10 Myths About the American Development Model
I realize any change—good, bad or indifferent—is still a change and can be difficult for people to accept. So I started to collect a few of the negative comments I have heard about the American Development Model (ADM) with regards to cross-ice play, all in the hopes that I can dispel these myths.
The Key to Success in Sports and in Life
“Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to become the best of which you are capable.”—John Wooden, former UCLA basketball coach
Total Hockey Volunteer of the Month Award Announced
The Total Hockey Volunteer of the Month recognizes the many wonderful off-ice volunteers that are so vital to the success of a hockey association. Ice Scheduler, Team Manager, Tournament Director, Mites Coordinator, Recruiting Chairperson….the list is endless! Total Hockey and Minnesota Hockey want to make sure that the time and energy these volunteers selflessly dedicate to hockey is properly acknowledged.
RBC Wealth Management and Minnesota Wild Partner to Benefit Gear Up Minnesota! Program
The Minnesota Wild along with RBC Wealth Management are auctioning off individual player practice jerseys exclusively at this link with all proceeds being donated to Minnesota Hockey’s Gear Up Minnesota! program. “We are very excited to partner with Gear Up Minnesota!,” said Tom Sagissor, North Regional Director of RBC Wealth Management. “As a father of four hockey players, I know how important this sport can be to a child. We are so proud to support this program because it provides an opportunity for kids to play a sport they love and develop skills that will last them a lifetime.”
Minnesota Hockey Coaching Representatives attend International Youth Player Development Symposium in Chicago
USA Hockey hosted a youth player development symposium in Chicago in November. The three-day event focused exclusively on the development of 8U, 10U and 12U players. There were about 100 youth hockey directors and hockey program leaders from all over the country in attendance. There were lecture presentations as well as on-ice and off-ice hands-on demonstrations by some of the world’s leaders in youth athlete and hockey development. Five members of Minnesota Hockey’s coaching leadership group were in attendance.
Do Teens Need Sports Supplements?
It’s easy to see the appeal of sports supplements for young athletes. Pro athletes and body builders endorse them. And they’re marketed as being able to improve athletic performance. But should kids and teens take them? No, says Dr. Shane Miller, a pediatric sports medicine specialist at Children’s Medical Center.
ADM: The Healthy Meal vs. the Dessert
In today’s version of youth sports we have a very unhealthy ratio of practice to games. In many youth hockey associations the practice-to-game ratio is 1-to-1 or 2-to-1. To me practice is the healthy meal and the games are the dessert. What would serve our young athletes much better would be a healthier ratio of 3-to-1.
HEP Essay Contest
Hockey players, put your stick down for a few minutes and grab a pen or pencil…the Minnesota Hockey HEP Essay Contest is back! The theme for the 2011 contest is “I love to go the rink because…!” Read more
Sportsmanship and the Metro Hockey League
At my first Metro Hockey League Board meeting 15 years ago, the main topic of discussion was the desire of Minnesota Hockey to shut down the league. For many years the Junior Gold program was viewed as a “hack league.” The young men that played in this program often came with a “chip on their shoulder.” Many failed to make their respective high school varsity teams either because of skill or because of behavior issues. In many associations, Junior Gold teams comprised quite a cast of characters, leading to a wide array of deportment issues.
Minnesota Hockey Announces Details of Gear Up Minnesota!
Gear Up Minnesota! will provide associations throughout the state with starter hockey equipment. Minnesota Hockey announced details of Gear Up Minnesota! presented by Total Hockey and the Minnesota Wild Foundation. A total of $25,000 of starter hockey equipment grants will be made available to Minnesota Hockey community-based hockey associations throughout the state via Gear Up Minnesota! Gear Up Minnesota! (formerly the Play Our Game Equipment Grant Program) was started in 2000 to assist community-based hockey associations with recruiting new players and keeping hockey as affordable as possible. Close to $125,000 in equipment has been donated to associations across Minnesota in the 10 years of the program’s existence.
