I donāt doubt that many hockey parents and coaches get frustrated, waiting for certain new skills to kick-in with their players. (And I donāt doubt some adults wonder the same thing when it comes to their game.) So, since I recall trying to infuse a bunch of new plays into the games of both my AA Mites and AAA Bantams, I thought Iād share some of my thoughts on the subject. ā Dennis Chighisola I begin here with a story that might just frustrate some membersā¦ Some 30-plus years ago, I happened to be coaching a local Mite A team…
Coach Chic’s Hockey Podcast 57
Within “AI” circles “Michael” is viewed as a good one, and don’t forget to view this post as an introduction to September’s content…
I recently promised that Iād provide a follow-up to the āBeginner Boards Bumpsā as soon as I could. So, here goesā¦ ā Dennis Chighisola Now, Iād like to share with you something Iāve noticed over a lot of years, in that some players topple over easily in games, while others seem to find a way to right themselves and continue moving onward. I know, youāre not thinking thatās anything real earth-shaking. However, let me explain that in another wayā¦ I think a lot of kids just donāt know how to pull themselves back on-balance. So, once theyāre put just a…
Your Ideas, Our Next Book! Weāre excited to announce a brand-new feature here at CoachChic — the Hockey Book Lab! This is your chance to shape the future of hockey literature. Whether youāre a coach, parent, or player, we know you have unique insights into whatās needed in the world of hockey training, strategy, or development. And now, we want to hear from you! Hereās how it works: At CoachChic.com, we believe in creating resources that serve the real needs of the hockey community. So, whether you have an idea thatās been on your mind for a while or it’s…
I usually hate the crazing terms that arise in hockey coaching circles, because most of them hardly describe the technique or principle theyāve been applied to. That, however, isnāt the case with the expressions āreadā and āreactā. To me, āreadingā a play is a mental skill, and it also requires a high degree of alertness. Iām sure you can appreciate what I mean by alertness, so letās just move on to explore reading skillsā¦ First, a player must recognize the numerical situation he or she is facing. For, whether on the attack or defending, totally different tactics are needed in…
A lot of this piece is really about troubleshooting, because itās such a huge part of what we coaches and parents have to do for the sake of our young players. Actually, Iāve always been constantly on the lookout for problems in my kidsā games (no matter their age).Ā And, Iāve mentioned often to you about how Iād make either mental notes (or more often, written ones) as I observed my young Mighty Mites at play. Anyway, over one short stretch early in a long ago season I noticed that those little guys needed more help with their stability.Ā Oh,…
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As many of you might know by now, I once ran 2-teams under the New England Hockey Institute banner.Ā The high school guys were with me from late-May until Thanksgiving (when the local school teams began), and my junior high school aged kids were with me for almost 11-months. For sure, I did a lot for my players when it came to their skills and playing smarts, but I also did quite a bit to improve their psyche.Ā And itās the latter — my trying to help my kids carry themselves and act like true athletes — that Iād like…
Dave Schmitz, known as The Band Man, introduces us to his Stabilization Program by way of three separate videos…
One night I happened to notice one of my centermen reversing his lower hand on his stick just before moving in to take a face-off.Ā Iām sure you know what I meanā¦Ā He switched his lower hand in the opposite direction, supposedly to gain more strength for pulling the puck rearward. The good part of this was that my young guy was at least mindful of drawing the puck back amid his teammates. However, the bad part of this ploy actually reared its ugly head once the puck was dropped. You see, for a lot of years now, most coaches…