Be Prepared to Adjust, News, Bantam, 2013-2014, AAA (Oakville Rangers Hockey Club)

This Team is part of the 2013-2014 season, which is not set as the current season.
News Article
News Article Image
Oct 02, 2013 | kgordon | 1188 views
Be Prepared to Adjust
Individual attitude and commitment are important in the development of a hockey player during youth. Players who recognize that they alone are responsible for the long term outcome in their sport will inevitably seek out the opportunities they need to get better. It is important for parents and coaches to help their players understand this concept and to help players understand what qualities they need to possess to be a “Hockey Player” versus just playing hockey. There is no particular formula to becoming a “player” but in order to make the point, the thoughts below might help coaches and parents assess and guide their youngsters.

• Anywhere, anytime, anybody
These players will play any time they get a chance. They (or you) will drive several hours just to play. It does not matter with whom or about wins or loses to them; they just want the puck on their stick. They are usually smiling.

• When nobody is looking
These players shoot hundreds of pucks everyday all year long. They do not need a fancy shooting station. Just a net and bucket of pucks. They are never satisfied and always want to do better. For the older players you can find them at the school weight room actually lifting weights and getting stronger. They might be with a couple friends but as often as not they are alone.

• Coachable
Coachable players recognize that every coach has something to offer to them. By the time they are seniors most players have had over 50 coaches. By keeping an open mind and learning along the way each team and season builds for the next. Coaches and parents should encourage their players to learn every time they get on the ice or engage in any sport related opportunity.

• Resilient
Disappointment is part of sports and life. Allowing players to experience disappointment and then to bounce back is a valuable lesson. Parents and coaches need to allow players to experience losses without placing blame on the officials or some other factor. For “hockey players” disappointments strengthen their resolve to do better the next time.

• Patience
As each player grows older they have certain windows of time when they are most receptive to learning and acquiring the various skills they need to play. These windows of time vary a bit for each player. The 11-14 year old window is when players are most receptive to fundamental skill development.

• Motivation
The only motivation that is sustainable is internal. External motivation based on fear or some sort of artificial reward system will fail. About ten percent of players are motivated to become “players”. The rest merely play hockey. When coaching youth coaches are advised to assess which category each player falls into in order to deliver the correct messages and training to each individual player. Players who are willing to give up something in order to get something of greater value understand the trade offs and willingly move ahead with their eye on the future.

As a coach or parent you can assess any player based on the qualities above. If several of the points are lacking you have an individual who is simply playing hockey and hopefully having fun. In the instance of a player where many of the above are present and combined with above average athletic ability, that individual could perhaps move into the elite level of players that could be called “hockey players.”

By taking a long term view of player development and understanding the process that players go through as they move from childhood to adolescence and then into young adults it is easier to forgive their day to day transgressions, mistakes and blunders as they learn to play the great game of hockey.

To Win the Game is Great
To play the game is Greater
To Love the game is Greatest of All
Sponsors
Quick Play Media
Leading service providers and media companies choose solutions from QuickPlay.
Metabolic Care Clinics
Metabolic Care Clinics is an award winning weight loss-results oriented nutrition and exercise care program. There are no gimmicks, contracts or “special foods” from us to buy. The program is medically approved and rated as one of the most safe, simple and successful ways to lose weight and keep it off!
Bamberger Polymers
Bamberger Polymers, Inc — headquartered in New York, with sales offices throughout the United States and Canada, and regional offices in Mexico and Europe -- is a global distributor of plastic resins for molders, extruders, compounders and manufacturers serving nearly every major industry. For four decades, Bamberger has provided competitive pricing, exceptional service and technical expertise to our clients, delivering more than 850 million pounds of bulk and packaged resins every year.
Litemode Limited
Whether you are lighting one room or your entire home, we can help you choose the right fixture that meets your style and budget.
Future Stars
Since 1987 we've been committed to providing high quality and innovative sports photography products and services. Our products are fully guaranteed and backed by the industry's best customer service team
Konstant
Konstant® Solutions Whether implementing full warehouse storage and picking systems or a small scale racking project, we ensure that the project is designed with your budget, facility measurements and project requirements in mind.