Hockey is a physical game and all too often kids are using improper technique when it comes to body contact and checking. This is an area where a coach needs to progressively teach his players the aspects of using the body in game situations.

The first step is getting the child to understand that the purpose of body contact is to take space away from the opponent and eventually recover the puck for his/her team. The child also needs to be confident in making contact with the opponent. Therefore, the first technique taught should be taking away space.

Use shadow drills and confidence drills to help the young player get used to using his/her body. The purpose of the Shadow drill is to force the checker to mirror his opponent’s movements and bump him when he tries to enter the desired space. Always use a step by step approach when it comes to body contact and make sure the kids understand that safety always comes first! Please stay tuned in the coming months for the continuation of the aspects of body contact.

Make Adversity Your Friend

“You are going to get knocked down.  I have been on top and I have been on the bottom.  To achieve success you are going to have to solve problems.  If you react positively to them you’ll be stronger and better than ever.  You can assume that your competitors have problems too.  If you react to set backs more quickly and positively, you gain a distinct advantage.  I’ve never encountered a person who achieved anything that didn’t require over coming obstacles.  Expect Them.”

--Lou Holtz

It is the time of year across the hockey world when many young hockey players will be trying out for different hockey teams.  Many have worked hard all summer to prepare themselves physically hoping to get an edge on others trying out for the same team.  Some will be successful, others will fail to make a team on the first attempt.  Regardless of the out come, it is important to realize that success and failure is not the end.  Success is a process and failure is not final.  We need to continue to work hard to become better in everything we do.

People who succeed, make a habit of doing things that those who fail refuse to do.  Someone has wisely said:  “What you do now will determine where you will be later.”

As athletes we all need to develop mental and physical toughness.  Both of these attributes are developed by consistency of effort.  We need to develop success habits rather than habits of failure.  We need to do the extras.  My business associate Doug Shepherd, speaking about people who always seem to be on the bubble when trying out for teams says:  “The bubble people are those people who are not willing to do the extras.”

The people who succeed after failing to make a team  make a conscious decision to take charge of their future; by making the changes necessary to move to the next level.  We don’t have to be “Bubble People,” we can change our future by doing the extras. 

Sidney Crosby always did the extras on and off the ice.  He came to Hockey School every summer, he shot pucks off the ice, he played spring hockey.  He focused on becoming a better skater.  He learned to use his time wisely and it has obviously paid off.

We know that most young people have dreams.  We also know it is important to write our goals and dreams down.  It is essential to do something everyday to help us achieve our goals and dreams.  As we develop success habits we will be more able to make “Adversity our Friend.”

There are many examples of great athletes who have over come obstacles to accomplish great things.  Martin St. Louis was sold by the Calgary Flames for one dollar; however that did not prevent him moving on to win the Art Ross Trophy as top scorer and the Hart Trophy for MVP in the NHL with the Tampa Bay Lightning.  He didn’t lay down and quit, he simply kept working and moving towards his dream.

Martin St. Louis recognized that “the only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.”

It really doesn’t matter where we are from or how big we are.  As Charles Wilson, President of G.E. so wisely wrote:  “No matter what size the bottle, cream always comes to the top.”

Talk to you soon,

Allan Andrews.