Articles
Game coaching – Part 1
- Details
- Last Updated on Wednesday, 06 March 2013 17:22
By John Russo
Let’s Play Hockey Columnist
Note: This will be one of the articles (Chapter 8: “The Game”) in John Russo’s soon-to-be published new book “Best of Coaches’ Corner – 26 Years.” Watch for it in 2013.
This article is the first of a two-part series on game coaching the “unique and critical situations” that I developed in the 1990s.
Most coaches prepare their teams to deal with normal games, not the abnormal. Very few games are normal, however. It is performance in these critical or unique game situations that helps make or break most coaches. The best way to handle them is to confront them in advance and to know what a good choice (we never know what will be successful for sure) response will be. In the frenzy of a game, it is difficult to come up with high impact decisions on short notice. Coaches that put some emphasis on the unique or critical situations (the list will come soon!) will not only have better game results but will also be educating their players in how to better analyze and respond to shifts in the game – and at what points in the game special efforts will pay off best.
Quickness and agility: High priorities for the offseason
- Details
- Last Updated on Wednesday, 06 March 2013 17:14
By Jack Blatherwick
Let’s Play Hockey Columnist
Strength training for skating is most effective if it is combined with drills for explosive acceleration of your own body weight. ACCELERATION TRAINING takes the form of: (a) rapid increase (or decrease) in speed, (b) explosive jumps (weight vests, sand bags or body weight) and (c) quick changes of direction (agility).
Read more: Quickness and agility: High priorities for the offseason
What are you entitled to?
- Details
- Last Updated on Wednesday, 06 March 2013 16:58
By Kim McCullough, M.Sc, YCS
If you read any recent articles and books about raising kids, the issue of entitlement comes up. By far the best book I’ve read on this subject is “The Entitlement Trap.”
And while it is more of a parenting book, I found it had some awesome insights into developing today’s young athletes that I can definitely use as a coach.
It seems that now, more than ever, players and kids feel entitled to have what they want when they want it – no questions asked. It’s like they think the world owes them something and they don’t need to put in the time and effort to get what they want. I know that not all kids are like this. But I have seen more and more players like this in recent years.
Season end: Time to reflect
- Details
- Last Updated on Wednesday, 06 March 2013 17:01
By Hal Tearse
Minnesota Hockey
At the end of each season, all players should take some time to review their performance and quality of experience playing the game. This process transcends the win-loss record of the team and looks at individual development and overall quality of the experience. There are no so-called “life lessons” on the scoreboard and only through intentional review and discussions in the proper context can the real benefits of playing athletics be realized.
State Tournament needs new life
- Details
- Last Updated on Wednesday, 06 March 2013 16:51
By Tom Westcott
The two major national sporting events that capture the nation are the Super Bowl and the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. The Super Bowl captivates every household from Bellingham, Wash., to Miami, Fla. The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament grips most everyone from Bangor, Maine to Chula Vista, Calif.
The 2013 Minnesota Boys’ State Hockey Tournament is here! The hockey tournaments have a long history of entertaining every household from Worthington to Baudette. Whether you are from St. James, Aitkin, South Haven or Ray, Minn., you could always count on the hockey tournaments to be on your TV at home, at a restaurant or at work.
