Two recent dirty hits in the NHL provide a great learning opportunity for players and coaches of all levels.
USA Hockey recognizes the number one reason for players dropping out of the sport is because they aren’t having any fun. If hockey becomes a mundane task, it’s no fun. Time off from the rink is healthy – it helps keep the game special.
Minor areas of focus can greatly improve what your players are getting out of their hockey practice.
Post hockey game tirades in youth hockey are a detrimental part of our game. The impacts coaches have on their impressionable players is tremendous. Two recent weekend encounters led me to contemplate just how much impact coaches have.
Those of us near the Chicago area are lucky to get Eddie Olczyk’s analysis of the Chicago Blackhawks games on a regular basis. In my…
Practice planning can be one of the single biggest factors in having a successful season. The way a team practices, and the preparation put into each session go a long way to developing the team – good or bad! The age-old saying of “you play like you practice” is (most times) spot-on.
Warmups are often an over-looked aspect of games and practices. If you look at the amount of time you spend “warming up” each season, you’d quickly realize your total amount of ice time would add up quickly. Coaches must thoughtfully plan each warmup session they’re involved with in order to utilize this time to continue developing the players.