Kid Stuff: Why Every Player Needs a Checking Clinic

No doubt you’ve seen – or felt – what happens when you get hit on open ice. Or seen someone throw a check and knock themselves down rather than the opponent. Or had teammates perpetually in the penalty box for illegal hits. A few years into the “checking years,” you can recognize the players who never had a checking clinic. And this is why anyone moving up to PeeWee or transitioning from roller hockey needs to learn how to take and give a check. A second-year Bantam player shares his top three reasons to take a checking clinic:

1. Safety: Learn to avoid and receive checks so you don’t get hurt. Experts estimate that approximately 80 percent of hockey injuries are related to body checking.


2. Balance: Find out how to stay on your feet whether you’re on the giving or receiving end, and get or keep control of the puck while you’re at it.


3. Stay in the Game: Keep yourself out of the penalty box and don’t hurt anyone!

At checking clinics, players are generally separated by age and size, and the instructors may use checking pads. So even if checking is new to you, the camps remain fun.

Editor’s note: Thank you to Robert Anton for his input on this story.

Glossary: Zones

Do you zone out when the hockey play-by-play announcer starts yammering about the neutral zone? I admit, I was more than 10 years into living in an NHL town and more than eight years into youth hockey before I figured out the neutral zone let alone the offensive, defensive and danger zones. Decipher the zones and you can significantly increase your chances of at least sounding like you know what you’re talking about.

Basically, the blue lines on the ice divide the rink into three zones:

• Offensive Zone: The offensive zone is the area behind the blue line where the opponent’s goal (and goalie) is. The offensive zone is where you score.


• Defensive Zone: The defensive zone is the area behind the blue line where your goal (and goalie) is. The defensive zone is where you protect the net and regain control of the puck.


• Neutral Zone: The neutral zone is the area in between the blue lines. The neutral zone is where you try to get and/or keep control of the puck in order to start an offensive attack or to prepare to start defending your zone.

Bonus—The Danger Zone: This is an imaginary triangle emanating out from your net where all the good shots are made. The danger zone in front of the net is the most important part of the ice. This is where all the good shots are made. A center must worry as much about this area of the ice as the defensemen.

Editor’s Note: This article is revised from the Hockey Workbook: Mini-Mites, Mites and Squirts, 2006 Edition, The Sports Esteem Guide for Parents and Players, Copyright © 2002-2006 by Sports Esteem, Inc., Edited by: Jeff Farris

Contest Entries: Top Skating Tips

Thank you to the players, coaches and parents who submitted their top skating tips in the last couple weeks to win a free Laura Stamm Power Skating Clinic. Rhymes, hand signals, games and more all add to the fun while improving skating skills. Read on for a sampling of tips.

Rhyme & Reason

When skating backwards kids have a real tendency to look down at the ice. This inevitably leads to a loss of balance and the player falling. To remind kids to keep their heads up, I’ve learned this little saying that works well:

“Look at your toes, land on your nose!”

The kids recite it and it seems to work.

–Andrew, Coach

The ‘Model’ Skate

To emphasize heads-up skating and a proper skating stance with bent knees, along with isolating the legs and thighs for power, I have the kids line up at the goalie line and skate the length of the ice with one of their gloves on their heads! This is very tough to do, but the kids love the challenge and at the same time it is teaching them to keep their head up, knees bent and skate using their lower body. The first person to skate end to end without losing the glove on his or her head wins a pizza! I learned this drill at Heartland Hockey camp from an instructor we call “Hollywood.”

–Jon, Coach

Instant Feedback

Give skaters immediate feedback on the quality of their knee bend while striding. As we all know, developing skaters will occasionally go through spells of skating with their legs far to straight or an exaggerated waist bend. To help correct poor skating posture in a timely manner, coaches and parents can use visual clues for the skater rather than having to stop or slow the skater to a conventional speed.

• A hand placed on the head will remind a skater to keep her head level while skating.


• Patting the top of the head will clue in the skater that he’s too tall and needs more knee bend.


• A hand to the chest will communicate to the skater that he needs to keep a big chest while skating backwards rather than an exaggerated bend at the waist.

Visual clues give immediate feedback to the skater while minimizing down time. There is no stigma attached (like when coaches pull players out of a drill for not doing it correctly) and allows the skater to develop a feel for the correct skating posture as compared to a poor one.

–Brad, Coach



Dryland Matters

I asked my Grandpa, Chuck Grillo, for his best skating advice. The tip is: Ultimately off-ice training is the difference maker. Professional mentors and scouts have known this for years. Once the technique fits your body physiologically, your goal should be to get bigger, quicker, stronger and faster. Technique should be repeated in warm up drills.

This is a simple, but not easy process. Jump, sprint, lift and skate on the same day and you have four different muscle groups, with four different ranges of motion, working and growing together. The end result is a bigger, quicker, stronger, faster skater capable of acquiring all of the agility and mobility skills incorporated in to the drills required for success. This also gives you a psychological advantage on your opponent in life knowing you paid a bigger price to succeed. Injuries sustained during competition heal quicker.

–Monique, Player, Age 11

The Walk-and-Chew-Gum Concept

My son learned early that the most important thing about power skating and hockey is this: To be able to skate with your bottom half and, at the same time, using your upper body to control what happens on the ice. Basically, the walk-and-chew gum concept of hockey. We had to train his bottom half to work differently from his top half. So I had him work with a skating instructor to help him work on this. I see so many hockey players that stop skating when they have the puck, so being able to skate while having the puck increases players enjoyment plus increases goals.

–Jeff, Parent

You Can’t Score If You’re Not on the Ice

I think the most important tip that I learned was that you have to fight through the exhaustion in a game. I learned this from my dad and used this advice in a tournament. There were only two minutes left in the championship game and we were down by one point. We beat the same team the day before, but this day they came back stronger. My line was on the ice. Everyone was exhausted. My team had the puck and was going up the ice. I thought about going to the bench, but then I remembered my dad telling me that even if you’re tired you should fight through the pain. So I skated up the ice with my teammates. One of my teammates passed me the puck, and without having time to think, I scored! The game was tied and we went into overtime. Now, the whole team had energy! A few minutes later, another one of my teammates scored and we won the game! I’m really glad I didn’t take myself out of the game!

–Rachel, Player

Go For It!

I learned from my mom and dad to skate hard and extend my stride. It has helped me a lot this year mom, and made me faster and helps when I am trying to outskate someone with the puck and score my team a goal. I told the other kids to try it, too, and it helped us all score lots of goals for the team.

–Wyatt, Age 8

Character Counts

The No. 1 skating tip I learned and taught to my two boys over the years was in Brett Hull’s acceptance speech into the Hockey Hall of Fame: “Have fun playing the game or it isn’t a game anymore. And it doesn’t matter how many goals you score on the ice, it is what you do off the ice that counts.”

–Trent and Tammy, Parents of a PeeWee and Bantam

A ‘Holy Cow’ Moment

I had a “holy cow that’s simple” moment when I was helping with an early bird session for Mites and Squirts. A coach was telling the kids how to do a power turn. He told them to just bend the knee on the side they wanted to turn to and straighten the other leg. It worked for all of them, the first time.
–Steve

Limbo

Teach them to do the limbo on ice! Instead of bending over backwards to go under the bar, use the proper stride stance to go under the bar (a pretend bar will do). Then mark it out where they need to do it in a certain number of strides, not too many not too few.

–Kris

Quick Start

My older sister told me that the first three steps make a huge difference in your stop-to-start speed. Those three quick steps can change your game.

–Jenny, Player, Age 13

Flat Blades

Keep your blades flat on the ice when performing turns to give better control and maintain your speed. I learned that from Shjon Podein.

–Charlie

Catch an Edge

Analyze and visualize how to get the best use of your edges.

–Mark

Editor's Note: Winners will be notified via email and will receive instructions for how to redeem their free clinic registration. Thanks to all the readers who shared their tips!

Attention: Youth Hockey Associations! Win $2,500 to Total Hockey

Contest Encourages Efforts to Grow the Game - Total Hockey teamed up with USA Hockey to challenge youth hockey organizations to grow the game for the second year in a row. The Grow the Game Award encourages youth organizations to submit a story describing how they are helping grow the great game of hockey in their local community. The winning submission receives a $2,500 gift card to Total Hockey for their local hockey association.

Entries will be judged based on four criteria: creativity, transferability to other local programs interested in growing the game, media and marketing potential, and the overall impact the program had on the local youth association. The deadline for all entries is May 1, 2010 and all submissions should be sent to kevink@usahockey.org. The winner will be presented with the award at USA Hockey’s Annual Congress in June. For more information, visit www.totalhockey.net or email growthegame@totalhockey.net.

As the Exclusive Ice Hockey Equipment Retailer of USA Hockey, Total Hockey launched a campaign promoting the growth of hockey starting at the youth level. This initiative encourages hockey in the community by creating awareness of the sport, enhancing interest in the game among children and ultimately increasing involvement by learning to play hockey at a local level.

Current endeavors of Total Hockey focus on growing the game worldwide. This includes the further development of sled hockey, providing starter equipment packages to Learn to Play programs at local youth hockey associations and introducing the sport to local youth by implementing hockey in physical education programs. All of these efforts continue to work toward Total Hockey’s ultimate goal of increasing overall interest in the great game of hockey among America’s youth.

About Total Hockey

Total Hockey is a privately held hockey equipment retailer based in St. Louis, Mo., that is dedicated to providing the latest in hockey equipment, superior quality merchandise and excellent customer service. Founded in 1998, Total Hockey has embarked on a broad-scale expansion in specialty hockey operations and now has seven retail stores in the greater St. Louis and Chicago areas, as well as an e-commerce facility at www.totalhockey.net. For more information, call toll-free at 866.929.6699.

About USA Hockey

USA Hockey, Inc., is the national governing body for the sport of hockey in the United States ranging from youth development to the Olympic games and has nearly 600,000 members nationwide.

Voluntary Recall: NIKE BAUER SUPREME ONE50 JUNIOR STICK

Dear Bauer Customer: Bauer Hockey has strict protocols and procedures in place to ensure that all government safety standards are met. It has recently come to our attention that, despite these efforts, the lead content in the undercoat paint which is applied to the NIKE BAUER SUPREME ONE50 JUNIOR STICK (manufactured in 2006) and which is covered by a clear coating, exceeds the stringent limits set for children's products by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission ("CPSC") and Health Canada. While no injuries or illness have been reported, lead in paint may pose a hazard to young children who ingest the paint. Bauer intends to notify the CPSC of this issue and will be working with the CPSC and Health Canada on a voluntary recall of this product. Bauer is taking immediate action to remove the junior sticks from all stores.

Only the NIKE BAUER SUPREME ONE50 JUNIOR STICK is affected by this notice.

Bauer is also conducting an extensive review of our other stick products to verify compliance with the applicable regulations and will advise the results as soon as available in the coming days.

You should immediately stop any further sales of the NIKE BAUER SUPREME ONE50 JUNIOR hockey sticks and return any remaining inventory to Bauer under our normal customer return policy for a full credit. In the coming days we will communicate the full recall program and process to our retailers and consumers.

Hockey Glossary: Shot on Goal

Ever heard complaints that your team never got a shot off during a power play? Or come out of a game and heard fans lament about the uneven shots on goal? And you’re thinking: “But the puck was flying everywhere! It almost went in!” If this sounds familiar, read on to learn what counts as a shot on goal.

In ice hockey, just shooting the puck toward the net does not qualify as a shot on goal. The puck has to either go in or be saved by the goalie. The simple test is: If the puck would have sailed on in if there was no goalie, it’s a shot on goal. And of course if the puck does go in, it’s a shot on goal. So hitting the post, hitting the crossbar, skimming over the top of the net and flying over the goalie’s head do not count as shots—no matter how close they seem to be (particularly to mom and dad).

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

Kid Stuff: How to Make a Goal (Literally)

There’s nothing wrong with using garbage cans for goals, but if you’re ready to step it up, you might consider making your own goal out of PVC. The project isn’t too time consuming, especially considering most store-bought goals require assembly. If you’re willing to put in the time you can save some serious cash. You should be able to do this project for around $25. The final product measures about 44" x 26", about half the size of regulation.

What you’ll need:

• 200" of ¾ PVC pipe (often sold in 10’ lengths so you can just buy two )


• Pipe fittings/connectors (quantities shown in diagram)


• Hacksaw


• A large bag of 8" cable ties


• Netting


• Optional: sand and epoxy


• A free Saturday morning

Grab your hacksaw and saw all your PVC piping to the appropriate length. As the old carpentry saying goes, “measure twice, cut once.” I’ve found the easiest way to assemble the pieces is by creating to U shapes. The diagram is color coded to help you visualize what I mean. Once the two U shapes are connected, insert the crossbar. Note: you might find the crossbar needs to be cut down just a little. My crossbar is probably closer to 30.5".

Finally attach the mesh net using your zip ties. As far as netting goes, you have a lot of options. The goal in the picture uses cheap fishing netting purchased from eBay. I would only recommend this if you plan to play with a ball. A puck would be to heavy for this wimpy net.

If you want to add a little weight to your goal, fill it with sand and seal the tubes to the connectors using epoxy.

Update: For a larger goal that is 54" x 44" x 24" use 1½" PVC and refer to the conversion chart below.

Old length	New Length
31	46
24	39
21	21.5
18	19

Editor's Note: Thanks to SchoolyardPuck.com for this story.

Contest Winner: The Ford Expedition & The Ominous Odor

We asked you to tell us your stories about cars, trunks and hockey bags for a chance at a $50 gift certificate from HockeyShot.com. Congratulations to Tim, who drives an SUV but tells a great story. Read on for the winning answer along with the runners up.

Winner: The Ford Expedition & The Ominous Odor

With three kids in hockey it was bound to happen. One spring not so long ago when the weather heated up, we were amazed to find a conspicuous odor in the back of our Ford Expedition. We searched and searched to “get the stink out” and tried everything from Bounce sheets to Febreze and couldn’t seem to pin point the Ominous Odor. Was it remnants of an old hamburger from a post-game meal eaten on the way home from the rink? No the stink was too bad. Did the 5-year-old spill milk on the carpet and now we were living in the sour world? No, and the mystery continued—until we were ready to sell the car and give up.

One day we were packing for an out-of-town trip when I couldn’t take it any more. Even the gas mask from the local Army/Navy store wouldn’t help the ride. We inadvertently lifted up a flap that covers a space between the back seat and the cargo area and almost fainted from the hidden treasure inside. After talking my wife out of calling 911 and sifting through the plastic army men who had given their life in that crevasse, we found a hockey glove. Yes, a long lost hockey glove who tried to tell us he was back there by giving off every last bit of sweaty hockey funk he could. The celebration began as if we were Stanley Cup champs and this was the game winning goal in game 7. Finally we can get to the rink in peace.

–Tim

Runners Up

1982 Buick Regal Box, Color Brown: Nine Players, Nine Bags

When I was in high school, this was my first car and we fit nine players and equipment for each player in the car/truck with the help of a bungee cord, of course. It was a short trip from Champlin Park High School to the Ice Forum in Champlin, MN, but it was frigid as we didn’t have enough room to roll the windows up and it was in the dead of winter. –Kelli

Dodge Caravan: Space to Nap

After researching, five years ago we switched from a giant 88 Suburban truck to the Dodge Caravan. I have a son that is on a travel team, a husband that coaches a house team and a daughter that is along for the fun. We can actually fit four hockey bags stacked in the way back if needed. We loop the bag handles around the rear seat head rests so they don’t fall out when you open the hatch.

Usually, the four of us are in there with one equipment bag, puck bag, water bottles, coaches bag with tools and first aid kit, the dry erase board all in the way back. Plus the car emergency milk crate with jumper cables, a tire air compressor and a tool box. The sticks go along the side. Luggage goes in the third seat, easily accessible with blankets and pillows.

It costs no more then $40 to fill the tank when gas prices are high. All the seats recline. When the van is emptied at the hotel, we have plenty of room to recline the seats or lay the very back where the bench seat lays flat and we can take naps between games (which my daughter and I often do for those double headers). All of us are very comfortable and there is plenty of room for the stuff. AND our clothes bags don’t have to mingle with the stinky hockey equipment. Plus there are rear window vents that let out the rear odor. We love it and have racked up some serious mileage. –Shari

Dodge Grand Caravan: Six Bags, One Tailgate Party

Like I say to goalies, “Dodge this.” Hands down, the Dodge Grand Caravan is the best vehicle for hockey bags. Push a button on the key fob and the tailgate opens up for hockey players with tired arms and full hands. The floor of the van is at waist level, so no need to bend down into a trunk to drop off or pick up the hockey bag. Sticks fit easily right down the middle, no matter how long they are. Take the bags out and pull up the rear seat in the back-facing position so it faces outward for a tailgate party or a picnic! CD/DVD satellite radio options liven up the after-game picnic or party. I can fit six hockey bags easily in the Caravan and more if necessary. One goes, we all go! I love my Dodge Caravan and still have it, despite being an empty-nester! –Nina

Honda Accord: Goalie Pads Inside

I have a Honda Accord and it’s perfect for hockey. It has a roomy trunk that can fit up to three hockey bags (goalie shin pads have to rest on someone’s lap). There’s also a door in the middle of the back seat so hockey sticks can fit through. It’s a great design and I get way better gas mileage than all the parents with SUV. –Tanya

Honda Element: Doubles as a Doghouse

Honda Element, with the back seats removed, guess what? Rubber flooring! You can stack about 12 bags with no problem! I have one back seat removed, recline both passenger seats and the existing back seat. This leaves me a huge space for my bag, my sticks and I still have plenty of room. My two dogs ride with me to my games and then chill in the car (windows cracked, water available) when the weather is acceptable! I have taken the other back seat out and traveled to tournaments. Sleep in the back and put your hockey bag on the roof! –David



Saab 9-3: Three Bags, Four People, 33 mpg

I drive a Saab 9-3 and I can fit hockey bags in it for myself, my 9-year-old and my 4-year-old—plus a puck bag and sticks (mine have to go inside the cabin). I get 33 mpg on a bad day on the highway, and my wife and kids can all fit in the car even with all the above mentioned gear. –Chris

Scion xB: Compact Does the Job of an SUV

Well, I am a mom of a first time Mite hockey player and until now, I never realized why most hockey parents own SUVs. Don’t worry, I have the perfect little car for the big job though. I drive a Scion xB and I can fit two hockey bags and sticks in the trunk with seating for five. I haven’t had to worry about tournaments just yet, but if I do, don’t worry, the backseat flooring is enough space for luggage and we’ll still make it. You can’t beat a compact car that can still do the job of an SUV. I love it! –Angela

Editor's Note: Thanks to all the readers who shared their stories about the challenges of driving with bulky, smelly hockey bags (and possibly bulky, smelly kids!).

10 Questions to Help Your Player Evaluate Last Season

“Most of the time, you’re a great player on a mediocre team or a mediocre player on a great team. Only when the stars align are you a great player on a great team.” A friend told me this when I described my son’s losing hockey season one year, and I’ll never forget it. When I described coach and locker room issues to another friend, he said, “Tell him this is just one coach and one team of the many coaches and teams he’ll have through his life. Some are good and some are bad.”

What these friends have in common is age. Lifelong athletes nearing 60 and sports parents, they’d seen it all. I was gratified to see that Dr. Fred Neff, a sports psychologist, agrees with them in terms of hockey: “Hockey is not a sprint, it is a marathon. One season is a blip in the existence of your hockey career” (www.proambitions.com).

As the season ends, how can your player get the most out of this blip in his or her career? You can learn a lot from a winning team with supportive players, well-informed and encouraging coaches, and great parents. But you can also learn a lot from a losing team with infighting and screaming coaches. And you can learn from the most likely scenario, a combination of good and bad experiences with games, coaches, kids, and parents. The important thing now is to take a look back and focus on the positive before moving on.

Ask these questions:

1. What did you learn from the coaches?


2. What turned out to be the best way to communicate with the coaches?


3. What did you do well this year?


4. What did your team do well?


5. Did you get to try anything new? (Play a different position, learn a new shot?)


6. Was there one memorable play, game or tournament you’ll never forget?


7. Did you make any new friends?


8. Did you learn any strategies for getting along with everyone?


9. What is your goal for next year?


10. Overall, did you have fun?

Once you identify and verbalize all the positives, you’re more likely to remember those aspects of the season. If the negatives still stand out, just tell yourself: It’s over and next season you get another chance.

–Thank you to Kelly Kordes Anton with advice from Steve Rarey and John Cruise.

How to Choose the Best Hockey Camp for Your Player

When bombarded with information about off-season hockey camps, it’s easy to feel panic and think, “If I don’t get organized, get him signed up—and pay!—for these camps today, I’m holding him back!” Dreams of the NHL, the college scholarship or maybe just an A team fizzle before your eyes as you contemplate putting your tax refund toward more hockey. How do you evaluate all the information and decide what’s right for your player? We asked Angelo Ricci, a skills and stickhandling coach with more than 20 years experience, for help.

According to Ricci:

• Focus on Fun: When selecting what hockey camp to attend, please consider a camp that promises two things: fun and hockey skills. I think fun is the most important consideration and many parents forget this part. This is a “summer hockey camp,” so please remember that it is summer and it is a camp, so it should fun. If the player is not having fun, the learning part will not reach its maximum potential.


• Fundamentals are Key: This game is all about skating and puck control skills. I encourage you to look for a camp that will teach your player the fundamentals of all skills, offer repetition of puck and skating skills, and improve on their existing skills—plus correct anything that might be wrong with a player's skills.


• Checking Camp is Crucial: At the PeeWee level, checking skills and body contact drills become very important. It is imperative that players are properly taught how to give and receive checks. It will help their confidence immensely when they transition from Squirts to PeeWees.

When reviewing camp information, compare the following:

• Instructors’ qualifications, experience and character as role models


• Instructor-to-player ratio (6 or 7 kids per coach is good; the important thing is that the coaches who are there interact with the kids)


• Availability of off-ice training


• Price (a general guideline is $25-$30 per hour of camp; costs vary by location)


• Schedule: Are there many choices to work around your busy schedule


• Camp choices: General or specific skill development


• Convenience: Can we get there easily, on time?


• Fun: Is it marketed as fun? Will my kid want to come back next summer?

Ricci concludes that the best way to find out which camps are beneficial to player development is by word of mouth from other hockey parents. If their kids attended the camp, ask them if they enjoyed it. Ricci also recommends a less structured three-on-three or four-on-four summer league: “It will allow players to develop their skills, be creative and not feel the pressure of negative feedback from a coach if a mistake is made.”

Editor's Note: Thank you to Angelo Ricci for providing information for this article. Ricci is founder, head instructor and consultant for Ricci Hockey Consulting (www.riccihockey.com). 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.

Next Page »