Just the other day, I took my kids to the rock climbing wall. My 9-year-old, fearing heights, would only go a quarter of the way up. Without hesitation, I told him if he could reach a point that indicated the halfway marker, I would give him 20 dollars. And if he goes to the top, I would give him 50 dollars. Thinking at the time, I was helping him overcome his fear of heights, but later found out I was using extrinsic motivators, which was clearly the wrong thing to do. This scenario is no different than parents in hockey telling their kids they will pay them 10 dollars per goal. An extrinsic motivator is giving an award for accomplishments, even when a task is expected of our kids like household chores. Now, an intrinsic motivator is where the real learning takes place. This is when we challenge our players so that they need to problem solve, which creates a learning environment along with giving them that feeling of pure enjoyment when coming up with the answer on their own or in my case overcoming my son’s fear of heights.
Continue reading “Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation: Which Is Better for Your Child’s Success?”Unpacking the Details Inside The Concept of Breakouts in Hockey
The Breakout in hockey is an integral part of the sport, and often goes unnoticed due to its efficiency when executed properly. In this blog post, we delve into the key details that make breakouts successful and highlight the unique role each position plays. From defense to goalie, everyone has a part to contribute to the success of a breakout. Let’s dissect the game and unravel the intricate workings of this fundamental play.
Continue reading “Unpacking the Details Inside The Concept of Breakouts in Hockey”How Choosing the Right Captain Can Make or Break Your Team
Choosing the right Captains for a team is a crucial decision that can greatly impact the overall performance and dynamics of the group. Player leadership is a key factor in the success of any team, and the role of a Captain goes beyond just on-field performance. They are responsible for motivating and uniting their teammates, making strategic decisions, and representing the team as a whole. In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of choosing the right Captains and how they can make or break your team.
Continue reading “How Choosing the Right Captain Can Make or Break Your Team”The Marathon Games: NHL’s Most Unforgettable Longest OverTime Matches
The NHL playoffs are known for their intense and grueling nature, pushing players to their physical and mental limits. But it’s the longest overtimes that truly separate the best from the rest. These marathon games can last for hours, testing the endurance and determination of both teams. In honor of the NHL’s best, we’re taking a look back at the most unforgettable longest overtime matches in history. These games have gone down in hockey lore, with players and fans alike enduring nail-biting tension until the final buzzer. Let’s lace up our skates and dive into the top 5 longest overtime games in NHL history.
Continue reading “The Marathon Games: NHL’s Most Unforgettable Longest OverTime Matches”From Benching to Building: The Evolution of Youth Hockey Coaching
Modern hockey coaching has changed drastically over the years, shifting away from the traditional approach of benching players in order to discipline them. Today, coaches focus more on building a positive environment and developing their players through teaching and support. In this blog post, we’ll explore how youth hockey coaching has evolved from benching to building, and why this shift is essential for the success of young players.
Continue reading “From Benching to Building: The Evolution of Youth Hockey Coaching”Are Skills Coaches Making Players More Selfish Than Ever?
The debate between individual vs team, skills coach vs head coach has been a controversial one in the hockey world for years. It seems that many players are leaning more towards individual skills with the help of their skills coaches, leading to some believing that these coaches are making players more selfish than ever before. This begs the question, are skills coaches really making players more selfish than ever? In this blog post, we will explore the relationship between skills coaches and team play to see if there is any truth to this claim.
Continue reading “Are Skills Coaches Making Players More Selfish Than Ever?”Hockey Coaches Embrace ‘Skill Stacking’ for More Effective Player Development
Hockey coaches have begun to utilize a new strategy for player development: Skill Stacking. This approach focuses on breaking down individual skills into smaller, more manageable tasks and then combining them together into one cohesive sequence. It is designed to create a more efficient, effective practice that can help hockey players hone their skills and become more successful on the ice. Skill stacking is quickly becoming the go-to technique among hockey coaches, and it promises to revolutionize the way players are developed.
Continue reading “Hockey Coaches Embrace ‘Skill Stacking’ for More Effective Player Development”The Reality of Youth Sports: Prioritizing Engagement Over Rousing Speeches
As a Hockey Coach at the grassroots level, it can be difficult to get your players to engage in pre-game talks. Despite our best efforts, many of them are more concerned about a birthday party or something else entirely. While it may seem like rousing speeches are necessary to motivate them, the reality is that they’re simply not listening. It’s important to get to the point quickly and keep their attention – otherwise, all that effort is wasted. In this blog post, we’ll discuss why it’s important to prioritize engagement over rousing speeches in youth sports.
Continue reading “The Reality of Youth Sports: Prioritizing Engagement Over Rousing Speeches”Why Praising Ability Won’t Cut It: How to Develop a Growth Mindset in Hockey Players
As a hockey coach, you have an important responsibility to help develop a growth mindset in your players. This means avoiding praising their ability, and instead commending them for their efforts. According to Carol Dweck in her book, Mindset, this is the best way to nurture the growth mindset that can lead to long-term success. As a hockey coach, it is up to you to cultivate an environment where players can learn, improve, and develop both on and off the ice. In this blog post, we will explore why praising ability won’t cut it and how to foster a growth mindset in hockey players.
Continue reading “Why Praising Ability Won’t Cut It: How to Develop a Growth Mindset in Hockey Players”Hockey Dressing Room Dilemmas: When Should Parents Say Goodbye?
As parents of young children, we understand how quickly time passes and how soon our kids are growing into independent adults. One of the most challenging tasks we face is knowing when to step back and allow our children to take the lead in the hockey dressing room. In this blog post, we will provide helpful tips to guide parents on how to best support their young athletes in a hockey dressing room setting and encourage them to flourish.
Continue reading “Hockey Dressing Room Dilemmas: When Should Parents Say Goodbye?”