Volume 3, Issue 3 - November, 2002

 "From the Right Wing…"

ANAHEIM MIGHTY DUCKS  #21

Dan Bylsma’s Newsletter --- A Feature of West Michigan Hockey Camp, Inc.

(Printer Friendly Version)

TThis month's issue contains:

 DAN'S TIP OF THE MONTH   THIS MONTH'S QUESTION   TRUST FUND AUCTION   TIPS FROM HOCKEY CAMP   DAN'S HONOR ROLL

  COACH'S TIP   THE SAYING OF THE MONTH   DAN TRIP IN THE NHL   DAN & JAY'S BOOKS   A WAY TO SUBSCRIBE

DAN’S TIP OF THE MONTH FOR PLAYERS…

Like last month, this tip of the month is for players, coaches, and parents.  We've been getting a lot of Email (like the one below) from those of you who are being blessed by the humility that comes with playing on or coaching a losing team.  And by the laws of averages, that's half of you.  And we can read the desperation in your Emails when you ask what you are doing wrong or what can you do differently.

For the most part, you say the other teams have better players than you do, but you'd like to know what you can do to be competitive with them.  Your question is, if I'm up against a team with better horses, what can we do?  And that's a question that's asked every day in the NHL as well.  Last night we played Dallas and took a thrashing 4 - 0.  We were never in the game, we got out manned, and we were out-muscled.   But they didn't win because they have better players (although they've got some good ones), they won because the Ducks made too many mistakes both personal and tactical.

It was as simple as we didn't get it out, we didn't get it deep, and we have some players who think skill is more important than understanding the game and how it's played. And this Tip of the Month is to help you remember that all levels, hockey is a simple game.

In it's simplest form it's a player who shoots the puck into an empty net and gets a point for his team.  It's a little less simple if you introduce a goalie, but it's still shooting the puck into the net, even though there is a goalie.  If you add a defenseman, it becomes more difficult to shoot the puck into the net because now you not only have goalie trying block your shot, but a defenseman who's trying to keep you away from the net and/or shooting.  If you add a teammate, it becomes a bit easier but then they add another defenseman and it's more difficult, but the game is still the same, shoot the puck into the net and get a point.

There's a couple of other true-isms that come into play.  One is that it is very difficult for the other team to put the puck into the net from outside your blue line and it's easier for your team to score if the puck in inside the opposing team's blue line.

And here's where I'm going with this.  If you are playing a team with more skills then you have on your team, do the things that make it difficult for them to score - get the puck out of your zone.  And after you get it out, get the puck into their zone - and the deeper the better.  So work at these two things: 1) get it out, and, 2) get it deep.  These two things don't require speed, talent, or skill, which the other team has more of than you.  They require a commitment keep the game simple so that players with adequate skills can be effective.

We lost to the Stars because we didn't keep the game simple.  We didn't always get it out or get it deep and that lack of focus cost us turnovers that their skilled players were able to convert into goals.  Remember, goals are almost always score as the result of mistakes.  And while this is true at the Mite level, it's also true at the NHL level. 

We lost to Dallas because instead of sticking to keeping the game simple, some players  tried to stickhandle into the offensive zone instead of getting it deep.  Other linemates who were expecting the dump-in were going full tilt toward the offense zone when the puck carrier turned the puck over and Dallas goes back 4 on 2.  That's both a personal mistake and a tactical one.  Other times we had the puck on our stick in the defensive zone, but failed to get it out.  Then there's a turnover, a goal and that line has a minus 1.  It happens in the NHL - and I know it happens at your level.

So if you're against a team with better players, you're well advise to keep the game simple. Make them play the game on your terms; don't try to play the game on theirs.  Get it out and get it deep. 

Dan Bylsma

THIS MONTH'S BEST QUESTIONS ON THE WEB SITE…

Dan: I am coaching a new team in a new organization at the PeeWee level. After a couple of pre-season games which we lost miserably, I wanted to go in the B division but I made a mistake and decided to ask the parents. They all wanted to play A. Well we are now 0-11 and the parents are starting to give me all sorts of suggestions on what is wrong. Do you have an suggestions on how we can turn this situation around? Losing Coach.

Dear Coach: You might try this approach with your players. In its simplest form, the game is attempting to shoot a puck into an open net. You do it; you get a point. If you add a goalie, the game becomes a bit more complicated. Now it becomes shoot the puck past the goalie into the net. So a good drill is to have four or five players in front of the net (on the doorstep) and keep whacking, banging, passing and shooting until it goes into the net. (Jay interjects: I was at the Ducks/Wings game last night and the Ducks played this game last thing in warm-ups for about 5 minutes and I've seen them do this after nearly every practice I've attended). When it goes into the net - celebrate, and then try it again. Why do this? Because this is "the game" and it teaches passing, shooting at the open spot, satisfaction on accomplishing a goal, and it gives your goalie a great workout on scrambles.

The game becomes even more complicated when you add a defenseman to the shooter/goalie mix. Now the scorer has to shoot the puck into the net with both a goalie in the way and a defenseman trying to limit the scorer's ability to shoot. Add another shooter (up to four more) and another opposing player (or four) and the game becomes down right complicated if not confusing. And the more skilled the opposing players are, the more difficult and complicated it becomes to shoot the puck into an open net and most likely you'll never get that chance; although it does happen - even in the NHL.

So do three things to reduce the game to its simplest elements. A) The goalie/shooting drill (to remind them what the game is and if what I going to suggest as B) and C) are successful, you'll be doing a bit more of A) during your games), then B) "Get it out" (of your defensive zone), and C) "Get it deep" (into their zone). This keeps the game in its simplest (and perhaps most manageable) form.

Drill this into their little heads. Then help them learn how to win the little battles to accomplish these three things. For example, the winger chipping the puck out of the defensive zone ("get it out") every time and teaching him 1) how to catch those around-the-board passes, and 2) how to "get it out" - a) if he's being pinched, or b) if he's not.
Teach them that when (not if) the left winger "gets it deep", what the right winger can expect and for him to plan on it, and do it - every time.

There's nothing new here, it's the way NHL teams without the flashy players win games - "get it out" (because the bad guys can't score from outside the zone) and "get it deep" (because goals are almost always scored because the other team made a mistake and we want them to make the mistake in their end because that's when we're closer to their net). It's also the way the third and fourth line of nearly every NHL team plays against the other teams 1, 2, 3 and 4th lines. And from your description you have 4th liners playing against 1st and 2nd liners all the time.

If I had team that struggled I would stress passing games in practice.  Email me for a game you can use that forces forehand and backhand passes.

You might also teach one defensive zone face-off strategy.
For a left defensive zone face off:
- Right shooting D lines up with their right wing even with the dot.
- Left shooting D (preferably but not necessary) behind the centerman at the goal line.
- Centerman at the dot.
- Left W lines up with their right wing even with the dot.
- Right W lines up next to Left W but 3 or feet off - toward center.
- If the centerman wins the draw back, the Left shooting D fires the puck as hard as he can behind the net and around the boards.
- On the drop, Right W races toward their Right D (in case the draw is lost) but if it is won angles to the boards to accept the hard-around pass and he should be off to the races.
- Left D drops back to support.
- Centerman blocks out his man if he loses preventing him from going to the net, or races toward center ice if he wins to support Right W who should be getting the puck.
- Left W's job is to prevent opposing L wing from going to the net if the face-off is lost. Some would say he should skate to their Right D if the face off is lost. If it's won, he should bust up ice and be the trail to his Centerman and Right W.

If this works one time and you get a break away or a two-on-one, you will be a coaching genius to your players.

 Dan Bylsma  

MY CHARITABLE TRUST FUND...

There is no auction this month...

DAN'S TIP OF THE MONTH   THIS MONTH'S QUESTION   TRUST FUND AUCTION   TIPS FROM HOCKEY CAMP   DAN'S HONOR ROLL

  COACH'S TIP   THE SAYING OF THE MONTH   DAN TRIP IN THE NHL   DAN & JAY'S BOOKS   A WAY TO SUBSCRIBE

NOTES FROM DAN'S HOCKEY CAMP...

In the last issue, we review the importance of skating in the seated position, that is to have as close to a 90 degree knee bend as you can to get the longest possible stride.  This issue, we're going to review striding to the side and why it's so important. 

For purposes of striding to the side, it's unfortunate that we grow up learning to run before we learn to skate.  When you run, you push off straight back and you wear shoes that provide traction against the ground, gym floor, or whatever surface you're running on.  Your leg muscles are trained to push back.  If your skates had toe picks like figure skaters, you could also push straight back when you skate as the toe picks would dig into the ice and you could push off against the grip the toe picks provide.  But hockey skates don't have toe picks, so if you push off straight back, there's very little edge to grip the ice and your skate will slip. 

Here's a demonstration we do at hockey camp.  Stand with your feet together and hold your hockey stick at your side in such a way that the bottom of the blade is flat on the floor next to your foot.  Imagine the bottom of the stick is the bottom of your skate blade.  Push the stick straight back and see how far you go before almost none of your blade is in contact with the floor.  You will see the stick (and your skate blade) loses edge almost immediately. 

Now push the stick straight out from your side and see how long your entire blade can be in contact with the floor.  You will see it's almost as far as you can reach.  Your stride can only be as long as most of your blade is in contact with the ice and pushing off to the side puts your edges in contact with the ice far longer than pushing straight back.

I know that none of you push straight back, but many of you do not push as much to the side as you could and therefore your stride is not as long as it could be.

If you stride more to the rear than to the side, you lose your edge before your leg is fully extended.  To say that another way, you lose your edge while your leg muscles still have strength to be pushing.  As a result, your leg kicks up.  The accompanying picture shows a skater who strides mostly to the rear, the way his leg muscles are trained to run.  Notice how high his leg kick is.  It's a telltale sign he is not striding to the side.  Actually your skate should return right along the ice.  This skater even appears to to be running down the ice... which is he is.  You can also see by his knee position and the shadows on the ice his leg is almost straight back.

Not only is this an inefficient use of your leg muscles, his leg kick actually throws him off balance.  Perhaps you can see he needs to struggle not to fall forward, which will cause him to need to plant that rear leg before it comes directly underneath himself, shorting his stride on the front end as well as the back end.

How does one develop the ability to skate with the strides to the side and avoid the leg kick-up?  The drill we suggested last month for long strides is helpful.  Start with your feet under you and slightly apart.  Get in a seated position with your butt as low as you can get it and keep your head and chest up.  Then, staying in that position, push off as hard and as far to the side as you can - (here the emphasis is on as far to the side as you can) gliding on your weight-bearing foot while remaining in that position.  Just before you glide to a stop, push off again with the same leg - remaining in the seated position.  Then change legs.  The goal here is not speed, you can add that later.  You need to retrain your muscles to become accustomed to skating in that seated position and pushing off from the side (where you have edges to grip the ice - not from the rear like you do when you are running. 

Now try the same drill and push straight back.  The difference will be immediately apparent.  While none of you push off straight back when you skate, almost none of you push off as much to the side as you could, and if you  retrain your muscles to push off more to the side, you should see a noticeable improvement in speed and in balance.
  P.S. Last issue we told you that Yuka Nojima - the young woman who came from Japan to attend our Travel Skills and Adult camp this summer - suffered a broken leg in an elite women's tournament game in Japan.  We are pleased to report that her surgery was successful and she is back on skates and rehabing and determined to get back into game shape soon.

DAN'S TIP OF THE MONTH   THIS MONTH'S QUESTION   TRUST FUND AUCTION   TIPS FROM HOCKEY CAMP   DAN'S HONOR ROLL

  COACH'S TIP   THE SAYING OF THE MONTH   DAN TRIP IN THE NHL   DAN & JAY'S BOOKS   A WAY TO SUBSCRIBE

A TIP For COACHES from Jay...  

From time to time we are directed to web sites or publications that we wish were available to us when Dan was growing up.  The ones we've come across lately and  think are especially useful are listed here:

BETTER HOCKEY is a monthly magazine published by Dr. Clint Steele.  It is useful for kids, especially older players, but is also an excellent resource for parents and coaches.  Dan was flattered to be asked to be the cover player on the inaugural issue and we've been asked to do a piece for the December issue on IT PAYS.  As the result of that, we get a subscription and in spite of the questionable judgment Dr. Steele displayed by using Dan and I, we find that the rest of the magazine is chocked full of valuable tips, drills, and articles by contributors who are very knowledgeable hockey people - professional and collegiate.  We highly recommend it.  It's free in arenas in eight New England states and it can be ordered for US$18 per year on line at BetterHockey.com.  In our opinion the November issue article on backward stops alone is worth the price.

The Parents' Guide to Minor Hockey is a trade paper back written by K. Hartman O'Connor (the quintessential hockey mom - next to Dan's) is a very useful guide to minor hockey in North America from Mites/Atoms to the NHL draft process.  It answers many questions for people who have children who play at all levels and aspire to play at higher levels.  It is written for players as well with many tips for every age level.  Ms. O'Connor is not afraid to ask and answer many of the tough questions her family faced - similar to the ones the Bylsma's faced when making decisions about Dan's career.  This is a great resource book for parents and minor players of all ages and all levels.  Check it out at www.hockeyparent.net.  The book is available C$19.95 at and autographed/personalized copies are available at .

PassThePuck.net is a website operated by Rob Lopez.  Coach Lopez has over 30 years experience coaching and managing teams at both the college and professional levels.  The site is a wealth of information including over 200 drills for coaches, his unique liquid tape for hockey sticks, a hockey camp listing (if you can't get into Dan's), fund raising ideas, the Pocket Drill Book, and much, much more.  Some of the coaching information is by subscription but it's very reasonable and well worth the modest $10 annual subscription fee. 

PassthePuck.net led me to another site you might find useful.  As its name suggests, arenamaps.com has reproducible maps for most if not all the ice arenas in North America.  I tested it and found it to be accurate from the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim to some of the obscure rinks in Michigan and Ontario that Dan has skated in.  The site also contains accommodation suggestions near each rink.  With arenamaps, there's no need to travel blindly.

If you know of a resource that's been helpful to you, pass it along and we'll share it on the newsletter.

And there's a nice piece on the CCHA website about Dan and his college days.  See it by clicking on this link.

Jay M. Bylsma

THIS MONTH'S SAYING

"We are told that talent creates it's own opportunities.  But it sometimes seems that intense desire creates not only it's own opportunities but also it's own talent"    

                                                      Eric Hoffer
 

ONE KID'S TRIP TO THE NHL - current installment...

We have a chapter in our second book entitled "What if my coach doesn't like me?"  My advice is to look at yourself; especially if this is the second or third coach who doesn't like you.  When we wrote that, I had never experienced a coach who didn't like me.  I've had a lot of coaches all the way from my father who didn't know very much about hockey then to Larry Robinson who has almost as many Stanley Cup rings as he has fingers and who is in the Hockey Hall of Fame.  Except for my father, I've always had to prove that I could play the game at what ever level I found myself, because I'm not one of those flashy players who dazzles you with his blinding speed or his ability to dangle.  And I'll be the first to admit I'm not almost 400 games deep into an NHL career because of my skill.  I was able to impress my coaches with my work ethic, my professionalism, my understanding of the game, and my leadership ability.  Some of them saw it sooner than others, but I came to gain all of their respect and confidence in the role that I brought to the team.  And I've proud that I’ve also  gained the respect of my peers – players I play with and against.

I now have a coach who I’ve failed to impress, so far at least.  Perhaps you've noticed I've been a healthy scratch for a number of games.  It's a painful experience, especially when the Ducks lose or blow a lead when I'm convinced that had I been in the line up and utilized the skills that bring to the game I could have made a difference.  It's not that Coach Babcock doesn't like me.  I'm sure think he thinks I'm a fine person, but he doesn't think I have the skills necessary to help the Ducks win.  And frankly, it's up to me to change his mind if I can.

There are a number of things I can do.  I could point out to him that I had a career year for me last year in goals, assists, points, and I led the Ducks penalty killing unit to 7th place in the NHL in penalty killing – the best finish ever for the Ducks.  But that was last year - this is this year and he can rightly ask, "What are you doing for me now?" 

I could ask for a meeting, but what am I going to say?  I'm not going to change his mind by arguing with him.  This isn't an issue of facts, it's an issue of opinion and his opinion of the value of my contribution is different than mine and isn't going to change regardless of how eloquently I plead my case.

I could ask for a trade.  There are plenty of teams whose penalty killing units are not what they could be and I could move on and be an important part of some other team.  But that goes against everything I stand for.  I've lost respect for more than a few players who get at cross purposes with a coach and rather than work at their game or work it out, try to jump ship.

So what do I do?  I do what I've always done.  Control what I can control and not worry about what I can't.  That means work hard at every practice.  Continue to be a leader even though I haven't been given the "A".  Continue to help the younger players get acclimated to the league and help them become the best they can be.  When I get in the lineup, make sure that I do my job as best I can... they don't score on my shift on the penalty kill - period.  And eventually, the situation will work itself out.  And I think I will be a better person for it. 

I know this experience will help me be a better coach some day.

Dan Bylsma

DAN'S TIP OF THE MONTH   THIS MONTH'S QUESTION   TRUST FUND AUCTION   TIPS FROM HOCKEY CAMP   DAN'S HONOR ROLL

  COACH'S TIP   THE SAYING OF THE MONTH   DAN TRIP IN THE NHL   DAN & JAY'S BOOKS   A WAY TO SUBSCRIBE

OUR BOOKS....

So Your Son Wants to Play In The NHL Published in 1998 by Sleeping Bear Press in the US and McClelland & Stewart in Canada. HC $24.95. The story of Dan’s journey from the ice rink in our back yard to the NHL. “This is the best hockey advice since ‘Don’t rile Gordie Howe’”. "This is more than a hockey book. It's a book about life and how to use simple lessons and values for success. …a refreshing straight-ahead approach that makes you feel that you've learned something." LA Times. Autographed and personalized copies available at www.DanBylsma.com.

So You Want to Play In The NHL Published in November, 2000, by NTC/ Contemporary/McGraw-Hill. Trade paperback—$14.95. Thirty-five questions that aspiring young athletes have and Dan’s and Jay’s alternating answers. Forward by Luc Robitaille. This book won’t help you play the game better, but we think it will help you live the game better. “I am making this book required reading for my team because it confirms everything I have ever said in the locker room and to parents.” Coach John M. You can read a chapter by clicking here. Autographed and personalized copies available at www.DanBylsma.com.

Pitcher’s Hands is OUT! Is finally out! (released) and you can get it at on line on the web site or at Barnes & Noble. Published in February by River Road Publications. HC $15.95. A historical novel about what it was like to be a kid living in the Great Depression. It’s a great baseball tale. “…a wonderful story – rich in historical detail, full of excitement, warmth, and humor – a story that readers of all ages will not want to end.” "These father-son authors... made a literary double play." Grand Rapids Press. You can read a chapter by clicking here. You can get autographed, personalized copies at www.DanBylsma.com.

Slam Dunks Not Allowed! - another historical novel is here!  This one about basketball and World War II. Many of the same characters you will read about in Pitcher Hands is OUT! – Scooter, Woody, Doolie and Dutchie - are now on the High School basketball team.  "The Bylsma writing team takes a page from the history of basketball and sets it against the backdrop of WWII to create a dramatic, touching and often funny novel."  Published by River Road Publications.  HC $15.95.  You can read part of a chapter from the original manuscript by clicking here.  You can get autographed, personalized copies at www.DanBylsma.com. 

DAN’S ON THE WEB

AT www.DanBylsma.com

RY

If you know of another player or his family who might enjoy Dan’s Newsletter “From the Right Wing…”, feel free to forward the newsletter along. Coaches are welcome to send the names and Email addresses of their entire team - we're happy to sign them all up.

If you are reading the Newsletter because someone passed it along and would like to receive the Newsletter for yourself, Email your first and last name to newsletter@DanBylsma.com.

You are also welcome to reprint articles of the newsletter in your hockey newsletter. See Q&A # 51 on the website for the proper way to do that.

If you have a question you would like to ask Dan or Jay, Email your question to questions@DanBylsma.com. You can see the questions asked and answered on the Q&A page on Dan’s web site unless you ask that the response be confidential.

DAN’S ORGANIZATION

West Michigan Hockey Camp, Inc.

P.O. Box 917

Grand Haven, MI 49417

Fax: 616-846-0710

Email: Number21@DanBylsma.com

“Remember… it takes three things to succeed:

talent, hard work and perseverance.

And the greatest of these is not talent.”

J.M.B.

TOP  DAN'S TIP OF THE MONTH   THIS MONTH'S QUESTION   TRUST FUND AUCTION   TIPS FROM HOCKEY CAMP   

DAN'S HONOR ROLL   COACH'S TIP   THE SAYING OF THE MONTH   DAN TRIP IN THE NHL   DAN & JAY'S BOOKS   A WAY TO SUBSCRIBE