Q&A: When Do You Bench a Player for Bad Behavior?

Q. A player on my daughter’s all-girls team engages in “mean girl” behavior, including telling other girls they are fat, giving them cheap shots during practice and tossing their hats/gloves in puddles in the parking lot. She is also the leading scorer and we’re heading into the playoffs. Should the coach bench her?

A. “As coaches, the biggest carrot we have is playtime,” says experienced hockey director and coach Angelo Ricci. “They’re kids so we can’t fine them and suspension is a last resort.” The key to using playtime to help control behavior is to establish all the rules up-front in a preseason meeting. Then, it’s up to the coach to hold everyone accountable and enforce the rules in a fair and consistent manner, says Ricci. “If you favor kids or change the rules midseason, you lose respect in the locker room.”

In particular, Ricci emphasizes that the behavior of repeat offenders needs to be addressed with playtime. While he admits that some coaches turn a blind eye to behavior when they shouldn’t, the philosophy remains the same: It doesn’t matter what game it is. If a coach determines that a player needs to be benched for a portion of a game, it doesn’t matter if it’s the first game of the season or the last. After all, Ricci says, “Would you let your kid steal a $1 candy bar but not $50 headphones? It’s the same crime.”

Editor’s Note: Thank you to Angelo Ricci for sharing his 15 years of expertise as a hockey director in this article. Ricci is founder, head instructor and consultant for Ricci Hockey Consulting. With 20+ years experience as a skills and stickhandling coach, he conducts/oversees more than 40 programs year-round that develop over 1,000 players each year.

10 Top Volunteer Incentives

Every year, every team seems to go through the same ritual: How to thank the team manager. (And maybe the team treasurer, the social coordinator, the water bottle hauler.) So you take up a little collection and then you start asking around. Does this person like coffee? Movies? Golf? You buy a gift card, sign a card and you’re done. There you go: A perfectly forgettable gift that is gone in no time. This year, think about more personal gifts that don’t get lost in the shuffle of daily life:

1. Insulated travel mug


2. Hot/cold clear acrylic cup


3. Stadium/tailgate foam cup holder for your favorite team


4. Smartphone gloves


5. Stadium blanket


6. Spiritwear for your association


7. Car wash, detailing, car scents


8. Dinner out with reservations and babysitting money


9. Tickets for a favorite experience: movies, comedy club, hockey game


10. Top-of-the-line anything: golf balls, nail polish, car wax

Editor’s Note: Thank you to Kelly Anton for this story.

Colorado Thunderbirds Spring, Summer & Fall Programs

Check out the Colorado Thunderbirds AAA program - one of the top-ranked AAA programs in the United States! The organization provides AAA-caliber players with the ice time, coaching and training needed to establish and maintain an elite development track. The Thunderbirds program is based on the core values of accountability, attitude and effort. Follow the links below to download information packets and register:

Spring: Denver Teams & NEW Mountain Teams

• 1999-2005 birth years


• Tryouts March 17-23 in Denver, March 23-24 in Vail


• Season runs from early April to end of May


• Travel players attend Challenge Cup in Vancouver, May 17-20

Spring & Summer: Developmental Skates

• 1995-1999 birth years: May 14-July 23, 25 hours on-ice development


• 2000-2002 birth years: June 11-July 25, 18 hours of on-ice development

Fall 2013-2014 Tryouts

Tentative dates (pending CAHA approval):

• U14, U13, U12 and U11: May 24-May 26


• U18: July 25-26


• U16, U15: July 26-28

Challenge Yourself to the Red Rocks Stair Climb

When you live in Colorado, there’s no need to keep your training inside the gym or rink at all times. The weather is generally great and the views are gorgeous. So why not head up to Morrison for a workout at Red Rocks? (Note that this workout is suited to adult and teen hockey players—not to mention the parents of players, who may be tired of waiting around rinks. Younger athletes need to moderate based on their ability.)

Red Rocks is known nationally for its famous music venue. For athletes, it is a haven for pushing the limits in the altitude. (Click here for details on exercising there.) Sitting at 6,000 feet high, Red Rocks has two staircases on either side of the amphitheater that rise from the lower parking lot to the upper concession level, each with about 380 steps. There are two interior stairways on either side of the bleachers each with 138 steps from the stage to the top. Red Rocks features 69 rows of seats in the venue, which equates to running approximately three miles on an ascent or descent of the bleachers. Add in 21 planter boxes for plyo jumps, side stairways that climb from the stage to the upper parking lot with 83 steps, which then connect by way of an ascending quarter-mile ramp to 62 steps straight up to the upper concession area; you have a challenging workout amidst some of the best scenery in the Rocky Mountains.

All climbers agree that the climb up is exhilarating, but the descent can wreak havoc on your joints. Stresses Lisa Zeigel of Health Fitness Corporation, “Going down the hill takes a bit of time and I prefer to take trails down rather than the stairs as the eccentric resistance can cause excessive muscle soreness and wear on the joints.” When climbing stairs, keep the following injury-prevention training tips in mind:

• Warm up and cool down for five minutes.


• When stair climbing in a building, always take the elevator down to avoid injuring knees, ankles and calf muscles.


• Incorporate three days of H.I.I.T (High Intensity Interval Training).


• Stretch after every workout; use the foam roller on your IT band and glutes.


• Rest for one day.

Editor’s Note: Thank you to Kathy Smith for this story. Kathy is a freelance writer, who has been published in many local Denver magazines and was nationally published in Her Sport. She has a keen interest in writing about athletics. She is a chef, mother of four and a fitness enthusiast. Kath recently picked up stair climb races as her new favorite sport, and while she isn't the fastest, she is passionate about competing in more races and getting better times.

 

Rocky Mountain Hockey Schools

Experience the BEST of the BEST! It’s not an overstatement, it’s simply the truth. Rocky Mountain Hockey Schools pairs the best specialized hockey training with a carefully selected staff that includes many of the best instructors in the industry. As if that wasn’t enough, this combination is offered at some of the greatest hockey camp locations on EARTH! Locations that are fun, beautiful, and interesting for the entire family to enjoy!

The Perfect Hockey Family Vacation

At RMHS, the development of our athletes comes first. We believe that when you find yourself being trained by the best coaches in an inspiring, awesome location, that you’ll be even more motivated to push yourself hard than you ever imagined possible, improving your skills and knowledge every day and emerging as a better player at the end of the camp.

“In my early years RMHS really helped me make a strong fundamental foundation for my hockey future. Now I am playing U18 AAA hockey and I am still building on that foundation to advance my game today.”

—Hunter Clark, Rocky Mountain Rough Riders AAA, U18

2012 RMHS Colorado Locations: Arvada, Littleton, Breckenridge, & Steamboat Springs

At all of our camps you will find our staff separating the players on and off-ice by age and skill level to optimize the training for all players involved.

Arvada APEX Center
May 3-6, 2012

RMHS Teams up with John Paris Jr and THE PARIS WAY

Elite Defenseman & Goaltending Camp – Come train with the pros. This camp is for defenseman and goaltenders that played AA/AAA or High School level hockey birth years 94-99. You receive 9 hours of on-ice training, over 5 hours of off-ice training, and 2+ hours of classroom.

Arvada APEX Center
June 25-29, 2012 (6-17yrs)

• Checking Camp (13-17yrs)


• Skills Drills and Small Area Games (6-12yrs)

Rocky Mountain Adventure Hockey Camp: Steamboat
Springs Howelsen Ice Arena

July 1-7
15+ hours of on-ice training

• Professionally guided mountain activities


• Day and resident options


• See it here!

Littleton The Edge Ice Arena

July 9-13

• Defensive & Offensive Concepts Camp (11-16yrs)


• Skills, Drills, & Small Area Games (6-10yrs)

Breckenridge The Stephen C. West Ice Arena

July 30–Aug. 3

• Shooting, Scoring, & Conditioning Camp (11-16yrs)


• Skills, Drills, & Small Area Games (6-10yrs)

Click here to find out more about our camp focuses and how we rotate them every year to keep it fresh and new for our students.

SAVE NOW! Enter the Promo Code: AVALANCHECARES to save $50 through April 30.

Why Didn’t My Kid Make the Team?

A player may not make a specific team he or she is trying out for due to many things. Experienced hockey director and coach Angelo Ricci shares many of the reasons he has encountered over the years.

• Skill set: Your player is quite simply not ready for the specific level he or she is trying out for. Can your player skate at this level? Can your player pass, handle and shoot the puck at this level?


• Maturity: The maturity of players can sometimes factor into the selection process. Is this player a first or second year?


• Fit: Some coaches look for a specific type of player, role or skill set when determining their roster. How will that player fit with the chemistry of the team?


• Hockey sense: A big concern for many coaches is “hockey sense” or “hockey smarts.” Does your player understand, think and read the game? This aspect of his or her game can be a major factor in determining if player child makes the team.


• Development: A coach can sometimes weigh the option if a player might be better off playing on the team at the lower level then what they are trying out for. This will sometimes allow the player to be a top-line player instead of the ninth forward or sixth defenseman for the higher-level team. This will allow that player to develop and see more ice time in critical situations of the game.


• Parents: This does not happen too often, but I have seen it with a few coaches and parents over the years. What are the player’s parents like? Will they be an issue all season? Are they high maintenance? Do they get in the ear of other parents and try to get on their side if they don’t like the way their child is being coached or handled? I can tell you a bad parent or parent group can ruin the season for the players and staff. No matter if your team is in first place or last place, the season will be a success if your player develops, has fun and the parents get along—rather than form cliques and small groups of “negativity.” It’s a game…enjoy it!

These are some of the reasons on why your player did not make the team. I do believe it is imperative that a coach has great communication skills; it is the key ingredient for a coach when tough decisions are made. I believe each coach should have an exit interview or at least provide some feedback on why your player did not make the team.

To be totally honest, yes, coaches make mistakes. There is no exact science. It is not because the evaluators (coaches) did not give each player a good, honest look. Players do develop differently and at different points during the season.

This is a great, fun game. So please allow situations like this to be a life lesson for your player. We all get cut, we all get fired. We are all told at some point in our lives that our services are no longer needed. Sports are a microcosm of life—life will go on if your player did not make the team. Let your player enjoy the game and play at a level that will allow him or her to flourish and want to play again next season.

Editor’s Note: Thank you to Angelo Ricci for sharing his 15 years of expertise as a hockey director in this article. Ricci is founder, head instructor and consultant for Ricci Hockey Consulting. With 20+ years experience as a skills and stickhandling coach, he conducts/oversees more than 40 programs year-round that develop over 1,000 players each year.

End-of-Season Party: Mexican Food Recipes

Whether you’re in charge of the team dinner or a contributor to the food and beverage needs, you’re likely in the “how can I get this done quickly?” mentality. I know I always am, and I want to share with you some tried-and-true fast and delicious recipes you can whip up and receive rave reviews. And, these tasty dishes won’t break the bank.

To keep the party simple, follow these guidelines:

• Themed parties are the easiest to coordinate with parents, because most people have favorite recipes or know where to pick up something that works within the theme.


• Prepare a dish that holds well at room temperature conditions.


• Depending on the size of the party and number of adult-to-children ratio, plan for a main course, side dish and salad.


• Always try to have appetizers and desserts in bite-size portions.


• It’s a good idea to have others bring their dishes ready to serve in a container with utensils.


• When you take a dish to a party, label the utensil and serving dish.

Mexican-Theme Party

Check out this menu, which serves 20: Soft Tacos with Chile Cheese Chicken, Blender Guacamole, Salsa Verde, Watermelon Salad, and Roasted Potatoes with Boursin Cheese and Jalapeños.

Soft Tacos with Chile Cheese Chicken

• 2 dozen corn tortillas or store-bought crispy taco shells


• 20 boneless, skinless chicken breasts


• Salt, pepper and chile powder


• 2 large (15 oz) cans diced hatch green chiles (or fresh in summer)


• 1 pound grated mixed Mexican cheeses


• 5 limes, halved


• Extra virgin olive oil

Preheat oven to 350°. Split each chicken breast horizontally without going all the way through the breast, hence creating a pocket. Season the top and inside of each breast with salt, pepper and chile powder. Place the breast on the baking sheet and stuff the inside pocket with green chiles. Top the chicken breasts with cheese and squeeze a half lime over the cheese.

Bake for 15 to 18 minutes. Remove. Let rest for five minutes. Meanwhile, wrap the tortillas in a damp cloth and microwave for one minute. Thinly slice the chicken breasts and serve with the warmed tortillas.

Keep the tortillas soft during the party by wrapping in a cloth. These tacos are delicious served with guacamole, salsa and fajita vegetables.

Blender Guacamole

• 6 avocados, peeled and pitted


• 10 tomatillo, peeled


• 4 jalapeños, stems removed


• 1/2 white onion


• 4 cloves garlic


• 1 bunch cilantro


• 4 limes, juiced


• 1 teaspoon salt

Place the avocados, tomatillos, jalapeños, onion and garlic in the jar of a blender and puree until smooth. Add the cilantro, lime juice and salt, and pulse until smooth. Pour into a serving dish and serve with tortilla chips.

To store, place in a container and squeeze lime juice over the top of the guacamole and insert two avocado pits in the center. This will keep for two to three days. Yield: 4 cups.

Salsa Verde

• 22 tomatillos, skins removed


• 2 jalapeños, stems removed


• 1/2 white onion


• 3 cloves garlic, crushed


• 1/2 bunch cilantro


• 2 limes, juiced


• Salt

Place the tomatillos and jalapeños in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat to medium. When the tomatillo skins burst, remove the saucepan from the heat and strain the tomatillos and jalapenos out with a slotted spoon. Reserve some of the liquid. Let cool to make sure the salsa attains a vibrant green color.

In a blender place the rest of the ingredients with the tomatillos and purée until smooth. Yield: 3 cups.

Watermelon Salad

• 2 baby seedless watermelon, rind removed


• 6 ounces pine nuts


• 8 ounces crumbled blue cheese or goat cheese


• 3 limes, juiced


• 2 tablespoons honey


• Pinch of salt


• Mint leaves, finely chopped (optional)

Cut the watermelon into 1-inch pieces and place in a large mixing bowl. Heat a small skillet over medium heat and add in the pine nuts. Toast until the nuts turn a golden brown color. Watch carefully so the nuts don’t burn. Remove from the heat and let cool. Mix together the lime juice, honey and salt.

Just before serving, toss the watermelon with the pine nuts and cheese and toss gently. Pour on the lime dressing and mint. Toss gently so as not to break up the watermelon cubes. Serve immediately.

Roasted Potatoes with Boursin Cheese and Jalapeños

• Extra virgin olive oil


• 2 pounds fingerling potatoes, cut into small wedges


• 5 jalapeños, seeded and chopped


• 2 packages Boursin cheese, crumbled


• Salt and pepper

Cover the bottom of a large skillet with extra virgin olive oil and add the potatoes and jalapeños. Over medium high heat, roast for 10 minutes turning when browned. Continue cooking until the potatoes are fork tender. Just before serving, add the crumbled Boursin cheese and gently toss. Cook over low heat for five minutes.You can add jalapeños or crisp bacon for flavor.

Editor’s Note: Thank you to Kathy Smith for this story and recipes. Kathy is a chef and freelance writer who specializes in writing about food and fitness.

 

Off-Season Training for High School Players

If you’re like most hockey players, you’re likely looking for the most beneficial—and injury free—off-season training program. This interview with an elite performance training coach, Oyvind Gulbrandsen of Viking Power Fitness, shares some guidelines for hockey players. Gulbrandsen spent years training pro hockey players in the off season and says, “Whether a hockey player is in a youth organization or a player with a pro team, they are all seeking the same results and that is to improve strength and performance.”

To accomplish those goals, Gulbrandsen has the youth player focus on lower and upper body strength, core stability and improved cardio. Gulbrandsen explains, “While the lower body strength is mandatory for hockey, you have to focus on a strong core and not forget about upper body workouts as well. And, if you balance your off season workouts with interval training, the result is you become a more explosive player.” Gulbrandsen says, “Youth hockey in this country is exploding. It’s a great sport for the players and families, but the key to staying injury free, is to stay fit off season.” And especially for youth, Gulbrandsen has these requirements for the players:

• Eat for performance (his mantra)


• Maintain a balanced diet of 55 percent carbohydrates, 25 percent protein and 20 percent fat


• Warm up for five minutes before starting any exercise


• Stay hydrated all day by drinking water or low sugar electrolyte drinks


• Track performance using a heart rate monitor and know the heart rate zones


• Cool down after each workout for five minutes

He suggests an hour in the gym for weight training two to three times a week and interval cardio workouts two times a week. He also is adamant that the youth player does no have to incorporate heavy weights into the training. “Bench press heavy weights is not the No. 1 exercise for hockey, in fact using heavy weights isn’t recommended for youth training. In Viking Power Fitness, I train hockey players using dynamic body weight exercises,” he explains.

Dynamic body weight exercises use your own body weight for performance of key exercises. Gulbrandsen says youth hockey players will benefit tremendously by performing key exercises off-season such as:

• Two to three strength workouts a week


• Walking lunges


• Squats to failure without weights or using low free weights


• Lateral lunges with a resistance band around ankles to improve hip strength and stability. Keep the band taut the whole time


• Push-ups


• Pull-ups


• Planks for core strength


• Box jumps


• Medicine ball slams to the floor, which is raising a medicine ball to about eye level and slamming it to the floor in front of you, or on each side of your feet

Because the shifts in hockey are short and furiously fast, Gulbrandsen says interval cardio training is a must. “To reach shift performance, it is a good idea to train using a heart rate monitor and knowing your maximum heart rate. When a player trains, I like them to keep their interval bursts between 75 and 85 percent of their maximum heart rate.”

Interval Training consists of a variety cardio bursts followed by a timed reduction is effort. “If the player is training in a gym, I recommend interval training on the Stair mill, treadmill or spinning bike. Outside, the effort can be accomplished running on a track, running hills or cycling.” The off-season training he recommends for the best results is:

• Do two interval workouts a week


• Five-minute warmup reaching your target heart rate zone


• 30 minutes alternating between two minutes on and one minute slowing down at 75 to 85 percent of your maximum heart rate during the two minutes on


• Five-minute cool down

Gulbrandsen summarizes, “I leave the skating drills to the coaches—my goal is to help hockey players achieve or retain their explosive ability, flexibility, full body and core strength and improve their cardio endurance for shift performance.”

Editor’s Note: Thank you to Kathy Smith for this story. Oyvind Gulbrandsen grew up in Norway, where he played hockey and semi-professional soccer. He was a member of the Norwegian Military and it was during his two-year stint that he developed a passion for coaching strength and conditioning. When he left Norway in 1995, he started his fitness career in California, but it was in Denver a few years later that he catapulted to success. He is currently the Owner and Elite Performance Coach at Viking Power Fitness.

 

USJDP Junior Prep Camp 2013: June 23-29, June 30-July 6

The Premier Development and Exposure Camp in the U.S.! 

The USJDP Junior Prep Camp provides elite Junior, Midget and Bantam players (birth years 1993–1999) with the professional skill development and exposure necessary to better prepare them for Junior A and college hockey. Held at the University of Denver, one of the top collegiate arenas in the country, the camp is directed by NCAA D1, NHL, USHL and NAHL coaches/scouts and is intended for current year Junior, AAA, or AA players. The Prep Camp offers:

• Four hours per day of on-ice development in Magness Arena


• Three hours per day of off-ice training in the DU Varsity weight room


• Daily Junior Hockey Seminars and weekly Showcase Games


• Reebok CCM Pro Fit Sessions


• Individual Player evaluations

If you are looking for a camp where you can train with high-end players and have exposure to professional coaches, then this in the program for you! 

The 2013 coaching staff will be announced soon. Please click here to view teams that have attended the Prep Camp in the past. For more information, visit www.usjdp.com or call 303-964-0929.

Register Now!

 

How to Score Deals on Hockey Equipment

Are you looking to get the latest and greatest sporting equipment? Are you hopping back into the game after a layoff or do you have children who are just starting their athletic careers? If your answer to any of these questions is yes, then you already know that athletic performance is often tied to quality sporting equipment. In today’s uncertain economy, finding a great deal on expensive hockey equipment is not always easy. Everybody has to make their money work harder for them in our global economic slowdown, so here are some ways to save a stack of cash next time you need the best athletic equipment.

1. Sign Up for Deals: Watch out for the equipment you need through daily emails from websites such as DailySportsDeal.com. Every day amazing deals on skates, sticks, helmets, pads and more are delivered right to you—usually starting at 40 percent off! It’s not unusual to save hundreds of dollars and get 90 percent off pricey items like goalie gloves.



2. Shop Sales: It may sound like common sense or a no-brainer to most people, but shopping sales is the easiest way to save you money on sporting equipment. Looking for new skates in the spring or baseball mitts in the winter can often score you a substantial discount. When sports are in the offseason, stores are looking to clear out the previous year’s equipment before the new models arrive. By doing this, they usually mark down what inventory they have left of the old models (which are often just as good as the new models).



3. Scour Hockey Communities: Trying to get back on a treadmill? Looking for a new bike for the fall? Try communities like Cusada, where users can post their unused or unwanted equipment for substantial discounts or even free of charge. You can often find the best deals if you put in the time and effort on these networks, since many users like the feeling of giving back to others.



4. Shop Auction Sites: eBay is a great resource for anything, but you can often buy sporting equipment on the giant auction site at a great price. Whether the equipment is new or used, eBay will be sure to have it. Make sure that you verify what you are purchasing is real and look at a seller’s feedback before purchasing.



5. Barter: An old school method that is now becoming more and more popular is bartering. Let’s say you walk into a local shop and want to get your hands on a brand new stick. You see the board listed for $250 but negotiate with the shop owner and agree on a price of $200. Not only did you get the sweet stick you wanted, but you also saved yourself $50 and have built rapport with a store owner whom you can do business with in the future.

While these methods just scrape the surface of what you can do to get sports equipment at a discount, they represent the most tried-and-true ways to save yourself money while also performing at the top of your game.

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