% of kids quit sports before high school. How we talk to our kids about sports is how we keep our kids in sports.
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Kevin Eastman: Coaching from the Stands is Confusing for Athletes
Eastman is Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Los Angeles Clippers.
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ON-ICE DRILLS
10U-18U: F1 Forecheck Game
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OFF-ICE DRILLS
Hurdle Rebound for Power
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Purpose:
To teach the finer techniques of your forecheck scheme, especially the role and techniques of the F1. This game helps coaches teach how to apply offensive-zone pressure, steal/regain the puck and create more offense.
VIEW PLAN>>
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Build up explosive leg power with this hockey training drill from Nike SPARQ.
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