Coaches Corner

Ever wonder if  your goal tender is benefiting from team practices?  Here's an excellent article on Guidelines for Goalies at Practice. One of the biggest problems in the development of goalies is how they are used at practice. Or, in some cases, not used.  A visit to a typical practice will find goalies left to their own devices for long stretches followed by unrealistic drills that don’t simulate game situations. Just "shooting on a goalie" doesn't provide sufficient skill development.
           
Effectively incorporating goaltenders into your practice plans will pay big dividends come game time.  Take momemt to review the article at --

http://www.usahockeymagazine.com/story.php?left_nav=0808&article=in-the-crease-goalie-0808&right_nav=normal

Coaches - Check this out -  Power of Positive

Redefining "Winner" "A Positive Coach helps players redefine what it means to be a winner through a mastery, rather than a scoreboard, orientation. He sees victory as a by-product of the pursuit of excellence. He focuses on effort rather than outcome and on learning rather than comparison to others. He recognizes that mistakes are an important and inevitable part of learning and fosters an environment in which players don't fear making mistakes. While not ignoring the teaching opportunities that mistakes present, he teaches players that a key to success is how one responds to mistakes. He sets standards of continuous improvement for self and players. He encourages his players, whatever their level of ability, to strive to become the best players, and people, they can be. He teaches players that a winn! er is someone who makes maximum effort, continues to learn and improve, and doesn't let mistakes (or fear of mistakes) stop him or her."

HEP is a bold initiative designed by Minnesota Hockey to improve the youth hockey environment in Minnesota and will impact all players, coaches, officials, and players.

HEP was first envisioned and endorsed by two great hockey visionaries Ted Brill and Herb Brooks. It is supported by extensive research provided by the Mayo Clinic's Sports Medicine Center and sports psychologist Dr. Frank Small. Quebec Hockey successfully implemented a similar program years ago.

HEP is a three-component program intended to make hockey more fun for kids. The three components are skill development (Skills Challenge Program), education (Mastery Approach to Coaching - MAC, and Mastery Approach to Parents for Sports - MAPS), and accountability (Fair Play).

The components have been developed collaboratively by leaders in hockey, sports psychology, and child development and is based on validated research over a 25 year period.

HEP's mission is to create an environment for all involved in hockey in Minnesota to succeed to their fullest potential and to have fun doing so.

For more information on HEP, please go to the Minnesota Hockey HEP web page

The Minnesota Hockey and USA Hockey web sites are key resources for coaches, containing information on:

Coaching Education Program (CEP)

All youth hockey coaches in Minnesota and the rest of the country are required to attend a series of clinics before they are eligible to coach. The USA Hockey web site lists upcoming clinics and provides contact information for District Coach-in-Chiefs.

• Association Coaching and Education Program
  
• Coaches Resource Center
  
• District Coaching Personnel

We encourage all coaches, assistant coaches, managers, and parents to check out the Minnesota Hockey and USA Hockey web sites.