Practice vs Games

This is always an interesting topic and one that comes up for discussion. More recently this has been a topic in the Peewee league in which one of my boys play. The discussion is whether we should practice more or play more.


I must start by telling you that it would be much easier for a coach to play more at this level. If we are simply looking at this from a time and commitment standpoint, the case would be for more games and less practice. Why? Well, it takes way less preparation for a game at the peewee level in comparison to a practice.


As a coach for the 2009-2010 season, I usually spend anywhere from 30-90 minutes pre preparation for a practice. This includes looking at the previous week's sessions, reviewing the desired outcomes and goals for the team and reviewing any notes from previous games. When a plan is thought out, it is then placed on drill sheets, reviewed and then scanned electronically to be sent to the other coaches. This alone is a time consuming process. This does not even include the extra equipment that is required for practice (pucks, pylons, etc)


The benefit of the planning and record keeping is that you can go back and review the work that has been done over time and you have a electronic copy of your work to date, which is great to review.


Compare this to preparing for a game. As long as I have my lineup and maybe a good pre game speech, I am set to go. Don't forget, while managing a practice, you need to manage the flow, the movement, the timing of the drills and the time constraints. So for a volunteer, managing practice can be way more time consuming than a game.

Am I advocating that???


Certainly not. I am a big fan of practice. This was something that was instilled at a young age and it has been a part of my coaching philosophy for many years. As a player in Midget, Junior and University, we practiced at least 5 times for every 2 games. It was our routine and it allowed us the max amount of time to work on skills.


This routine is certainly in line with what Hockey Canada is promoting along with Ontario Minor Hockey and USA hockey. It is certainly consistent with what European players are being taught. In fact, they play way less than we do in North America and one can certainly argue that their skills are very advanced, if not superior in many areas.


What does all this mean for kids playing minor hockey. Well, I am not naive to think that players do not want to play- it is one of the fun things to do in hockey. However, we have to look at the facts according to Hockey Canada:

- one well run practice is the equivalent of 11 games.

- the average 12 year old peewee player will touch the puck for only 8 seconds in a game

For me, this is data driven decision making. It is about time on task for these young players. It is certainly more work for coaches and it means that coaches must look at their own reasons for coaching.

I hear comments such as:


"When they reach 11-12, it is only about playing games, as development is over".

This is so far from the truth. If development was over at age 12, why is that at the highest levels of the game, players spend enormous time on the fundamentals of the game.

I am a big proponent of allowing players the opportunity to develop at their pace, but the evidence is that up until Midget age, the gap between the highest skilled players and those below them is not as great as some would think. At the developmental level, I have witnessed many young people who have closed that gap and become elite level players because of the commitment of associations, coaches and parents to development. I have also worked with elite junior and pro players who spend signigicant time in the off season, not on games, but on skill development (skating, passing, shooting).


So for me, I love to watch the kids play, but also love to be involved in helping them to develop their skills in a fun environment.

The Upcoming Hockey Season – What is in Store?

Where is the time going? As we move through the first week of August, it is that time when the hockey season is beginning to look like it will be soon here. For a busy coach the summer should be a time when we get away from the arena and have some down time. I must say that I have not missed hockey after spending a long winter with 3 different teams. As I reflect on the upcoming season, there are many thoughts and ideas that come to mind. Let me share a few thoughts on what will be both the rewards and the challenges.

1. Preparation


This is always different between players. For some young hockey players, they will not have touched the ice since the season ended. For others, they have played spring hockey, summer hockey and even had additional training through hockey school and other. As a coach, this affects a great deal your approach. First and foremost, you have to be concerned with safety. When starting a new season, you will need to adjust your tempo to make sure that players are given the time to catch up and get back their legs. As a parent, I would like my boys to be able to improve their skills during the off season, but I am also very sensitive to their developmental need to be able to get away from the game for some time. In our house, summer hockey is restricted to playing in the driveway as well as one hour skates the last week in August to help them prepare for the opening week of hockey or fall tryouts.

2. Tryouts


As much as they can be a fun time for players, they can be a very stressful time for parents / guardians and coaches. As a team, you are given a very limited time (usually 2-3 hours) to evaluate all players in a fair, equitable and respectful manner. Many parents already have pre conceived beliefs as to where their son / daughter fit in the association. This can put added pressure on all parties, including the coaches. The unfortunate aspect for the coach is trying to come up with 15-17 players whom he/she feels will be the right mix for the team. I am often asked about the characteristics that are important to me in terms of evaluating players. Please know that all coaches differ in what they bring to the tryout experience and what they bring in terms of their own skill set in evaluation. For me, it is not about the most skilled individuals. If it was only about skill, then we might as well have a skills competition and pick the team based on the results. Let me build on this thought.

As the game continues to change, many players are becoming faster and stronger. But that does not mean that they are better. They may go from 0-60 metres in the fastest time; this means they are fast. In today’s ever changing game, it is just as important to have quality as quantity. Can a player make the play? Can they see the ice while they are moving? Can they make the adjustments? Are they good on the defensive side of the puck? It is for these reasons, that coaches have an ever increasingly difficult task in assigning names to only so many slots. In coaching and player selection, we all see different things in the traits of the young player. The coach and his / her staff is entrusted with trying to decode all of this and place their trust in what they feel are the best players at the time for the team. Not an easy task for anyone.

3. The 2009-2010 Season


What type of season will we have? I think that this season may pose some unique challenges to all of us here in North America. There is a widespread belief that the H1N1 virus (Swine Flu) could play a major role in what we do as hockey organizations. It could also play a major role in what we do in education. As we speak, several school districts in both Canada and the US are making contingency plans in the event that schools may have to be shut down for a period of time. We should not think that this would not affect us in hockey.

Some of the most memorable experiences for me as a coach and father have come over the past several years as we travelled to tournaments in the USA. We have had a great deal of fun in both Pittsburgh and Cleveland. In fact, I have been taking both Minor hockey and High school teams to the USA since the early 1990’s. I recommend that everyone visit Lake Placid in the winter time. As well, I have had great success in instilling lessons in young players with visits to Shady Side Academy in Pittsburgh.

If this virus hits hard as some expect it may, it could impact our ability to travel for these types of things. Safety and liability are always at the top of the list when planning excursions with players and students. We hope that for the health of the entire world that this virus does not hit in a major way. If it does and we have to cancel some of our anticipated travel across the border, it may give us an opportunity to stay closer to home and take part in some of the great tourneys in the province of Ontario.

Only time will tell.

Enjoy these remaining weeks prior to September and best wishes as you embark on another season.

Two Great Teams that I will never forget

For the past several years, I have had the distinct pleasure to have the opportunity to coach in house league hockey. It has been nice to watch so many young players mature and develop. I have often said in our local association that a House league coach has to be a coach of all the players, not just his / her own team. I believe strongly in this, because if you stay connected to the division for several years, you will have the opportunity to coach many of the players, especially when the teams are changed each year.

Let me tell you a story about two amazing teams that I had the chance to coach this year. First, is the Lantic Sugar Minor Peewee House league team. It was an awesome experience to be part of this group of players, parents and coaches. They were always willing to learn new things and always open to work on the skill development piece. On those cold winter Friday nights, it would have been easy to not show up at practice. Yet, this group was very enthusiastic on most nights. As a result, we came together as a group and became cohesive. As one of their coaches, I was very proud of how they came to respect each other in the dressing room, on the bench and when we gathered for some team bonding prior to the playoffs ( floor hockey, basket ball). In the end, probably the most significant thing that happened in the playoffs was a loss in game # 4. It was devastating at the time for the boys, but we tried to remind them that we usually learn more from losing than winning. Losing helps us to identify with our weaknesses and also reminds us that maybe other teams are as prepared as maybe we thought we were. I don’t advocate losing all the time, as it is a hard lesson to swallow and see value. For our team, it was an important lesson in helping us to reach farther, believe stronger, and come together. The end result was the Minor Peewee championship against the only undefeated team in the playoffs. It was an awesome game for both teams and it was an experience that our boys will never forget.

In addition to this wonderful team, I had the chance to work with 16 fabulous young men on the Select team. For those who don’t know about select under the Ontario Minor Hockey Association, we are allowed to practice once per week and play only 2 games per month. The select team is made up of players from all 8 of the House league teams. From September until March, this group of 1997 birth year practiced on Wednesday morning’s at 6 am. That is commitment. Some would say it is crazy and maybe even abusive towards such a young group of players. It certainly is commitment and it certainly can only happen successfully when players get the proper rest and nutrition in order to not let the most important commitment they have, education, slide. As important as hockey is, the key in life is Education.

During the year this team competed in three major tournaments and had great success:
1. Pittsburgh Vipers – Tourney Finalists, Lost 4-3 to Pittsburgh in final.
2. Cleveland Rock n’ Roll- Tourney Champions, defeated Burton, Michigan 3-0 in final.
3. Boston Pizza Challenge Cup, Mississauga, Tourney Champions, defeated Oakville, Ontario 3- 1 in final.


As a coach and as a parent, I am not sure if you can ask for a more successful season. Please remember that success is not measured by wins and loses. More importantly than the victories, are the life lessons that we try and instill in the hearts and minds of these young players. It was a privilege to be a part of both of these teams. These young men will soon be teenagers and begin to experience and face some tough decisions with peers, school, with relationships, family and hockey. If we can help them to be confident and to walk with character, we will have accomplished much more than a tourney win or championship season.

Thanks to the parents, my fellow coaches and the players of these two outstanding teams for enriching my life as a father, coach, volunteer, and educator.

Coach Mike

It is Time for a Break

As the hockey season winds down, it is time to begin to think about finding some time away from the arena. As a kid, this is what always occured as the season ended. The equipment went away in March and it was away until the fall.

There were no arenas that had ice in the summer. We played baseball, soccer, hung out with friends, family and relaxed. We did not think about hockey. It seems that for many those days are long gone, especially those in rep hockey. Many play all season and spend some significant time during the summer preparing for the next season. With the growth of off ice training, many coaches are bringing players together at younger ages to train off ice during what was once the off season.

Over the past few weeks, I have watched, listened, discussed, debated, argued and quite frankly have been sickened by the conversations that have taken place in arenas as the season winds down and the speculation and gossip begin about who is going to be the new coach.

To make matter worse as soon as the season ends, we start the next one up by ramping up the tryouts. As adults, I wonder why we follow this model. We have just come through 8-9 months of a season where there has been success and failure, and in some cases not a lot of fun.

It is time for a break for players and maybe even more, for coaches. But what happens? We have rep tryouts right away. We put large numbers of players on the ice in what many would describe as a cash grab. Many of these players have no chance of making a rep lineup. In some cases, these sessions can have as many as 50 or 60 players on the ice. And we actually cut players at the end of one session.. And we say we are interested in development. This is not about development. It further alienates parents, it frustrates players and it is not healthy.

When we look at the pressure that has been placed on many young players at the competitive level, we really have to look at what we are doing. There is a reason why students get a break from school at Christmas, March break and in the summer. This is because they need a break emotionally from the classroom. The game of hockey is no different. It is time we step back and do what is in the best interest of children's emotional, social and physical well being. We should not be doing what is in the best interests of the adult driven beliefs in this game, as these appear to be the ones that are causing us the most harm.

Lessons from Obama's Speech

Minor Hockey lessons from Obama's speech.

As I reflect on the words that President Obama spoke in Washington, I tried to take some things that we can apply to the game of hockey. As such, here are four quotes from his speech that are important, as we move forward in the game.

1. "Grateful for the trust you have bestowed".

As a coach, I am always grateful for the support and trust that we recieve from parents / guardians. The role of coaching, like teaching is a difficult role. Since all of us have been to school, we all feel that we have valid points when it comes to our children and their education. With hockey, as we move through the years, we also develop an "attitude" towards what we feel is best for our children. This it makes it harder for coaches and is a reason why many decide to leave. I am thankful for the opportunityy to work with great young people and to work in partnersip with parents, as we help shape and mold character in our children's lives. I am also grateful to my parents who never once criticized my coaches and always supported them in their roles.

2. "The challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many".

As a parent, coach, observer, there are so many issues that encompass this great game of hockey. But we are currently facing many issues that are causing great problems. As I write this piece, the biggest debate that is currently taking place in the NHL and Major Junior is the fighting debate. Lets be honest, fighting is not part of the game. We clearly have shown that we do not need fighting in the game. What we have is many who "want" fighting in the game, for the entertainment. However, with the recent death of 21 yr old Don Sanderson, the issue has been brought to the forefront.

We have seen some of the best hockey in recent years played at both the NHL and our own Canadian Junior team which did not have a single fight, yet was exicting and entertaining. This issue is open for discussion and will be interesting to follow over the course of the next year, as many leagues look at this issue.

This is only one of the issues; what about the age at which we begin hitting, when to start competitive play, coaching development, parents, rep hockey, etc.

3. "For everywhere we look, there is work to be done".

This can apply to many aspects of minor hockey. At all levels of minor hockey, there is much work to be done. As a coach of 3 teams, there are many things that must be done on a weekly basis: review practice plans, develop practice plans, prepare for games, communicate with coaches and parents, etc.

At a bigger level, there are many issues that an association is / maybe or should be working on. As the challenges grow, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find volunteers to carry much of the load. This is something that many associations are dealing with in many different ways, including the hiring of paid staff.

4. "People will judge you on what you can build".

This is a great quote that can be applied to many areas of our lives. As coaches / parents / volunteers, we all have an opportunity to make an impact on the lives of young people. More importantly than winning, is the valuing of a young person and the teaching and transmitting of messages that will have a lasting impression on their lives.

Long after they have finished their experiences in the game of hockey, they will remember the core values of what they were taught. As a young hockey player, I was blessed to have 2 former NHL players as coaches. More importantly than their NHL experience, was their belief and committment to teaching in a character building environment. Everything from how we dressed, how we behaved in a restaurant or a hotel to how we conducted ourselves on the ice, was laid out in a simple plan from these 2 coaches. They were builders and they have had a lasting impact on me as a teacher, coach, father and husband.

As we move forward in whatever role we have in minor hockey, I encourage you to value this time with your children and always remember there is a need for people who want to get involved.

A Hockey Player's Christmas List

It is that time of year when we are all making lists and reviewing what we can purchase for all those significant people in our lives. As a result, I thought that it would be fun to put together a small article on what "every hockey player wants for christmas.

Being the father of two boys who both play hockey and being the coach of 3 different teams, I put together a list of things that I think players would enjoy receiving or being part of this Christmas. Let's start with the hockey related items:


1. New equipment- whether it be a new composite stick or the new RBK 8K helmet, there are always items that my oldest is showing me pictures of on the internet. With the beginning of checking, this helmet is even more important and has become a daily topic in our house.

2. A good tournament to play in. Find me a player who does not like to play in a tourney. Today, many players play in multiple tournaments and for them, it has almost become like a part of their schedule. But for those who maybe are new to competitive hockey or for those who are playing house league, tournaments are such a highlight. They can be a very powerful event in the life of team, as you spend time together with parents, players, coaches and family members. For the past 2 years, we have taken our house league team to an out of town tournament. It has become the highlight of the year, as players come together for a day of fun. It is also a very big confidence booster for many players, as they realize they can compete with other players their age from other hockey centres.

3. Waking up on Boxing day and looking forward to watching Canada's World Junior team. From the time that I was a young boy, until present day, we always look forward to the opportunity to sit around and watch our young Canadians compete on the world stage. It has become as much a part of Christmas for us, as turkey, shortbread and family time.

4. Attending or watching some local or out of town tournament. There are so many tournaments that take place during the holidays, one could be busy watching all of these. If you want to get a look at future OHL and NHL players, you could visit the highly scouted "Toronto Marlies Midget Tournaments. It has become one of the strongest midget tournaments in Canada, and will feature many of the top picks in the 2009 OHL draft, as well as future US college players. It is a jam packed few days of competition that takes place in Etobicoke and will feature all of the OHL teams in attendance.

5. A good game of hockey on outdoor ice. Growing up only steps from the Atlantic Ocean, we were very fortunate that we could play hockey on the harbour when it froze. These games featured children and adults, in a fun filled day of hockey on the water. We don't have as many outdoor rinks as we did when I was a child, but I would certainly look for an opportunity to play outside, if you can. It helps us to identify with the great game of hockey and allows us to connect with people who maybe don't play organized hockey.

Now, lets look at a few items that all players want to have, not only on Christmas day, but all days of their hockey season.


1. A Team- this is one thing that often gets overlooked in a season. It is one thing to assemble a group of young players and put on jerseys and play a game. It is quite another thing to bring together a group of young people and build something special. This takes an enormous amount of work, energy, planning and commitment. I have seen many players who have played on teams, but yet did not have the chance to learn much. I have met many of a player who played on a winning team, yet were not champions. As coaches, parents, hockey administrators, we must do everything to build character in the lives of young athletes. We must teach them that winning is nice, but it should not come at any cost. It should not come at the cost of compromising key things such as character, integrity, honesty, ethical decisions, dignity of the player. This is a tough task and one that must be adhered to, if we really want to build championship people.


2. Parents who support- regardless of where our kids play, we should support them in their desire to continue to improve. We should step back and remember that participation in hockey and other extra curricular activities allows our children an opportunity to socialize, compete, learn and be involved with age related peers. It also allows us as parents to meet with and become friends with some great people who become life long friends. We must remember that very few will make a living out of hockey, but many will make a lifetime out of the lessons that we allow them to learn in a positive environment. I was so thankful to have a father and mother who never put pressure on me, never criticized me, my coaches, other players, etc. They were such great role models. If only I could be a fraction of what they were.


3. A Coach- not just a volunteer, but someone who truly takes an interest in the lives of the young people whom he / she is working with. Someone who plans practices with all of the players in mind and whom remembers that skill building will give all of the players the best opportunity to improve as players. And a coach who treats all players with the upmost respect, recognizing that we have an awesome opportunity to impact young people in such a positive manner.

I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I hope that your holidays are filled with great memories.

The Rising Costs of Hockey- What are the Effects?

Over the past several years, we have witnessed the rising cost of playing the game of hockey. There are several reasons why this has occurred. The most obvious are the following:

Equipment – with the advent of all sports radio, tv and internet, equipment has become an industry of its own. The huge costs in sticks alone is just one example of how the game has changed. Back in the 90’s there were only wooden sticks. Now, you will have a hard time finding players using a wooden stick. We have players now playing with sticks that can cost as much as $300.

Growth of Organizations – as the game has grown, the associations that support the players has grown with it. To support the rising administrative costs, including salaries of employees, rental / lease of space, etc, associations have had to raise their registration fees.

Cost of Ice – this is a huge drain on the budget of an association. In most centres, the cost of an hour of ice is at or above $200 per hour. Coupled with increased costs for officials, the players have had to bear the brunt of these costs.

Culture of Rep Hockey- as Rep hockey has continued to grow, the costs to play has increased as well. In Ontario, it is fair to say that one must be able to absorb a min of a few thousand dollars to be able to pay for all of the fees and associated costs of travel, tournaments, clothing, etc. In some centres it is widely documented a season at rep can cost as much as $15 000.

As a result of the above, several things have happened:

Families are having to decide between hockey and other activities. For many, they may choose to play another sport, where the cost is lower and the need for equipment is not as great. For example, soccer and basketball. In the city of Guelph, I can register a child for both basketball and soccer and the cost is still not as great as hockey. For families with multiple children, this is becoming a concern in the ever changing economy. As a result, hockey is becoming less available to many children.

Rep hockey is becoming more and more of an elite sport. It is no longer available to all children in the association because of the costs. How many parents have the disposable income that they can support a minimum of a few thousand dollars? How many have a flexible work schedule to accommodate the travel out of the city, including a min of 4 tournaments a year.

Has all of this been good for the overall game of hockey. I am not the best determinant of this. However, I can tell you that there has been an increase in the number of players who are dropping out of hockey. It is not all for financial reasons. In many cases, it is because of the enormous pressure that is placed on young people at an early age. And we are not fielding teams with the best players from the age groups. It is not attractive because of many of the above reasons.

We need to evaluate all of the programs that we are offering in minor hockey in Canada. We need to step back and look at the statistics in terms of players moving on to higher levels of hockey. I am not against High performance hockey; but the current model, whereby all organizations try to field elite teams at every division is not working. We need to look at the development of regional programs, combined with education so that there is a package, not focused solely on one or the other.

The most important question needs to be: Is this in the best interests of young people? Not, can you afford to play?