How to Use Audio Programs

I have a collection of audio tapes that others in hockey would die for. No, they’re not transferred to CDs yet, but that doesn’t matter to me right now.

Here’s my first point about those tapes… Most of them are lectures I recorded over my 40-plus years of traveling and studying around the hockey world. And, I do mean from around the “world”. So again: most folks in our game would likely give anything to listen to those recordings.

But here’s the second — and even more important — point concerning those tapes: Every time I listen to one of those lectures, I hear some totally different ideas. And here’s what I mean…

I recall pulling down from a library shelf a lecture by Roger Neilson, this on the subject of forechecking. I had just been named the head coach for a local high school team, and I was salivating with everything Neilson said. I ran and reran that tape countless times, took a ton of notes, and then went about putting together a forecheck for my new team.

Here’s the kicker, though… Several years later I landed a job as the head hockey coach for a local small college. And when I pulled that very same tape down and plunked it into my cassette player, it was as if I was listening to a totally different lecture. No, it was still “Captain Video” speaking, and I know no one could have tampered with that hour-long cassette. But, I was definitely hearing lots of different advice.

So, what happened over the span of about 4- or 5-years? Well, my pretty educated guess was that I was listening to the same lecture, but from two very different experience levels.

• I was listening and taking notes the first time after a lot of years as a youth coach, and looking forward to coaching a group of high school teens.
• My second time through that audio tape had me listening as an experienced high school coach, and looking towards running more of an adult-level college program.

Before moving forward, know that I did a little investigating on this topic, and discovered that others felt pretty much the same. I’m talking about some scientific folks, or a few who know their stuff about learning.

Okay, so why do I tell you all this? It’s because I want to urge anyone who has access to the many audio programs here to download them. Maybe save them to a CD, and then carry favorite ones with you in a portable MP3 player. You don’t have to give total attention to any given recording, either. No, bring a lecture of interest with you — as you walk or jog, work around the yard, or travel in your car. Try what I’ve suggested above, though, and see if you don’t get more from an audio lecture each time you listen to it.

If you get the chance to experience any of what I’ve mentioned above, please let me and others know about it.