The Huskies continue to compete. They split this weekend. They beat the Panthers 4-3 and lost to the Sabres 5-4. They continue to score across the lines and this week the defensemen step in... firing more shots from the point. What do more shots mean? More chances for goals! Hunter #18 put a shot on net and scored the game winner against the Panthers . #6 Alec played an important role on #18's goal by screening the goalie and by maintaining a presence in the slot. Slot presence puts a player in position to tip the puck, collect rebounds and it distracts the other team.
Another defensive key play this weekend showed the Huskies are taking what they learn in practice to the game ice. The Huskies won a neutral zone face-off and the puck was played back with purpose to Nick #14. He promptly sent it across ice to #10 Tucker. This movement left James #44 wide open in the neutral zone. Tucker promptly passed it up to him and #44 took it in and scored with a wrist shot to the high left corner.
The Huskies continue to play as a team and not only work hard on the ice but work hard on the bench. Many boys are asking for direction and ideas from the coaches to improve their play in the game as the game progresses. Down 3-1 on Sunday the boys rallied back falling 1 goal short in the 5-4 loss to the Sabres.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
The Mental Aspects of Ice Hockey: Getting Checked
Sometimes we forget what it is like to be a kid. Sometimes we forget the mental apsects of the game might not have anything to do with the child but everything to do with the parent. I weigh 200 pounds. I would never go on the ice with risk of getting checked by a 400 pound man. Would you? How many parents are playing hockey where checking is allowed? Few if any.
It is interesting that checking is introduced in Peewee but goes away in adult leagues, unless you are in college hockey, semi-pro or the NHL. As adults we know it hurts and we don't want to get hurt.
When your child first steps into a checking league it is scary. If not fear then anxiety. If not anxiety then nervousness. If not nervousness then caution. And thats how I feel when watching my son. Image how your son or daughter feels. It is not unusual for weight differences to be double your child's weight. They are getting hit by someone 2x's as big as them. Wow! What brave kids.
Let them know it is alright to be scared, anxious, nervous, or cautious. Let them know how they are quite brave really. Let them know that getting hit and checking is part of the game that they can learn over time. Give them permission to be cautious and avoid it but learn how to use it and take it. If they love the game. If they want to be on the ice. If they stick with it, they well learn how to take a check and how to deliver one. They mentally need time to prepare for it.
They don't need to be told to toughen up or to shake it off. If you don't believe me... get a friend that is double your weight and tell them to run full speed into your back. Yeah - a bad check. Then have your wife tell you to toughen up and shake it off. How are you feeling with her advice? Good I'm sure.
Kind of funny when you think about what we tell our kids sometimes. Give them permission to be cautious and learn. They will appreciate it. Talk to them about checking and see what the think.
It is interesting that checking is introduced in Peewee but goes away in adult leagues, unless you are in college hockey, semi-pro or the NHL. As adults we know it hurts and we don't want to get hurt.
When your child first steps into a checking league it is scary. If not fear then anxiety. If not anxiety then nervousness. If not nervousness then caution. And thats how I feel when watching my son. Image how your son or daughter feels. It is not unusual for weight differences to be double your child's weight. They are getting hit by someone 2x's as big as them. Wow! What brave kids.
Let them know it is alright to be scared, anxious, nervous, or cautious. Let them know how they are quite brave really. Let them know that getting hit and checking is part of the game that they can learn over time. Give them permission to be cautious and avoid it but learn how to use it and take it. If they love the game. If they want to be on the ice. If they stick with it, they well learn how to take a check and how to deliver one. They mentally need time to prepare for it.
They don't need to be told to toughen up or to shake it off. If you don't believe me... get a friend that is double your weight and tell them to run full speed into your back. Yeah - a bad check. Then have your wife tell you to toughen up and shake it off. How are you feeling with her advice? Good I'm sure.
Kind of funny when you think about what we tell our kids sometimes. Give them permission to be cautious and learn. They will appreciate it. Talk to them about checking and see what the think.
Monday, September 20, 2010
The Mental Aspects of Ice Hockey: 5-3 = Someone is Open!
Hockey is a physical and mental game. What can be done to help teach your child the mental aspects of the game? A lot! However, I had a hard time finding information on how to teach them... the mental aspects of the game that is. So, I decided to take my career knowledge and make it up.
The idea goes like this... 11 and 12 years olds have the capacity, at this age, to start using their brains to improve their game play. The mental game is like learning physical skills. You have to practice them and teaching helps.
5-3 = Someone is Open!
If your child has the puck and draws 3 players toward them... then they did 1/2 their job. The other half is moving the puck to another open player. Losing the puck because you hold on to it to long, is not a good hockey play. This is a mental aspect of the game.
If there are 5 defenders on the ice and 3 of them come to your child then that leaves only 2 defenders to cover his 4 teammates. Simple math. Someone is wide open! It is easy for a child to get overly focused on the puck, on scoring or on skating. However, these things typically lead to losing the puck once 2 and 3 defenders pounce on them. They may NOT even notice the number of players around them. This is a mental aspect of the game.
You can teach your child to hard count the players in their field of vision and visually begin to see the game differently. Practice will allow your child to quickly realize... I have 2, 3 or 4 players on me and I need to PASS or DUMP the puck. This will become an automatic response. Less thinking/processing time means quicker reactions and decisions.
How to teach 5-3 = Someone is Open!
Well of course they need to hear it. But they also need to practice it. Below are the basics, but you can arrive to the same point many different ways.
Step One
Talk to them about hard counting the players when they are first on the ice. They should look up and count the players during face-off. Not their team but the other team. At face-off they should simply look and hard count in their head 1,2,3,4,5. This is the mental practice. This is the starting point. This gets them to count.
Step Two
During the game they should count the numbers of the other team in their field of vision. This is more practice. With time, instead of counting, the brain will register 2 or 3 or 0. The counting goes away and the brain registers the number of players in their vision.
Step Three
Talking to them about options once they notice 2, 3 or sometimes 4 players coming at them is the next step. This is something they have been and are being taught over and over again in practice. They have already been taught and are practicing the response skills. Passing and dumping the puck are the responses to having 2 or 3 players on them. You are working with your child to get them to mentally jump to their options once they draw multiple players towards themselves. Helping them to more quickly make a decision and pull the trigger to pass or dump the puck is the goal.
Step Four
This mental exercise is about visually identifying and understanding your surroundings. This is a mental aspect of the game. By helping your child focus on their field of vision and learning to understand what they see during the game, they will become better hockey players. Step 4 is continued practice and discussion of steps 1-3. Expect it to take about 4-8 games to see mental changes in the game. Kids learn at different speeds.
The idea goes like this... 11 and 12 years olds have the capacity, at this age, to start using their brains to improve their game play. The mental game is like learning physical skills. You have to practice them and teaching helps.
5-3 = Someone is Open!
If your child has the puck and draws 3 players toward them... then they did 1/2 their job. The other half is moving the puck to another open player. Losing the puck because you hold on to it to long, is not a good hockey play. This is a mental aspect of the game.
If there are 5 defenders on the ice and 3 of them come to your child then that leaves only 2 defenders to cover his 4 teammates. Simple math. Someone is wide open! It is easy for a child to get overly focused on the puck, on scoring or on skating. However, these things typically lead to losing the puck once 2 and 3 defenders pounce on them. They may NOT even notice the number of players around them. This is a mental aspect of the game.
You can teach your child to hard count the players in their field of vision and visually begin to see the game differently. Practice will allow your child to quickly realize... I have 2, 3 or 4 players on me and I need to PASS or DUMP the puck. This will become an automatic response. Less thinking/processing time means quicker reactions and decisions.
How to teach 5-3 = Someone is Open!
Well of course they need to hear it. But they also need to practice it. Below are the basics, but you can arrive to the same point many different ways.
Step One
Talk to them about hard counting the players when they are first on the ice. They should look up and count the players during face-off. Not their team but the other team. At face-off they should simply look and hard count in their head 1,2,3,4,5. This is the mental practice. This is the starting point. This gets them to count.
Step Two
During the game they should count the numbers of the other team in their field of vision. This is more practice. With time, instead of counting, the brain will register 2 or 3 or 0. The counting goes away and the brain registers the number of players in their vision.
Step Three
Talking to them about options once they notice 2, 3 or sometimes 4 players coming at them is the next step. This is something they have been and are being taught over and over again in practice. They have already been taught and are practicing the response skills. Passing and dumping the puck are the responses to having 2 or 3 players on them. You are working with your child to get them to mentally jump to their options once they draw multiple players towards themselves. Helping them to more quickly make a decision and pull the trigger to pass or dump the puck is the goal.
Step Four
This mental exercise is about visually identifying and understanding your surroundings. This is a mental aspect of the game. By helping your child focus on their field of vision and learning to understand what they see during the game, they will become better hockey players. Step 4 is continued practice and discussion of steps 1-3. Expect it to take about 4-8 games to see mental changes in the game. Kids learn at different speeds.
The Huskies Maintain Their Competitive Play and Split the Weekend
The Huskies continued to show their competitive nature as the preseason progressed this weekend. They lost to the Bulldogs for a 2nd time, 4-2. Huskies goals came from Matt #64 and from Noah #91 assisted by #30 Harsh.
On Sunday the Huskies played a very physical team, the Virginia Wild. The Huskies beat them 6-4 and kept their spirit and offense up through a hard fought battle. The Wild racked up 9 penalties for 18 minutes and Noah #91, assisted by #30 capitalized on that advantage with the only PP goal.
The Huskies have shown all lines of offense can score. The scoring started at 11:06 in the first, on a bang bang play. Alec #6 was fed a beautiful pass from #8 Drew. They both broke in the zone with speed and #8 put a pass right on the tape of #6 and with a quick shot... it was 1-0. Scoring can be contagious. At 10:43 and 10:14 the Huskies scored two more goals. Jimmy #12 picked the puck up in front of the net and deked the goalie for goal number two. He was assisted by #44 James. Matt #11 scored the third goal, unassisted. #11 fought for the puck along the boards and won the battle. He took a step to the net and fired a wrister top shelf, clanging the metal. A great sound!
AJ #62 scored the fourth goal while falling across the crease. He was able to lift the puck over the goalie. The #91 Noah PP goal also came in the 2nd. The Huskies were up 5-0 only to see the Wild spark a four goal comeback over a 10 minute span. The Wild didn't quit and scored two short handed goals in that flurry. With 2:58 to go in the 3rd, the pressure was on. The Huskies scored their sixth goal from #11 Matt who set up at the net. #8 Drew fired a pass through 2 defenders and #11 one timed it into the net. With 90 seconds left the Wild were on the PP and pulled their goalie. The Huskies stopped a 6 on 4 flurry to win 6-4.
Something to think about:
Keep your head up. Keep your head up. Especially in the neutral zone.
Don't celebrate until it's over.
*The scoresheet doesn't always show the assists but Sean's videos do.
#14 Nick chased the puck down to keep it in the zone. He fired a pass from near the blue line, through traffic, to #62 AJ and set the goal up. Great job Nick!
On Sunday the Huskies played a very physical team, the Virginia Wild. The Huskies beat them 6-4 and kept their spirit and offense up through a hard fought battle. The Wild racked up 9 penalties for 18 minutes and Noah #91, assisted by #30 capitalized on that advantage with the only PP goal.
The Huskies have shown all lines of offense can score. The scoring started at 11:06 in the first, on a bang bang play. Alec #6 was fed a beautiful pass from #8 Drew. They both broke in the zone with speed and #8 put a pass right on the tape of #6 and with a quick shot... it was 1-0. Scoring can be contagious. At 10:43 and 10:14 the Huskies scored two more goals. Jimmy #12 picked the puck up in front of the net and deked the goalie for goal number two. He was assisted by #44 James. Matt #11 scored the third goal, unassisted. #11 fought for the puck along the boards and won the battle. He took a step to the net and fired a wrister top shelf, clanging the metal. A great sound!
AJ #62 scored the fourth goal while falling across the crease. He was able to lift the puck over the goalie. The #91 Noah PP goal also came in the 2nd. The Huskies were up 5-0 only to see the Wild spark a four goal comeback over a 10 minute span. The Wild didn't quit and scored two short handed goals in that flurry. With 2:58 to go in the 3rd, the pressure was on. The Huskies scored their sixth goal from #11 Matt who set up at the net. #8 Drew fired a pass through 2 defenders and #11 one timed it into the net. With 90 seconds left the Wild were on the PP and pulled their goalie. The Huskies stopped a 6 on 4 flurry to win 6-4.
Something to think about:
Keep your head up. Keep your head up. Especially in the neutral zone.
Don't celebrate until it's over.
*The scoresheet doesn't always show the assists but Sean's videos do.
#14 Nick chased the puck down to keep it in the zone. He fired a pass from near the blue line, through traffic, to #62 AJ and set the goal up. Great job Nick!
Thursday, September 16, 2010
How to Encourage Skill Development Using Past Success
There is a tendency, guilty or not, to focus on telling your child what they need to develop or work on. Sometimes we can be relentless to the point... our kids tuned us out a long time ago. At ages 11 and 12 your child can recognize to a fair degree what they can and can't do well. What they have trouble remembering, is that the things they currently do well, they couldn't do before. Children forget how difficult something was to master, once they master it. And we also forget. Often, we move right on to the next thing we think they need to develop. This isn't about our intention, it's about a new strategy to help them learn.
One strategy to help them learn and develop is to stop telling them directly what they need to work on. They know. If you ask them they can tell you. Help them figure out how to identify what they need to work on and encourage future success by pointing out what they have already accomplished. Here are the nuts and bolts.
1. Don't tell them they are great, good or skilled. It doesn't provide feedback. Those statements are too generic. Get specific and qualify it. Praise them with specific successes.
"Wow, those were some really nice checks you put out there. I remember when you weren't checking and now you figured out how to use it in a game. I really like seeing you use that skill. Good job."
"Three shots on goal. Way to get the puck on net. You worked really hard to get open and fire the puck at the goalie. It looks like you really know where to be on the ice."
2. Remind them of how they worked hard to master a skill and how they can now do it with relative ease. Ask them how they managed to learn it.
"I remember when you were getting really frustrated with your wrist shot because you couldn't lift it. I don't know if you remember that but do you realize what you can do with the puck now? Now you actually pick out corners and fire the puck where you want. How hard was that to learn?"
"Nice stop. You had stopping to the right down but now I notice you stop to the left just as easily. When did you start doing that? It seems like you can stop on a dime in either direction."
3. By using 1 and 2 you start a positive conversation. Don't mess it up with the old, "you do this well BUT...."
"You really picked up your speed and it shows. Nice job but you need to work on controlling the puck."
"I like the way you move to your position but you have to get there a little faster."
There is nothing wrong with these statement but your child is only going to hear the BUT. The strategy is to use 1 and 2 to really start a conversation. Don't be a but dad or but mom... as my kids say.
4. There is no rush to get to what you feel like your child needs to work on. The operative word is you. Let them get to it. Let them identify what they feel they need to work on. It may take a few conversations. Sustain the conversation.
"Do you feel like you're playing the game differently using the skills you worked hard to develop. How has that checking help your game?"
"It took you about a year to master your wrist shot. You worked hard and I remember you were mad you couldn't do it. Do you even realize how naturally you do it now? How has your game changed with your wrister?"
"You have been getting faster every month and your skating is improving. You stuck with lessons and really used what you were taught. How has the speed and skating changed your game? I am impressed with the changes."
5. This strategy isn't about NOT suggesting or never suggesting they look at what they can work on and practice. It is about NOT telling them what they need to work on. Simply put, ask them what they feel like they need to work on in practice. Trust me 99/100 kids know.
"You have done a great job learning new things. I can see it in your game. What else do you think you need to work on."
"What kind of things would you like to accomplish in practice this year. Anything I can help you with?"
It may seem like the long road to the same destination. This method takes you on a walk with your child which is probably more important in their life and your life anyway then the destination. Telling them what they need to do is different than helping them learn how to do it. At ages 11 and 12, their hearing changes. It's a little known fact but hearing becomes selective and distorted at 11 and 12. Yes, the Peanuts teacher syndrome.
6. Once they identify what to work on, encourage them by using their past successes. Remind them of their accomplishments.
"Okay speed. You're a good skater and I agree speed is good to work on. I know you can do that. You shoot like its automatic and you used to have a hard time doing that. Now you're working on new shots. I think your speed is going to pick up if you put your mind to it and work with your coaches and practice. Would you like me to take you to open ice? What do you think would help you?"
"Hmm. That's a good idea. Physical play is important. What part do you want to work on? Stick-lifts are a good way to back-check and get more physical. What do you think about that?"
In these two examples, you will notice the examples focus on speed and physical play. Most kids won't be specific. Like stating break-away speed or lateral speed. You can help them break down how to be more physical. Take what the give you and give them a place to focus.
This strategy doesn't mean you can't make suggestions or be part of the process. It is about using past success to encourage them to think about how they can continue to improve. Allowing them the time to identify goals for themselves is much more effective then having a mom, dad or both parents telling them what they need to do.
Good Luck!
One strategy to help them learn and develop is to stop telling them directly what they need to work on. They know. If you ask them they can tell you. Help them figure out how to identify what they need to work on and encourage future success by pointing out what they have already accomplished. Here are the nuts and bolts.
1. Don't tell them they are great, good or skilled. It doesn't provide feedback. Those statements are too generic. Get specific and qualify it. Praise them with specific successes.
"Wow, those were some really nice checks you put out there. I remember when you weren't checking and now you figured out how to use it in a game. I really like seeing you use that skill. Good job."
"Three shots on goal. Way to get the puck on net. You worked really hard to get open and fire the puck at the goalie. It looks like you really know where to be on the ice."
2. Remind them of how they worked hard to master a skill and how they can now do it with relative ease. Ask them how they managed to learn it.
"I remember when you were getting really frustrated with your wrist shot because you couldn't lift it. I don't know if you remember that but do you realize what you can do with the puck now? Now you actually pick out corners and fire the puck where you want. How hard was that to learn?"
"Nice stop. You had stopping to the right down but now I notice you stop to the left just as easily. When did you start doing that? It seems like you can stop on a dime in either direction."
3. By using 1 and 2 you start a positive conversation. Don't mess it up with the old, "you do this well BUT...."
"You really picked up your speed and it shows. Nice job but you need to work on controlling the puck."
"I like the way you move to your position but you have to get there a little faster."
There is nothing wrong with these statement but your child is only going to hear the BUT. The strategy is to use 1 and 2 to really start a conversation. Don't be a but dad or but mom... as my kids say.
4. There is no rush to get to what you feel like your child needs to work on. The operative word is you. Let them get to it. Let them identify what they feel they need to work on. It may take a few conversations. Sustain the conversation.
"Do you feel like you're playing the game differently using the skills you worked hard to develop. How has that checking help your game?"
"It took you about a year to master your wrist shot. You worked hard and I remember you were mad you couldn't do it. Do you even realize how naturally you do it now? How has your game changed with your wrister?"
"You have been getting faster every month and your skating is improving. You stuck with lessons and really used what you were taught. How has the speed and skating changed your game? I am impressed with the changes."
5. This strategy isn't about NOT suggesting or never suggesting they look at what they can work on and practice. It is about NOT telling them what they need to work on. Simply put, ask them what they feel like they need to work on in practice. Trust me 99/100 kids know.
"You have done a great job learning new things. I can see it in your game. What else do you think you need to work on."
"What kind of things would you like to accomplish in practice this year. Anything I can help you with?"
It may seem like the long road to the same destination. This method takes you on a walk with your child which is probably more important in their life and your life anyway then the destination. Telling them what they need to do is different than helping them learn how to do it. At ages 11 and 12, their hearing changes. It's a little known fact but hearing becomes selective and distorted at 11 and 12. Yes, the Peanuts teacher syndrome.
6. Once they identify what to work on, encourage them by using their past successes. Remind them of their accomplishments.
"Okay speed. You're a good skater and I agree speed is good to work on. I know you can do that. You shoot like its automatic and you used to have a hard time doing that. Now you're working on new shots. I think your speed is going to pick up if you put your mind to it and work with your coaches and practice. Would you like me to take you to open ice? What do you think would help you?"
"Hmm. That's a good idea. Physical play is important. What part do you want to work on? Stick-lifts are a good way to back-check and get more physical. What do you think about that?"
In these two examples, you will notice the examples focus on speed and physical play. Most kids won't be specific. Like stating break-away speed or lateral speed. You can help them break down how to be more physical. Take what the give you and give them a place to focus.
This strategy doesn't mean you can't make suggestions or be part of the process. It is about using past success to encourage them to think about how they can continue to improve. Allowing them the time to identify goals for themselves is much more effective then having a mom, dad or both parents telling them what they need to do.
Good Luck!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Wayne Gretzky Quotes: The Mental Hockey Game
Quotes taken from http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/w/wayne_gretzky.html
Hockey is not only about physical skill. It is also about mental preparation and thinking. The player that thinks in a game is a player that is always needed on a team. Here are some quotes by Wayne Gretzky that address practice and thinking.
A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be.
Wayne Gretzky
Hockey is fast paced. Being able to watch a play develop and anticipating where the puck will go, while moving, is a piece of the mental aspect of the game. Not all players work on developing this aspect. Kids can be taught to think and move. This doesn't always come naturally. This skill will develop at different ages. It can be coached and taught by parents.
I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been.
Wayne Gretzky
This quote falls in the same realm as above. Trailing the puck isn't the best place to be. Arriving where the puck will be is a mental aspect of the game. This skill like any other skill can be practiced and encouraged.
I wasn't naturally gifted in terms of size and speed; everything I did in hockey I worked for, and that's the way I'll be as a coach.
Wayne Gretzky
Hockey isn't about what you have in terms of immediate skill but what you can practice and develop. Every player is different and has a different potential. Kids are not hockey stars. They are learning the game. Using practice, coaches and with encouragement, kids can be taught to work hard to reach their potential.
The highest compliment that you can pay me is to say that I work hard every day, that I never dog it.
Wayne Gretzky
Ever notice the kid that could skate through everyone in Mites and Squirts, gets very frustrated when they get to Peewee. The game gets harder and kids have to work harder to play competitively. While a kid my stop playing hockey, helping them learn a hard work ethic will stay with them for a life-time.
The only way a kid is going to practice is if it's total fun for him... and it was for me.
Wayne Gretzky
Practice is hard work. Finding the one piece your kid loves will make practice fun. Every kid doesn't want to hear what they have to work on. Encourage them by showing them how they progressed and succeeded. They know what they need to work on. They forget what they couldn't do yesterday but do well today. Remind them.
You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.
Wayne Gretzky
Encourage them to take the shot and more importantly take chances. Mistakes are good. Mistakes will become an accomplishment. Encourage your child to make mistakes with new drills, new skills and new teams. Practice is the best place to make a mistake and learn for the game.
Hockey is not only about physical skill. It is also about mental preparation and thinking. The player that thinks in a game is a player that is always needed on a team. Here are some quotes by Wayne Gretzky that address practice and thinking.
A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be.
Wayne Gretzky
Hockey is fast paced. Being able to watch a play develop and anticipating where the puck will go, while moving, is a piece of the mental aspect of the game. Not all players work on developing this aspect. Kids can be taught to think and move. This doesn't always come naturally. This skill will develop at different ages. It can be coached and taught by parents.
I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been.
Wayne Gretzky
This quote falls in the same realm as above. Trailing the puck isn't the best place to be. Arriving where the puck will be is a mental aspect of the game. This skill like any other skill can be practiced and encouraged.
I wasn't naturally gifted in terms of size and speed; everything I did in hockey I worked for, and that's the way I'll be as a coach.
Wayne Gretzky
Hockey isn't about what you have in terms of immediate skill but what you can practice and develop. Every player is different and has a different potential. Kids are not hockey stars. They are learning the game. Using practice, coaches and with encouragement, kids can be taught to work hard to reach their potential.
The highest compliment that you can pay me is to say that I work hard every day, that I never dog it.
Wayne Gretzky
Ever notice the kid that could skate through everyone in Mites and Squirts, gets very frustrated when they get to Peewee. The game gets harder and kids have to work harder to play competitively. While a kid my stop playing hockey, helping them learn a hard work ethic will stay with them for a life-time.
The only way a kid is going to practice is if it's total fun for him... and it was for me.
Wayne Gretzky
Practice is hard work. Finding the one piece your kid loves will make practice fun. Every kid doesn't want to hear what they have to work on. Encourage them by showing them how they progressed and succeeded. They know what they need to work on. They forget what they couldn't do yesterday but do well today. Remind them.
You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.
Wayne Gretzky
Encourage them to take the shot and more importantly take chances. Mistakes are good. Mistakes will become an accomplishment. Encourage your child to make mistakes with new drills, new skills and new teams. Practice is the best place to make a mistake and learn for the game.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Detriot Redwings: Johan Franzen and Social Anxiety
Anxiety should not be play downed in any respect. Anxiety is not fear. It is a physiological state that kids and adults often mistake for danger and doom. Anyone experiencing anxiety, be it socially or during sports, may not know what it is. When you don't know what anxiety is, it begins to control your life. If your kids are anxious on the ice let them know it's normal. There are a lot of things that can be done to help them.
Here is an interesting article about Johan Franzen and how his life was affected by social anxiety. Here is the original link:
http://blog.mlive.com/snapshots/2009/11/aftonbladet_red_wings_forward.html
Detroit's Johan Franzén on the anxiety that threatened his career
DETROIT. Johan Franzén has been a wonderful breakthrough player in the NHL, has a newly written contract worth nearly 300 million [Swedish Kronor] and is celebrated star of the Detroit Red Wings.
The paradox is that he now stands in the middle of the spotlight, where his biggest demons have always existed.
For there was a time when extreme shyness and stage fright was about to stop his whole career.
Then he ran and hid after the matches, when he skipped school lectures and paid team mates in Linköping for speaking in his place.
"The only place I felt safe was on the ice," he says.
Johan Franzén calls it sheer terror.
The fear to face others and make speeches, meet the media after the games and move to new surroundings
"I've always been shy and the first season here, I was almost afraid to score. Then I knew I would be interviewed afterward. It was almost as if I shot at the post instead, but only almost. But it was never so, I went and chased the goal if we led the game. I don't now, either."
Few have known Johan Franzén's problems back home in Sweden and it is only now he has come past the worst fears.
'Here in the NHL you are, of course, thrown straight into it. There is no way out, so I had to try to work it through. And confrontation is what works best for all anxiety, "he says.
During his years in Linköping the players would give speeches in different contexts, but Franzen managed to always shirk his obligations.
"I would simply pay someone else on the team from my own pocket. I simply simply pay someone else on the team from their own pockets. I simply can't do it."
That he can now openly talk about it shows that he is well on the road.
"But it's still the case that I prefer to slip out of the locker room before reporters allowed into the locker room."
The extreme shame is why Johan Franzén received such a late breakthrough.
He was a star even during TV-Pucken tournaments in Småland, but when those responsible for the boy's team called afterward to invite him to a preparatory hockey school he turned them down.
HV-71 managed to attract him to the hockey school in Jönköping, but he did not remain in town very long.
"I really didn't enjoy it and would very truant from school. The times we were asked to give speeches to the class, I couldn't think of anything else. I kept myself away from lessons until the task was over. I just couldn't do it. I used to leave school at lunch and splinter off and go to the public skating rink instead. It was there that I felt safe. Eventually I moved back home. But I still think it was a good choice, and that it was better for me to play senior hockey at home than junior hockey with HV-71.
In small Landsbro he had friends, family and security.
In Myresjö a few miles away, he had the soccer team.
"I played in the boys' league until I was seventeen. I was a goalkeeper, even though I thought it was really boring to be in goal. I really hated it at some practices. But the coach wanted me to stay there and so I did."
He then continued with soccer as a forward in Landsbro until he was nineteen, which is almost unique for a Swedish hockey player in the NHL.
"But that last year, with some of my childhood friends on the soccer team, was actually one of my most fun times with sport so far. We played just because it was fun."
The same winter scored incredible 23 goals in just ten games in the Boro [hockey] team in Division III. The rumors spread over Swedish hockey.
Then something happened which is also relatively unknown and could have stopped the career of the then 19-year-old Franzen.
He skated into a referee in a game and got a year off from hockey.
"But we appealed and got it down to ten months," he says.
What actually happened?
"I was angry and went after the referee and shouted, and when he stopped and put his hands at his sides I kept skating."
Franzen shows himself showing a referee's sign of misconduct when he tells us.
"I argued the whole time that I couldn't stop. I still claim that," he says and bursts into a smile.
But after the season he began the climb upward.
Coach Torgny Bendelin managed to get him to move to the Premier Division with Tranås in 1999-2000 and when Torgny moved to Linköping a year later, Franzen followed.
A Linköping team that was playing in the Allsvenskan that season.
"I had offers from HV-71 and it was in the Eliteserien at the time, but Bendelin managed to persuade me to stay with Linköpings Hockey Club," he says.
In Linköping, also came the breakthrough, when LHC returned to the Eliteserien the same season. Back to stay.
"To get to the Eliteserien with Linköping is the most fun thing I have experienced in hockey, second to my Stanley Cup title here in Detroit."
Yet Johan Franzén continued to be an anonymous Swedish player, a hard-working defensive forward who enjoyed success in that role. He joined the squad as a characteristic hard-worker and debuted at the World Championships in 2005.
"But that's also played a big part in my development. And it was a role I liked because I did not receive all the attention."
But most people were probably surprised when he went to Detroit later that year, when Detroit drafted him as a 24-year-old in 2004. He was picked relatively high also for an over-aged player - number 97 in the third round.
And in Detroit began the transformation to the "new" Johan Franzén.
Power forward, scorer, the star.
The Swede who scored nine goals in just four games in the playoff series against Colorado in 2008 and broke legend Gordie Howe's 59-year-old club record.
"It's the craziest thing I have ever experienced. Everything went in the net. I remember one of the goals, when their goalie covered the entire case. But somehow I managed to get the puck on edge when I shot so the puck slid throughthe one small gap that existed between the goalie pads, "he says.
"But when I first came here I started from the bottom to earn a spot and worked on the parts of my game I was worse at. But the mentality here is very different than back home in Sweden and we are trying constantly to improve the skills you have. At home, no one ever said I had a good shot. Here teammates Kris Draper and Kirk Maltby said to me almost immediately, that, "You are so big and you have a great shot and should use it more. Go to the net and shoot!"
"That was how it started. Then both Tomas Holmström and Daniel Cleary got injured and then I could take that role and stand in front of goal in the power play. When pucks started to go in. Since then I have accustomed myself to a culture where you are looking for a hero in each game. In the end, you want to be the hero yourself."
You could say that Franzen succeeded in that case.
While he has not become accustomed to one hundred percent of the new heroic role yet, even if the worst shame disappeared.
And while other NHL millionaires build huge houses all over Sweden, in Småland, Franzén's dream house is only 80 square [260 square feet]
"It's on a lake almost as far into the woods as you can get. And away t is situated on a lake almost as far into the woods you can get. And away from all to avoid visits," he says.
But it is noticeable that, at the same time, he's started to enjoy his new role a little bit.
Otherwise, he has never told his story so openly.
Here is an interesting article about Johan Franzen and how his life was affected by social anxiety. Here is the original link:
http://blog.mlive.com/snapshots/2009/11/aftonbladet_red_wings_forward.html
Detroit's Johan Franzén on the anxiety that threatened his career
DETROIT. Johan Franzén has been a wonderful breakthrough player in the NHL, has a newly written contract worth nearly 300 million [Swedish Kronor] and is celebrated star of the Detroit Red Wings.
The paradox is that he now stands in the middle of the spotlight, where his biggest demons have always existed.
For there was a time when extreme shyness and stage fright was about to stop his whole career.
Then he ran and hid after the matches, when he skipped school lectures and paid team mates in Linköping for speaking in his place.
"The only place I felt safe was on the ice," he says.
Johan Franzén calls it sheer terror.
The fear to face others and make speeches, meet the media after the games and move to new surroundings
"I've always been shy and the first season here, I was almost afraid to score. Then I knew I would be interviewed afterward. It was almost as if I shot at the post instead, but only almost. But it was never so, I went and chased the goal if we led the game. I don't now, either."
Few have known Johan Franzén's problems back home in Sweden and it is only now he has come past the worst fears.
'Here in the NHL you are, of course, thrown straight into it. There is no way out, so I had to try to work it through. And confrontation is what works best for all anxiety, "he says.
During his years in Linköping the players would give speeches in different contexts, but Franzen managed to always shirk his obligations.
"I would simply pay someone else on the team from my own pocket. I simply simply pay someone else on the team from their own pockets. I simply can't do it."
That he can now openly talk about it shows that he is well on the road.
"But it's still the case that I prefer to slip out of the locker room before reporters allowed into the locker room."
The extreme shame is why Johan Franzén received such a late breakthrough.
He was a star even during TV-Pucken tournaments in Småland, but when those responsible for the boy's team called afterward to invite him to a preparatory hockey school he turned them down.
HV-71 managed to attract him to the hockey school in Jönköping, but he did not remain in town very long.
"I really didn't enjoy it and would very truant from school. The times we were asked to give speeches to the class, I couldn't think of anything else. I kept myself away from lessons until the task was over. I just couldn't do it. I used to leave school at lunch and splinter off and go to the public skating rink instead. It was there that I felt safe. Eventually I moved back home. But I still think it was a good choice, and that it was better for me to play senior hockey at home than junior hockey with HV-71.
In small Landsbro he had friends, family and security.
In Myresjö a few miles away, he had the soccer team.
"I played in the boys' league until I was seventeen. I was a goalkeeper, even though I thought it was really boring to be in goal. I really hated it at some practices. But the coach wanted me to stay there and so I did."
He then continued with soccer as a forward in Landsbro until he was nineteen, which is almost unique for a Swedish hockey player in the NHL.
"But that last year, with some of my childhood friends on the soccer team, was actually one of my most fun times with sport so far. We played just because it was fun."
The same winter scored incredible 23 goals in just ten games in the Boro [hockey] team in Division III. The rumors spread over Swedish hockey.
Then something happened which is also relatively unknown and could have stopped the career of the then 19-year-old Franzen.
He skated into a referee in a game and got a year off from hockey.
"But we appealed and got it down to ten months," he says.
What actually happened?
"I was angry and went after the referee and shouted, and when he stopped and put his hands at his sides I kept skating."
Franzen shows himself showing a referee's sign of misconduct when he tells us.
"I argued the whole time that I couldn't stop. I still claim that," he says and bursts into a smile.
But after the season he began the climb upward.
Coach Torgny Bendelin managed to get him to move to the Premier Division with Tranås in 1999-2000 and when Torgny moved to Linköping a year later, Franzen followed.
A Linköping team that was playing in the Allsvenskan that season.
"I had offers from HV-71 and it was in the Eliteserien at the time, but Bendelin managed to persuade me to stay with Linköpings Hockey Club," he says.
In Linköping, also came the breakthrough, when LHC returned to the Eliteserien the same season. Back to stay.
"To get to the Eliteserien with Linköping is the most fun thing I have experienced in hockey, second to my Stanley Cup title here in Detroit."
Yet Johan Franzén continued to be an anonymous Swedish player, a hard-working defensive forward who enjoyed success in that role. He joined the squad as a characteristic hard-worker and debuted at the World Championships in 2005.
"But that's also played a big part in my development. And it was a role I liked because I did not receive all the attention."
But most people were probably surprised when he went to Detroit later that year, when Detroit drafted him as a 24-year-old in 2004. He was picked relatively high also for an over-aged player - number 97 in the third round.
And in Detroit began the transformation to the "new" Johan Franzén.
Power forward, scorer, the star.
The Swede who scored nine goals in just four games in the playoff series against Colorado in 2008 and broke legend Gordie Howe's 59-year-old club record.
"It's the craziest thing I have ever experienced. Everything went in the net. I remember one of the goals, when their goalie covered the entire case. But somehow I managed to get the puck on edge when I shot so the puck slid throughthe one small gap that existed between the goalie pads, "he says.
"But when I first came here I started from the bottom to earn a spot and worked on the parts of my game I was worse at. But the mentality here is very different than back home in Sweden and we are trying constantly to improve the skills you have. At home, no one ever said I had a good shot. Here teammates Kris Draper and Kirk Maltby said to me almost immediately, that, "You are so big and you have a great shot and should use it more. Go to the net and shoot!"
"That was how it started. Then both Tomas Holmström and Daniel Cleary got injured and then I could take that role and stand in front of goal in the power play. When pucks started to go in. Since then I have accustomed myself to a culture where you are looking for a hero in each game. In the end, you want to be the hero yourself."
You could say that Franzen succeeded in that case.
While he has not become accustomed to one hundred percent of the new heroic role yet, even if the worst shame disappeared.
And while other NHL millionaires build huge houses all over Sweden, in Småland, Franzén's dream house is only 80 square [260 square feet]
"It's on a lake almost as far into the woods as you can get. And away t is situated on a lake almost as far into the woods you can get. And away from all to avoid visits," he says.
But it is noticeable that, at the same time, he's started to enjoy his new role a little bit.
Otherwise, he has never told his story so openly.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Taking a 1 Day Pass on Passing the Huskies Split the Weekend
Huskies goalie #39 Lizzy kept things from getting out of hand during the 1st period of Saturday's game against the Hagerstown Bulldogs. The Huskies were out shot 10-3 in the first period. They needed a period and a half to get the sleep out of their eyes and remember the pass is mightier then one Huskie going through a handful of Bulldogs.
The Huskies got a power play in the 2nd period and set it up beautifully with passes coming out of the neutral zone. They set-up as a team and worked the puck around the ice using their defensive points. After only getting 3 shots on goal in the 1st period, they went on to total 24 shots on goal that game. 21 shots coming in the 2nd and 3rd periods. Passing and playing as a team were the keys to their recovery in the 2nd half of the game. The Huskies kept it close for 2 periods, at 2-1, but the Bulldogs went on to win 4-1 in the end.
Sunday's game was against the Fredrick Fury. The Huskies started strong as a team and used the pass and defensive points to move the puck. Lizzy #39 and the defensive core posted a 6-0 shutout. All offensive lines were firing on all cylinders.
AJ #62 continued his pursuit of the puck notching up another multi-goal game with assists coming from #91 Noah and #44 James. Matt #66 posted a goal on a 1 timer coming from #8 Drew. Noah #91 fired a shot that caught the right post, he stayed with the puck taking it behind the net for an unassised wrap around goal. Harsh #30 assisted by #62 AJ and Matt #64 assisted by #62 AJ and #44 James completed the 6 goal victory.
The Huskies got a power play in the 2nd period and set it up beautifully with passes coming out of the neutral zone. They set-up as a team and worked the puck around the ice using their defensive points. After only getting 3 shots on goal in the 1st period, they went on to total 24 shots on goal that game. 21 shots coming in the 2nd and 3rd periods. Passing and playing as a team were the keys to their recovery in the 2nd half of the game. The Huskies kept it close for 2 periods, at 2-1, but the Bulldogs went on to win 4-1 in the end.
Sunday's game was against the Fredrick Fury. The Huskies started strong as a team and used the pass and defensive points to move the puck. Lizzy #39 and the defensive core posted a 6-0 shutout. All offensive lines were firing on all cylinders.
AJ #62 continued his pursuit of the puck notching up another multi-goal game with assists coming from #91 Noah and #44 James. Matt #66 posted a goal on a 1 timer coming from #8 Drew. Noah #91 fired a shot that caught the right post, he stayed with the puck taking it behind the net for an unassised wrap around goal. Harsh #30 assisted by #62 AJ and Matt #64 assisted by #62 AJ and #44 James completed the 6 goal victory.
Huskies Win Playoff 3-0, Move On and Place 2nd in the Championship Game
After coming off a 6-5 come from behind victory Saturday night, the Huskies had to face the same team Sunday morning. In a must win single elimination, the Huskies shook off the night before and beat the Skyland Kings 3-0 to move on to the Championship game.
Alec #6 scored quickly for the Huskies in the first period. He intercepted a pass from the Kings as it just came into the neutral zone. Alec #6 took the puck in and skated across the crease, tucking the puck between toe and pipe to beat the goalie. One goal was all they would need. Lizzy #39 and the defense rebounded from the night before to post a shut-out. AJ #62 scored on a pass from #32 Thomas, providing the Huskies with some insurance. Matt #11 scored the third goal with assists coming from #32 Thomas and #12 Jimmy. Three different players scored and three different players added assists to round off a 4 game winning streak.
The Huskies played the Mercer Chiefs in the Championship game. The Mercer Chiefs, with speed and strong passing, beat the Huskies 3-1. The Huskies amassed more penalty minutes in that game then the previous 4 games combined. The Huskies didn't look for excuses, they fought hard until the last seconded fell.
Great job to Lizzy #39 who won player of the game. Just one of the highlights had to be her stopping the penalty shot.
Congratulations to all the Huskies for taking 2nd Place in the Aston tournament. It was a great tournament that help bring a brand new team together. We had 10 different goal scores and over 10 players with assists. Enjoy it and see what you can learn this year!
Alec #6 scored quickly for the Huskies in the first period. He intercepted a pass from the Kings as it just came into the neutral zone. Alec #6 took the puck in and skated across the crease, tucking the puck between toe and pipe to beat the goalie. One goal was all they would need. Lizzy #39 and the defense rebounded from the night before to post a shut-out. AJ #62 scored on a pass from #32 Thomas, providing the Huskies with some insurance. Matt #11 scored the third goal with assists coming from #32 Thomas and #12 Jimmy. Three different players scored and three different players added assists to round off a 4 game winning streak.
The Huskies played the Mercer Chiefs in the Championship game. The Mercer Chiefs, with speed and strong passing, beat the Huskies 3-1. The Huskies amassed more penalty minutes in that game then the previous 4 games combined. The Huskies didn't look for excuses, they fought hard until the last seconded fell.
Great job to Lizzy #39 who won player of the game. Just one of the highlights had to be her stopping the penalty shot.
Congratulations to all the Huskies for taking 2nd Place in the Aston tournament. It was a great tournament that help bring a brand new team together. We had 10 different goal scores and over 10 players with assists. Enjoy it and see what you can learn this year!
Monday, September 6, 2010
Huskies Take Three to Earn Top Seed: Labor Day Tournament
What do the following two statements have in common?
How many licks did it take the owl to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll pop? How many minutes did it take to realize the Peewees looked like a team. The answer: Three. Three minutes in and it dawned on everyone watching that the Huskies looked like they had been playing as a team for months. That's three minutes into their first game!
It's not easy for a new team to play their first game locally and compete much less travel north to a tournament that predominately attracts teams that stomp the Huskies. A tournament that was supposed to be a team building exercise at heart, took an unexpected turn and showed the hearts and grit of 18 players. A better script could not have been written to help a team come together. And did they! A big red check can go in the box next to: Team Building Weekend.
The Huskies swept their first three games to take the first seed in the playoff round. Here is the breakdown. (Evidently, the score keepers were a bit sloppy on their notes. If you notice anything that's not right, drop me an email.)
The Huskies won their first game by beating the Mercer Chiefs 3-2. The Chiefs are a fast team with skilled passers. #44 James unveiled an upgraded shot scoring two strong goals. Assists came from #64 Matt, #6 Alec and #12 Jimmy. #62 AJ added an unassisted game winning goal and began his 5 game relentless pursuit of the puck. The Huskies showed they could play as a team. They were poised and did a great job in all aspects of the game, keeping in mind this was their first game.
They won their second game by beating the New Jersey Freeze 2-1. The Freeze are a quick team of skilled players. #91 Noah started the scoring with a goal, assisted by #62 AJ and #30 Harsh. #91 Noah, playing strong in his position saw the puck slide his way, he didn't hesitate and became the third goal scorer on the Huskies. The game winning point came from #6 Alec and #8 Drew who sprang off the bench as the puck entered the offensive zone. #8 Drew chased the puck down, into the corner, and fired a pass to the front of the crease. #6 Alec crashed the net with his stick down and tip the pass through a closing five hole. #55 Andrew also assisted on the play. He dug the puck out of his zone and sent it up the ice to start the play. Without Huskies that start plays there can not be Huskies that finish plays. The Huskies defense cranked up the heat to melt the offensive surge of the Freeze. Eighteen individuals won this game by playing as a team and beat a very talented opponent.
They won their third game by beating Skyland 6-5. Skyland was dominate for 1 1/2 periods. The Huskies were down 5-1 before they rallied under their coaches to make a magnificent come back. Oh what to say, no more biscuits and pizza before a late game. The Huskies were down 5-1 halfway through the second. A time out with some encouragement from the coaches helped the team focus and score 5 more goals. #12 Jimmy scored the first goal, assisted by #30 Harsh. This goal replaced the zero and let the Huskies know they could beat the opposing goalie. #62 scored goal number two, the first goal of his hat trick. His goal was assisted by #11 Matt and #10 Ali. The third goal came quickly off the stick of #30 Harsh. He crashed the net and tipped a hard pass, from #8 Drew, just past the left post. #62 scored the next 2 goals to tie the game up, earning himself a hat trick. He was assisted by #14 Nick and #44 James. It was now 5-5. Our goalie #39 Elizabeth and the whole defensive team had shut Skyland down during the Huskies 4 goal surge. In the closing minutes of the game #8 Drew assisted by #66 Matt scored team goal number 6 that capped the Huskies comeback. Six goals with seven assists and the Huskies finished their sweep of the first three games. This was a game that could only have been won with team play.
The Huskies were competitive through the first three games. Being competitive isn't always rewarded with a win. The team showed they came to compete and they won three games because of the all out effort from 18 players. They scored 11 goals with 12 assists. There were 8 different goal scores with goals coming from all the offensive lines. The defense stood strong, consistently pushing the other team to the outside and our goalie remained poised the entire three game run. A team was born this weekend.
Side Notes: Winning is great but practice is better. Even with winning, mistakes are made. Mistakes that will help the coaches teach you how to become better hockey players. Enjoy the exciting weekend and come to practice with thoughts on how to improve your game-play and help the team grow. You can't always win, but you can always be competitive.
com·pet·i·tive–adjective
1. of, pertaining to, involving, or decided by competition: competitive sports; a competitive examination.
2. well suited for competition; having a feature that makes for successful competition: a competitive price.
3. having a strong desire to compete or to succeed.
Side Notes: Winning is great but practice is better. Even with winning, mistakes are made. Mistakes that will help the coaches teach you how to become better hockey players. Enjoy the exciting weekend and come to practice with thoughts on how to improve your game-play and help the team grow. You can't always win, but you can always be competitive.
com·pet·i·tive–adjective
1. of, pertaining to, involving, or decided by competition: competitive sports; a competitive examination.
2. well suited for competition; having a feature that makes for successful competition: a competitive price.
3. having a strong desire to compete or to succeed.
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