Kim McCullough
Seven “C’s” that make coaches very happy
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- Last Updated on Friday, 04 January 2013 17:45
By Kim McCullough, M.Sc, YCS
Over the holiday season, I take a few days to reflect on what my teams and players have achieved (and still need to work on) in this first half of the season. I thought I would share with you the seven “C’s” that I and my fellow coaches are looking for (and hoping for) from players for the rest of this season.
Motivation is not enough
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- Last Updated on Thursday, 20 December 2012 18:17
By Kim McCullough, M.Sc, YCS
It is often said hockey is 80 percent mental and only 20 percent physical. And while I think that the physical trumps the mental at the younger ages, when players are still developing the skills necessary to just be able to compete, I do believe that the importance of the mental side of the game outweighs that of the physical game once a player starts playing at an elite level in Bantam and Midget.
When a player is between the ages of 13-17, it is often their mental performance that dictates a large proportion of their physical game. Motivation is a huge piece of the performance puzzle in this age group, but there is another part of the mental game that is sometimes mistaken for motivation, but is actually quite different and absolutely critical.
The three hardest skills in girls’ hockey
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- Last Updated on Thursday, 06 December 2012 18:44
By Kim McCullough, M.Sc, YCS
Every player has one thing they struggle with more than anything else on the ice. Same thing goes for each position on the ice. There are certain position-specific skills that are more challenging than others for goalies, defensemen and forwards.
Over the past 20 years of playing, teaching and coaching the game, I’ve noticed that there seems to be ONE skill that is hardest for players in each of these three positions.
So here are the hardest things for goalies, defense and forwards to do.
Five mistakes that drive coaches crazy
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- Last Updated on Thursday, 13 December 2012 17:53
By Kim McCullough, M.Sc, YCS
Now that we are deep into the regular season, I have to admit that I’m finding myself getting frustrated by the fact that some of my players consistently make the same mistakes over and over again. I’m sure there are more than a few coaches out there who are feeling the same frustrations. Players - we don’t mind if you make mistakes every once in a while, but when you continue to repeat those same mistakes over time, we start to question your coachability and consistency. Being coachable and consistent are two critical qualities for all players especially when you are looking to play at the elite levels of girls’ hockey.
So to help you avoid getting on your coach’s bad side at the midpoint of the season, here are the top five mistakes that drive me crazy as a coach:
Where elite hockey players are really made
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- Last Updated on Friday, 30 November 2012 22:39
By Kim McCullough, M.Sc, YCS
The outdoor rink was the secret to my success as a young hockey player and I truly believe that the lack of time spent on the outdoor rink by today’s young players is what is preventing many of them from progressing to the highest level possible.
I didn’t go to a lot of hockey camps or skills sessions, but I played a lot of pick-up hockey. I was the only girl and usually one of the few teenagers in intense games between grown men, many of whom had played junior hockey and beyond.
When I first started playing in those games, I was just a filler. I would skate up and down the ice as hard as I could, never really expecting to get the puck and trying to make the smartest and quickest play possible if I did.
