Discover How to Design Successful Hockey Drills

As part of the All Star Season program, youth coaching and fitness expert, Brian Grasso, identifies two key strategies for designing successful drills.  Follow Coach Grasso’s advice for designing successful hockey drills:

1. You’ve got to get players active, not lecture at them. Understand the size of your team and how to break it into the right-size groups. Keep instructions clear and short. Preparation is a top priority. Some coaches run through the purpose and sequence of drills even before going out to practice.


2. Design drills and skill-development exercises that get all players moving around, no matter the position or talent level. While every practice has down time for water or a needed short rest, always look to keep the kids engaged.  Even when they’re “resting”, they’re still doing something. Make every minute count and make this time interactive for players with both their coaches and teammates.

For more information about the keys to having an all star player, visit: www.AllStarSeason.com.

Specializing in Hockey is No Guarantee of Success

Don’t allow your child to specialize in hockey too soon. Baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. says his dad insisted that Cal and his brother, also a former major leaguer, play more sports than just baseball as kids. And that was even though Cal Ripken Sr. was a lifelong professional baseball man.

Kids who participate in a variety of sports get more enrichment than those who specialize early on. Different sports also develop different mental and physical skills, resulting in lower burnout rates and fewer repetitive-stress injuries. These are no small things.

Playing under different coaches will also introduce your child to a variety of personality types and performance strategies. Encourage your child to become a total athlete, and he or she will shine in the sport they ultimately choose.

Kick-Start the Season with a Perfect Parent Meeting

Maybe it’s asking a lot to run the perfect parent meeting to start the season. But you can come pretty close with these steps on the agenda:

• Your first item to discuss at the meeting should be introductions.  As the team manager or coach you should introduce yourself and other coaches.


• Ask the parents to introduce themselves. You can suggest introduction topics such as their spouse/partner’s name, where they live, past hockey experiences, maybe profession if appropriate.


• Ask that each person tell something about his/her child and the parents’ goals for the season.


• Take time to summarize by comparing everyone’s goals. Discuss any differences or agreements you have so that you can settle any discrepancies.

At a separate meeting, maybe a bit later in the season, the players themselves should also be allowed to discuss their goals and desires. The best coaches and team managers will also consider those player goals and integrate them throughout the season.

What is a Puckmasters Hockey Training Franchise?

Puckmasters is the world's first and largest Hockey Training Center franchise. We are a year-round hockey training center that focuses not only on building the local hockey players skills, we also build their self-confidence and enjoyment of the game.

For more information, you can watch the video below or contact them by clicking here.

5 Steps to Getting Your Kids Off to a Good Start

The first few weeks that kids spend playing a sport often determines how long they will continue. If they are fun, then kids will stay with it. If not, kids will quit and find other ways to spend their time. Parents can help get their kids off to a good start by following these 5 simple tips:

• Get Instruction in Advance - Part of the fun that kids derive from sports comes from the confidence they gain by performing at a level comparable or above that of their friends. A few private lessons before the first practice from a knowledgeable friend or instructor can help kids start with confidence. While parents can sometimes fill this role, kids often listen better to another adult. If possible, parents should get instruction for their child from someone else and then be ready to help out afterwards with additional practice.


• Attend the First Practices and Games - Parents can show their support for new activities by taking time to attend the first team events. These events provide parents a good chance to watch their kids learning new skills and interacting with friends. If kids don’t know many of the other kids and are shy, parents should consider helping their kids get acquainted with the other players.


• Be Generous with Praise and Encouragement - It is unlikely that the first time kids participate in a new sport that they will excel. Parents may have to be creative in their compliments, but parental praise is an important part of process. Praising a child’s effort, listening, participation and outgoing actions are just as valid as praising a child’s skill.


• Don’t Give Criticism or Correction - It will be tempting for parents to point out areas of improvement for their child. Especially during the first few weeks, this should be avoided to the extreme. Parents should let the coach work with their child to improve skills. There is plenty of time to fix skill problems if kids enjoy playing.


• Provide Extra Time Before and After Practices - One of the biggest benefits for kids playing sports is the opportunity to spend more time with friends. Arriving immediately before and leaving right after a practice or game don’t give kids time to enjoy this benefit. Parents should be prepared to arrive early and then stay late in order to give their kids the chance for more socialization.

Getting kids started on the right foot in sports is not difficult but may require some patience. At any age, there is always plenty of time for kids to build skills. But, there may not always be plenty of time to build enjoyment. The right parental actions during the critical first few weeks of a sport’s season can give kids and parents years of great memories. (Special thanks to Sports Esteem for the above article.)

8 Ways to Turn Around a Problem Parent

Most coaches have had a problem parent or two on their team. In this article, we address eight ways to turn around a problem parent. Here are some ideas for working through this issue.

1. Assume parents are trying to help. In spite of what parents may be doing, most are behaving as they are because they believe their actions will benefit their child. Many times parents may be repeating inappropriate behaviors that were used with them when they played sports.


2. Educate parents about best practices. If parents are working in their child’s best interests but are going about it wrong, then coaches can give parents alternative behaviors that will accomplish the desired results.


3. Communicate frequently with parents as individuals and as a group. The more parents and coaches are at ease talking with each other about small issues, the more parents and coaches will be comfortable talking about more difficult issues.


4. Rely on beginning of season communications. If the coach has held a meeting early in the season and given parents a clear set of goals and playing philosophies, coaches can go back to those to statements to restart the relationship.


5. Seek help from league officials. Don’t hesitate to discuss a problem parent with the supervising league official. This provides an opportunity to gain insight into the parent or the problem as well as alerting others to a difficult situation.


6. Seek advice from other coaches. With coach turnover, coaches are seeing problems with parents and parent issues that have been resolved many times by other coaches before them.


7. Use parent meetings to form consensus and invoke peer pressure. Parent meetings are good times to set expectations for team parent behavior and discuss them. Parents are more likely to act in ways that they believe are supported by other parents.


8. Rely on printed league statements and codes of conduct. In extreme situations, coaches may need to reference the league’s Code of Conduct to warn that current behavior may risk league actions. Coaches should use the league as the enforcer of these policies.

There is no standard approach to parent problems. A strategy focusing on communication, education and enforcement gives coaches the best chances of resolving parent issues. Special thanks to Sports Esteem for sharing the above article.

Launch of The Avalanche Guild

The Hockey Guild is proud to announce the launch of The Avalanche Guild (www.theavalancheguild.com) their new website totally dedicated to bringing hockey fans one step closer to the Colorado  Avalanche experience.

This site is home for all of their exclusive on-ice events at Pepsi Center, including Avalanche After-Hours games, Battle for the Banner and their new championship events with Big Bear Ice Arena and the C-470 youth hockey league! Check out everything The Avalanche Guild has to offer today by clicking here!

A Special Message from CAHA President

I would like to also welcome you to the 1st edition of the Colorado Avalanche Cares newsletter. This newsletter is a partnership between Colorado Amateur Hockey Association and the Colorado Avalanche. It's our goal with this program to provide you the resources and tools to ensure your family and team have a successful season. Please take the time to read through each newsletter and let's ensure that fun stays in the game for the children.

I would like to wish each of you a successful and injury free season as you enjoy what the great game of hockey has to offer.  I would also like to remind each of you to respect the game and others that participate in it, regardless of a call on the ice, final game result, or poor behavior by others who don't share your knowledge or respect of the game.

So for the 2008 - 2009 season let's all remember to "relax, it is just a game". And in the end I honestly believe that perspective will help parents create the bonds for a lifetime that the great game of hockey can provide for a family. Have a great, fun and relaxing season. I look forward to seeing you at the rink!

Should anyone have any questions or need help, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Good luck this season!

Sincerely,

Phil Paolilli
President
Colorado Amateur Hockey Association

Save Time and Frustrations with GoToMeeting.com

Remember gathering people for meetings when gas was cheap? Now with the cost of gas it is a perfect excuse for skipping a meeting. GotoMeeting.com is offering a solution: the online meeting. Instead of driving, now all potential attendees need is a computer and Internet access.

Purpose: GotoMeeting.com allows for people to attend meetings without leaving the comfort of their own computer. They don’t even have to change clothes. Using the internet and technology, GotoMeeting creates an efficient online meeting service.

Price: $49.99 per month (30-day free trial)

Top features: After easily creating an account, the host of the meeting will be provided a link. There is no required software or downloads. The registered host passes the link along via email. All an individual needs to attend is the email with the link, that’s it.

GotoMeeting.com allows each attendee to view files from the host computer. This could be used for league drafts, allowing for a cyber space draft, which is far more efficient than a live draft. The host simply can open and display a spreadsheet, placing the names with the teams as picked. The same can be done with league rules, as all attendees can view rules and suggest changes as needed

Worried about others seeing private items? GotoMeeting.com gives the host the ability to hide the toolbar and other icons from attendees.

Another added feature is the private chat. GotoMeeting.com allows for individual chat with specific attendees, allowing for questions to be answered as the meeting moves forward.

Security: Opening a personal computer to a public product is always a bit unnerving. GotoMeeting.com uses encryption, preventing any unwanted eavesdropping. It also provides a unique ID and password, keeping out unintended guests. Plus, the host will be automatically logged out after a specified period of inactivity set by the host.

What GotoMeeting.com says about helping a league: GotoMeeting.com is an easy way to meet and discuss league issues. League board meetings, rule meetings and scheduling can all be done online via GotoMeeting.com. Such meetings are difficult to schedule and can often linger on and on with endless banter. Online meeting eliminates the unnecessary topics, with one person in control, and keeps things flowing, cutting down the length of the meeting.

Final period: The biggest thing to consider with GotoMeeting.com is the price. The cost is $49 per month, a relatively large investment for teams but more affordable for leagues and organizations. For more information, click here to visit the GotoMeeting website.

Reviewed by Cares program editors

Train Online for Success with Kids’ Sports Psychology

Kids’ Sports Psychology is a new online mental training community for sports parents, coaches and their young athletes. Kids’ Sports Psychology contributors include mental game expert, Dr. Patrick Cohn, and sports parenting writer, Lisa Cohn.

Purpose: Kids’ Sports Psychology offers resources for sports parents and youth coaches to improve parenting and coaching skills. The service helps young athletes improve their mental game. Young athletes can access mental training e-books and videos to boost their confidence and success in sports.

Price: $158 for a one-year full membership; or $395 for a one-year premium membership that includes email coaching with Dr. Cohn.

Top features: At Kids Sports Psychology, members have access to mental toughness articles, age specific e-books, videos for sports kids and expert interviews. Members gain access to bonus offerings (valued at $300 retail) such as Sports Parents’ Top Dilemma e-book and workbook program, special checklists for sports parents and coaches, plus an expansive e-book library.

For example, sports parents and youth coaches have access to an exclusive 10-step plan for boosting confidence and cultivating positive mental game skills in young athletes. This 10-step plan reveals Dr. Cohn’s top mental strategies to improve sports kids’ performance. One popular topic: Building confidence to helping kids cope with mistakes.

Members have access to downloadable age-specific confidence-boosting e-books written specifically for young athletes. These mental training e-books include topics such as improving focus, using pre-shot routines and coping with fear of failure.

Members can watch sports psychology video programs designed to help athletes quickly boost their confidence. Parents and their kids can watch these short, five-minute videos to improve kids’ mental toughness.

As a member of Kids’ Sports Psychology, sports parents and youth coaches can read mental training articles to help athletes improve performance. Mental training articles include “hot topics” in sports psychology as well as tips to improve sports parenting and coaching skills.

Kids Sports Psychology offers concise mental training checklists for sports parents. These checklists are quick reminders to boost kids’ confidence and success in sports.

Expert audio interviews with successful sports parents, youth sports experts, coaches and sports psychologists are available to Kids’ Sports Psychology members. Interviews cover topics such as how to motivate kids, how to communicate with young athletes and how to build self-confidence.

In the “Ask The Experts” section, members can read questions from other sports parents and coaches with expert advice from Dr. Cohn and Lisa Cohn. Members can also ask their mental game questions and receive answers from Dr. Cohn and Lisa Cohn.

Kids Sports Psychology includes an interactive forum for sports parents and coaches. This forum allows members to interact and receive answers from other members and Dr. Cohn and Lisa Cohn.

Final period: With access to cutting-edge mental training strategies for sports parents, youth coaches and kids, Kids’ Sports Psychology is well worth the purchase. For more information, click here to visit the Kid Sports Psychology website.


Reviewed by Cares program editors.

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