What evaluators look for during try-outs

I’ve been asked a lot over the years what I look for in a player during evaluations.  After watching my son during various AA & AAA Ice try-outs, I’ve been thinking more about this topic and wanted to share a bit of what I look for and some other information that I’ve found or has been shared with me.

My friend Graham Acres (gacres99) also shared his thoughts with me.

1. Whatever it is you believe you do best, do that every shift.
2. Listen to what the coaches ask you to do and do that
3. Bring energy and never stop working every shift. Regardless of talent, coaches are attracted to kids who consistently work hard. 

All good advice and greatly appreciated.  So what is it that I look for when I run my evaluations?  I can teach you to shoot, pass and skate.  It’s those intangibles that will earn you a spot on my team.

1. Aggressive play – Be willing to battle for pucks. If you are on the forecheck, get on the puck.  Don’t sit back and wait for them to come to you.
2. Backchecking –  If you won’t backcheck, it’s the fastest way to get off my list.  I need you to skate harder than you’ve ever skated when you are backchecking.  It makes a HUGE difference.
3. Don’t give up – I don’t care if you just messed up, mistakes happen.  It’s what you do after that mistake that I look at. Did you slam your stick? Throw you head back?  Yell?  Get back in the play and make up for the mistake you made.  No one will remember the mistake if you made if you hustle back and make a difference in the play.
4. Come out to Earn your spot – Don’t think because you’ve been playing for xx number of years, you deserve a spot on the team.  No on deserves a spot, you earn it. Everyone there is fighting for your spot, go out and get it. 
5. Communicate – Talk to the coaches. Talk to the other players.  Talk when you are on the rink and involved in the play.  Call for pucks, direct the play.  Be vocal.
6. Don’t be selfish – Yes it’s a tryout to earn a spot on a team, but that doesn’t mean showing off your ability to skate through every player every time with your head down.  Be a play maker.   Make passes. Make good decisions.

A few tips for trying out:

1.  Relax and have fun.  I know it’s easier said than done but remember, you can play the game so just go out and do your thing.  
2. If a coach gives you some advice, make sure you go out and do that.  They are hinting to you of what they want to see you do.  At least try to do it. It shows you are coachable.
3. If a coach asks you to play a position like Defense, please, under no circumstances respond ‘I’m a forward’ or ‘My Dad says I’m a forward’.  Just go out and do it.  Coaches want a team player.

A few other resources that give some inside can be found at:
Inside Edge
Ontario Minor Hockey Association.

Try to remember these tips as you go through your try-outs.  Good luck.

What evaluators look for during try-outs

I’ve been asked a lot over the years what I look for in a player during evaluations.  After watching my son during various AA & AAA Ice try-outs, I’ve been thinking more about this topic and wanted to share a bit of what I look for and some other information that I’ve found or has been shared with me.

My friend Graham Acres (gacres99) also shared his thoughts with me.

1. Whatever it is you believe you do best, do that every shift.
2. Listen to what the coaches ask you to do and do that
3. Bring energy and never stop working every shift. Regardless of talent, coaches are attracted to kids who consistently work hard. 

All good advice and greatly appreciated.  So what is it that I look for when I run my evaluations?  I can teach you to shoot, pass and skate.  It’s those intangibles that will earn you a spot on my team.

1. Aggressive play – Be willing to battle for pucks. If you are on the forecheck, get on the puck.  Don’t sit back and wait for them to come to you.
2. Backchecking –  If you won’t backcheck, it’s the fastest way to get off my list.  I need you to skate harder than you’ve ever skated when you are backchecking.  It makes a HUGE difference.
3. Don’t give up – I don’t care if you just messed up, mistakes happen.  It’s what you do after that mistake that I look at. Did you slam your stick? Throw you head back?  Yell?  Get back in the play and make up for the mistake you made.  No one will remember the mistake if you made if you hustle back and make a difference in the play.
4. Come out to Earn your spot – Don’t think because you’ve been playing for xx number of years, you deserve a spot on the team.  No on deserves a spot, you earn it. Everyone there is fighting for your spot, go out and get it. 
5. Communicate – Talk to the coaches. Talk to the other players.  Talk when you are on the rink and involved in the play.  Call for pucks, direct the play.  Be vocal.
6. Don’t be selfish – Yes it’s a tryout to earn a spot on a team, but that doesn’t mean showing off your ability to skate through every player every time with your head down.  Be a play maker.   Make passes. Make good decisions.

A few tips for trying out:

1.  Relax and have fun.  I know it’s easier said than done but remember, you can play the game so just go out and do your thing.  
2. If a coach gives you some advice, make sure you go out and do that.  They are hinting to you of what they want to see you do.  At least try to do it. It shows you are coachable.
3. If a coach asks you to play a position like Defense, please, under no circumstances respond ‘I’m a forward’ or ‘My Dad says I’m a forward’.  Just go out and do it.  Coaches want a team player.

A few other resources that give some inside can be found at:
Inside Edge
Ontario Minor Hockey Association.

Try to remember these tips as you go through your try-outs.  Good luck.

You Get What You Give!

I’ve always been a big believer in you get what you give.  The harder you work, the better things will work out for you.  I’ve talked with my players in the past about the work they put in off the rink will make them better players on the rink.  I’ve always tried to get them to realize that they are playing for something bigger than themselves too.  For those days when you don’t feel like pushing anymore, think about the players that share the room with you, the coaches behind the bench and the Parents/Fans that come to watch.  They expect more. They want more.  So do you.

This video was recently sent to my son by his AAA Ice coach and I think it says it all.

You Get What You Give!

I’ve always been a big believer in you get what you give.  The harder you work, the better things will work out for you.  I’ve talked with my players in the past about the work they put in off the rink will make them better players on the rink.  I’ve always tried to get them to realize that they are playing for something bigger than themselves too.  For those days when you don’t feel like pushing anymore, think about the players that share the room with you, the coaches behind the bench and the Parents/Fans that come to watch.  They expect more. They want more.  So do you.

This video was recently sent to my son by his AAA Ice coach and I think it says it all.

You Get What You Give!

I’ve always been a big believer in you get what you give.  The harder you work, the better things will work out for you.  I’ve talked with my players in the past about the work they put in off the rink will make them better players on the rink.  I’ve always tried to get them to realize that they are playing for something bigger than themselves too.  For those days when you don’t feel like pushing anymore, think about the players that share the room with you, the coaches behind the bench and the Parents/Fans that come to watch.  They expect more. They want more.  So do you.

This video was recently sent to my son by his AAA Ice coach and I think it says it all.

What evaluators look for during try-outs

I’ve been asked a lot over the years what I look for in a player during evaluations.  After watching my son during various AA & AAA Ice try-outs, I’ve been thinking more about this topic and wanted to share a bit of what I look for and some other information that I’ve found or has been shared with me.

My friend Graham Acres (gacres99) also shared his thoughts with me.

1. Whatever it is you believe you do best, do that every shift.
2. Listen to what the coaches ask you to do and do that
3. Bring energy and never stop working every shift. Regardless of talent, coaches are attracted to kids who consistently work hard. 

All good advice and greatly appreciated.  So what is it that I look for when I run my evaluations?  I can teach you to shoot, pass and skate.  It’s those intangibles that will earn you a spot on my team.

1. Aggressive play – Be willing to battle for pucks. If you are on the forecheck, get on the puck.  Don’t sit back and wait for them to come to you.
2. Backchecking –  If you won’t backcheck, it’s the fastest way to get off my list.  I need you to skate harder than you’ve ever skated when you are backchecking.  It makes a HUGE difference.
3. Don’t give up – I don’t care if you just messed up, mistakes happen.  It’s what you do after that mistake that I look at. Did you slam your stick? Throw you head back?  Yell?  Get back in the play and make up for the mistake you made.  No one will remember the mistake if you made if you hustle back and make a difference in the play.
4. Come out to Earn your spot – Don’t think because you’ve been playing for xx number of years, you deserve a spot on the team.  No on deserves a spot, you earn it. Everyone there is fighting for your spot, go out and get it. 
5. Communicate – Talk to the coaches. Talk to the other players.  Talk when you are on the rink and involved in the play.  Call for pucks, direct the play.  Be vocal.
6. Don’t be selfish – Yes it’s a tryout to earn a spot on a team, but that doesn’t mean showing off your ability to skate through every player every time with your head down.  Be a play maker.   Make passes. Make good decisions.

A few tips for trying out:

1.  Relax and have fun.  I know it’s easier said than done but remember, you can play the game so just go out and do your thing.  
2. If a coach gives you some advice, make sure you go out and do that.  They are hinting to you of what they want to see you do.  At least try to do it. It shows you are coachable.
3. If a coach asks you to play a position like Defense, please, under no circumstances respond ‘I’m a forward’ or ‘My Dad says I’m a forward’.  Just go out and do it.  Coaches want a team player.

A few other resources that give some inside can be found at:
Inside Edge
Ontario Minor Hockey Association.

Try to remember these tips as you go through your try-outs.  Good luck.

This Game We Coach and Play

There is a passion amongst hockey players unlike any other I’ve ever seen or played.  It’s different.  It’s hard to explain to someone who hasn’t played it or been around it. As much as we want to tell the kids go out and play for fun, it’s so much more than that.

Don’t get me wrong. Hockey is FUN. But it’s an emotional game too.  A lot of work goes into playing the sport.  You are committed or you don’t play.  It’s just not an easy sport that you get dropped off with a ball and they run around for a while.  It takes time.  It takes patience.  It takes skill.  It takes commitment. It takes passion.  You don’t need motivation.  Being a part of it all is motivation enough.

I coached a team of 9-11 year old boys this year.  They were undefeated to this point of the season and playing their biggest rival and the #2 team in the Division.  45 minutes of hard fought play and they were victorious.  They battled from the moment they started and never quit.  I was proud beyond belief.  In the locker room after, they cheered and celebrated and 5 minutes later most sat on the bench and just hung out.  Not too many words were said, but none were really needed.   They all got it.

On the car ride home, my wife asked why he wasn’t more pumped up about the huge victory and how well the team had done.  Plain and simple, he had nothing left to give.  It was all on the rink.

Whether you coach, play or are just a fan, you feel it.  There is no casual hockey player, coach or parent.  It takes too much from you, but it gives back so much more.  That passion spills to other places to.  Like the Bench.  And the Stands.

As coaches, it’s easy to get caught up in the moment and the bad calls or the mistakes the players make.  Coaches, you need to remember that players feed off of your emotions and more importantly, your actions.  If you are calm, they are calm.  If you are yelling, they are tense.  Think about it.  Control your emotions.  Coach your players and the game will work itself out.

Parents, same with you.  It’s very easy to get wrapped up in the moment because we all want to win.  We all feel that emotion and passion that our players bring to the rink.  So as you are in the stands, while it makes you feel better to yell at the refs (believe me, I’m guilty of this too), think about being in their position and taking it all in at full speed with no vested interested in the game.  Be encouraging to your players.  Remember, when you are calm, they are calm.  When you start coaching them and telling them how big of a game this is, they get tense. Leave that to them, they know how big it is. Let them play.

Embrace the passion. Embrace the emotion. Play, Coach or be a Fan of Hockey, you won’t be sorry.

Aging Hockey Player Can’t Eat Like He Used To

Exercises To Increase Speed

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Conor Doherty, PTS, is an athletic trainer in Dryden, Ontario, who specializes in sports performance. The majority of his clients are hockey players. Conor has a well-rounded background in the training field with an Honours Bachelor of Kinesiology degree as well as being a certified trainer with Canadian Fitness Professionals. Learn more about his training methods and programs at http://starfactoryfitness.com

A Beginners Strength Training Workout

Hockey players are a unique bunch of athletes, as they’re one of the few athletes out there that aren’t wearing shoes during their sport. Skating, in itself, is a unique skill that takes a lot of time to get good at. It’s not like running, as in order to skate with power, you have to push back and out. It’s a different motion all together.

Hockey is also a sport that requires the player to be in a forward bending position for much of the time the player is on the ice. In order to accelerate to faster speeds, the player needs to bend forward to optimally reach those desired speeds.

Lastly, a hockey player uses a stick, which to shoot or pass, you need a certain type of rotational strength to generate a harder shot or pass. These are just a few things that need to be considered when developing a program for a hockey player, let alone someone that’s just starting a strength training program.

So keeping those things in mind, here’s a workout for someone just starting out with weight training.

1. Dynamic Warm-up-
First and foremost, players need to be properly warmed up before doing anything. You have to make sure that a player’s body is prepared for what’s ahead, otherwise injuries will likely occur. Dynamic warmups have proven to be more effective than the usual jog and static stretching routine. Check out the dynamic warmup I do with my athletes here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sdaLkqVboU

2. A Power Exercise-
Hockey players need explosive power, especially when they skate. From a stopped position, a player needs to be able to explode and accelerate to top speeds as fast as possible in many situations on the ice. That’s where a power exercise comes in. For someone starting out, Olympic lifts aren’t exactly a smart thing to start with, as it takes a lot of coaching to get the movements down. Instead, plyometric exercises are a perfect alternative to developing power.

A box jump or a bound are excellent plyometric exercises to generate power in the lower body. With a box jump, you’re going to need a 12″ box or something similar to jump up to. Start in a position where you’re low, sitting back, with your arms back. You’re going to explode up to the box and land in a way where you absorb the landing and finish in the same position you started in. A bound requires you to start in the same position, except that you’re going to jump forward as far as you can on a flat surface and landing in the same fashion.

To start out, try 2-3 sets of 5 jumps.

3. A Pushing Exercise-
Upper body strength is huge for hockey players, as shot power, as well as being able to move bodies out from in front of the net are must have attributes a player needs.

A basic pushup is all you need. Just because fancy equipment isn’t involved, don’t think that you won’t get awesome results. There are some athletes that can bench press incredible amounts of weight that can’t do 10 proper pushups in a row. Make sure your head faces straight down at all times, your core is braced, back is straight, and your elbows are at a 45 degree angle to your body. Don’t flare your elbows out as it can cause shoulder problems.

To start out, try 3 sets of 10-15 reps.

4. A Pulling Exercise-
Same as the pushing exercise, upper body strength is huge in hockey.

An inverted row is an exercise that can help counter all the forward pushing and bending over that a hockey player does. Too much pushing can give you a hunched over look, which you don’t need. Set up a horizontal bar that’s about hip height. Get underneath the bar so that you’re looking up at the ceiling. Grab the bar with both hands just past shoulder width. Pull your chest towards the bar until your elbows reach your side. Make sure to keep a flat back throughout the movement.

To start out, try 3-4 sets of 10.

5. A Single Leg Exercise-
Skating is performed by pushing off one skate at a time, so single leg exercises are very beneficial and carry over very well to the ice.

Try forward and side lunges with dumbbells in each hand. When you step forward, your back knee will touch the ground, while your front knee should be just over top of your ankle. If your knee is drifting too far over your ankle, you’ll end up putting too much pressure on your knee. Side lunges are a very functional exercise for hockey players as it replicates the skating motion when you push off to the side.

To start out, try 3 sets of 10 reps with each leg.

That’s all you really need to get started with a strength training program if you’re a hockey player. Of course, when you get better at those movements and feel like you’re ready to progress, other more advanced movements can be added into your workouts. A huge point here is that you’re being safe in your routine and not trying anything you’re not ready for.

For more workouts for players just beginning strength training to more advanced players, make sure to check out my ebook, “Hockey Training: 1st Star Performance” here: http://starfactoryfitness.com/1st-star-performance/

Related Articles:
Strength Training Benefits for Hockey

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Conor Doherty, PTS, is an athletic trainer in Dryden, Ontario, who specializes in sports performance. The majority of his clients are hockey players. Conor has a well-rounded background in the training field with an Honours Bachelor of Kinesiology degree as well as being a certified trainer with Canadian Fitness Professionals. Learn more about his training methods and programs at http://starfactoryfitness.com