Volume 3, Issue 7 - March, 2003

 "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

My father called to say he was speaking to a local hockey organization and wanted a suggestion from me he could pass along to the players in his audience.  I suggested he share my top ten list (what I think you need to do to play in the NHL)  Here they are:

10. Attend a summer hockey camp or clinic that emphasizes skating fundamentals with a good instructor for one week.  Why? Because all of us (including myself) can learn to skate better.  Not many of our coaches are qualified to teach the skill of skating.  A week spent with a good skating instructor can be a great help on your technique. 

9. Play pick-up roller blade hockey with your friends in the summer.  It's a great way to have fun and improve your skills.

8. Shoot tennis balls against a fence/wall/garage/net for one hour a week.  If you do that, I guarantee you will have a better and more accurate shot at the end of a few weeks.  Hockey is about shooting the puck into the net...the better you can do that, the more effective you will be as a player.  Besides, it's a lot of fun to score goals.

7.  Play other sports like baseball, soccer, basketball, tennis, or golf.  There are two reasons: playing other sports will make you a better athlete, and consequently a better hockey player, and it will help you avoid getting burned out on hockey.

6. Develop discipline. (See Ron Foyt's article below).

5. Learn perseverance.  For more players than you might think, they made to the NHL because they didn't quit trying.  They just kept on working on their game, trying to get better, improving... until they finally made it.  I believe there were thousands of guys who were better than I was along the way who didn't make it because they lacked perseverance.

4. Give every practice everything you’ve got.  In our second book we say that making it to the NHL is like moving a mountain one rock at a time.  Every practice, every shift, every game is an opportunity to move one more of the rocks in your personal mountain.  If you pass up on a chance to move one of those rocks, it will still be there and so will your mountain.

3. Practice your skill for two hours for every organized game you play.  You don't develop skill in games where you have your stick on the puck for 30 - 40 seconds (max) and you shoot 4 or 5 times.  You don't develop much skill in 30 seconds.  A musician doesn't get good unless he practices, neither does a hockey player.

2. Play a lot of pond hockey (rat hockey).  I think playing pond hockey - ice or roller - is the best way to develop your skills.  Play against the biggest, fastest, best players you can - it will cause you to push yourself and your skill level will improve.

1. And the Number One thing my father and I think you can do to get to the NHL is… get good grades in school.  Why would that be?  Because for almost all American born players and for more and more Canadian players, the way to the NHL is through college or university hockey.  And what do you need to get into college or university?  You have to have good grades. The notion that any university will take you if you are good enough regardless of your grades is an urban myth.  So I'll see you on my honor roll soon, right?

****

We've come across a very good book whose subtitle is a good summary of the book itself.  The book is The Parents Guide to Minor Hockey - Stickhandling Through Your Son's First 15 Years of Hockey in Canada and the United States.  Ms. Karin Hartwig O'Connor has done an excellent job of detailing each division of youth hockey from Mites (Novice in Canada) to Juniors and college.  It's full of stories, rules, tips, suggestions on coaches, etc. for each age group.  If you're a director of USAHockey or the CHA, you don't need this book.  But if you're the average hockey parent that would like some factual light on your path, this book will be of interest.  It's now available on our web site and you can check it out here.

THIS MONTH'S BEST QUESTION ON THE WEB SITE…

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 MY HOCKEY CAMP...

My father attended a hockey conference in New Brunswick and was impressed by the depth of the presentations and the wide range of subjects covered.  One of the presenters, Gordon Sleivert, PhD, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of New Brunswick, Canada, talked about strength training and agreed to summarize his views on strength training for youth hockey players for our newsletter:

Five Steps to Strong Hockey.  

To fully enjoy the hockey experience and perform to potential physical fitness is paramount. One of the most important hockey fitness components is strength; however, it is not enough to be strong in the weight room, players need to be strong on the ice. I meet many players that are training like body-builders not hockey players and consequently they develop strength in the weight room but it does not transfer well to the game.  How do we develop strong hockey players?

Here are five training ideas that young hockey players can use to improve their hockey performance. 

1. Emphasize technique first. For the young hockey player heavy resistance training can result in injury. Use a load that can be lifted approximately 15 times and emphasize performing the lift correctly. Exercises that use the player’s own body-weight as resistance are also very effective. Young players should avoid overhead lifts such as the military press.
    

2. Emphasize large muscle group and multi-joint exercises such as bench-press and parallel squat. These types of exercises are most similar to the complex movements used in hockey. The development of abdominal and back strength is particularly important for developmental players.
    

3. Change your resistance exercises every three weeks. Strength improvements will stagnate without variety. Using muscles in different ways will continually promote neuromuscular development.
    

4. Periodically Emphasize Speed-Strength. Hockey is a fast game and muscles have to work at a high velocity of contraction. Use a load that can be comfortably lifted 15-20 times but on the positive portion of the lift (the push) explode as fast as possible. Players can insert speed-strength work into their training regime after 6 weeks of performing a 15 rep program.
    

5. Emphasize quality training not quantity. For the young player a whole-body routine, where there is a maximum of six exercises performed three times each (three sets) twice a week is recommended.

 Incorporating these five concepts into a fitness regimen will certainly strengthen your hockey performance. It is recommended that all players initiating a strength training program also consult with a fitness professional for personalized instruction and advice.

Although many young players are advised not to participate in resistance training until after puberty, this is an overly conservative approach to training. In fact the National Strength and Conditioning Association, the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine, and the American Academy of Pediatrics all suggest that children can benefit from a properly designed and planned resistance training program. With proper technique, moderate loading (resistance no higher than a load that can be lifted 15 times, and avoidance of overhead lifts, even kids as young as 9 years old can enjoy resistance training. Training should be supervised and progress from very light barbell or dumbbell exercises or body weight calisthenics to moderate weight resistance training (10-12 years).

Adult programs should generally not be used until at least 16 years old, but this depends upon the training history of the hockey player. One problem with resistance training in children is that often the resistance training equipment is to big for the kids to properly use or the resistance increments in the machine are too big for safe progression. For this reason free weights, partner resisted exercises, and calisthenics are often more appropriate training choices. Remember, the young player should be interested in resistance training, supervised when training, and the quality versus quantity of training should be emphasized so that the skill of proper resistance training can be learned in a safe and fun environment.

My thanks to Dr. Sleivert for his contribution to the Newsletter.

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

COACHES AND PARENTS from Jay...  

In the last issue in this column, I wrote:  Some... players that may have the skill level to advance in the sport will not have the characteristics/character that it takes to "make it" because the behavior that is detrimental to the development of those characteristics goes unchecked and is tacitly accepted.  They are being cheated as well.  If (a coach) looks the other way when his star players have character issues and worst, if he rewards them with preferential ice time, he's cheating them.  Coaching is not about teaching "one hand on the stick" or backward crossovers.  It's about using the sport to teach life lessons.  And his players better be learning those life lessons, because the kids who don't make it to the NHL will need those lessons.  The kids who do make it will need them even more - to get there and to stay there.

One of our readers sent an article by Ron Foyt, a former NHL linesman, which expands on this issue of character from a different perspective.  Mr. Foyt writes:

"This X Factor, as I like to call it, that will help a player achieve a higher level of hockey is concentrating on your own playing and playing the game with respect.  In other words, if you have the X Factor, you play the game in control, you respect the coaches and the game officials, and you don't trash talk your opponents.  I know this may be a foreign concept to some, but it really does work.

"Officials have a unique perspective about players and their ability to move up in levels of hockey.  Any official that works higher level games on a regular basis will tell you that there are lots and lots and lots of hockey players that have the same goal in mind.  This goal is to move up to the next level of hockey.

"It is obvious to an official during a game what players have a high skill level that might give them an opportunity to be successful at the next level of play.

"So, not only can these officials tell you which of these players appear to have the necessary skill level to reach their common goal, but they can also tell you which of these players have this X Factor that will help them reach their goal much faster.  These officials know that a player's X Factor comes into play as much as his or her ability. Coaches also have the ability to see the X Factor.  Coaches look for this because they want to select players that will make them and their programs successful.  Not many coaches at a higher level will select a player that plays out of control, is disrespectful to their current coach, and is a constant complainer.

"So, are you a hockey parent that wants to maximize your son or daughter's opportunity to play at high levels of hockey?  The first thing you need to do is conduct yourself with control when you are in the stands watching your son or daughter play.  All players watch their parents in the stands, so be a good role model and demonstrate to them total control of your emotions. 

"Second, take advantage of teachable moments.  Teach your young hockey player that the way to succeed in the sport of hockey is by playing the game with control and with respect to coaches, officials, and opposing players.

"When your hockey player starts to complain about how their coach doesn't understand him, that the referees weren't being fair, or that the other team was being cheap, use this opportunity! 

"Teach them about accountability, respect, and how to avoid playing the blame game.  Be a part of your young hockey player's success.  As a parent, you play a larger role than you can imagine.

The italics and underline are mine.  Mr. Foyt reiterates what we've said a time or two: if you want your player to progress in the game - you see to his or her character - their discipline, their lifeskills.  Because they'll need those life skills if they don't make it to the NHL, even more if they do and they may be a factor in their making it to the NHL.  It was for Dan.

We'd like to thank Mr. Foyt for allowing us to reprint his comments which were first published in Let's Play Hockey, a publication of The Official's Wearhouse.  Mr. Foyt's complete article can be seen at www.DanBylsma.com/foyt.htm.

  Jay M. Bylsma

THIS MONTH'S SAYING TO PUT IN YOUR LOCKER...

"Hard work spotlights the character of people:

 some turn up their sleeves,

some turn up their nose,

and some don't turn up at all."