Separating Good Manners and the Competitive Spirit
Youth games are often dominated by the more aggressive players. This leaves some parents wondering why their child does not measure up. One simple answer is that they are just good parents who have raised a polite child.
Rethinking the Idea that “Losing Only Teaches You How to Lose”
America prides itself on all forms of competition and tracking wins and losses is an ingrained part of the nation’s character. This winning attitude should be carried over into youth sports. However, without understanding what it is we are trying to win, we run the risk of losing and losing big.
USA Hockey Puts Fun Into Hockey for Young Players
Any parent can tell you that in order to keep children ages 6 to 9 engaged, it is important that an activity include an element of “fun.” Using that as a basis, USA Hockey has come up with several steps to ensure that young hockey players are having fun while learning the game of hockey. The following article outlines USA Hockey’s FUNdamentals program, which provides a guideline for hockey programs to more effectively reach and teach young players.
How Do You Handle the Hidden Fees Associated with Travel Hockey?
Last week we asked you to provide input regarding how you handle the hidden fees associated with travel hockey. The individual who provided the best answer would win $150 worth of NHL BladeTape from BladeTape.com. Congratulations to Scott Winokur for providing the following winning response:
“Respect and Protect” On the Hunt
Minnesota Wild, Kemps, and Minnesota Hockey partner to create Respect & Protect. This promotional campaign aims to reduce brain injury by playing smart hockey.
Skill Development: The Basic Philosophy of HEP
Having a solid foundation in basic hockey skills is essential for a player’s long-term enjoyment of hockey. Hockey is unique because to play hockey one must first be able to skate. After learning the basics of skating, other hockey skills such as puck handling, passing and receiving, shooting and body contact skills are added. However, the basic skating skills of going forward, backward, starting, stopping, turning and transitioning must continuously be improved.
What is the Hockey Education Program (HEP)?
What is HEP – HEP is an educational program that serves as the foundation for Minnesota youth hockey. Started in the 2004-05 season, the three components of HEP work together to achieve the goals of: Read more
Special Announcement from Minnesota Hockey
Welcome to the first edition of the Hockey Education Program (HEP) newsletter. It’s hard to believe that it has been five years since we created and introduced HEP at the “Face Off.” Changing the youth hockey culture and behaviors was certainly an ambitious undertaking but one that we were confident would produce desired results. And it has! We aren’t where we want to be yet, but we have taken great strides to creating a more positive environment for our hockey players to learn, develop and have fun.
Q&A: Better Fueling Options than Energy Drinks
The sheer number of energy drinks on the market today is staggering. There are so many options, it might seem as though they should be an integral part of an athlete’s diet. Hockey mom, Wendy, questions the use of such drinks for her son. In the following article, Dr. Christopher Mohr, nutrition spokesperson and consultant, provides Wendy his best advice for nutritionally sound ways to fuel her son’s growing body.
Q&A: How to Help Your Player Get Bigger and Stronger
Becky asks: “My son is 15 years old and is playing hockey (midgets). He is 5’7 weighs 145 and is trying to figure out how to make himself stronger. I would like to know what he can eat, pick up weights or what, so that when he gets hit he won’t get hurt. He is tall but slender.”
