Receive Custom Pins and Awards at SteelBerry Awards

If you’re looking to build team spirit with trading pins or order customized gear bearing your team or association logo, SteelBerry Awards offers a huge selection of inexpensive custom products. Each product is backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. But does SteelBerry deliver? Here’s our review of SteelBerryAwards.com.

Overview: The SteelBerry Awards site lets you order custom-designed spirit gear to promote your team or association. You can choose from a wide selection of items, including team trading pins, t-shirts, pennants, car magnets, seat cushions, wristbands, and much more.

Purpose: SteelBerry’s products make for nice trading pins for tournaments, awards for team members, promotional items, and giveaways.

Prices: Many of the products on SteelBerryAwards.com are available for less than .00 apiece. For specific pricing, you can email SteelBerry for prices on specific products.

Top Features/Products:

Here are some of the top features of SteelBerry Awards:

• Production turnaround time is speedy, and order minimums are relatively low.


• Satisfaction is 100% guaranteed


• Team trading pins, a popular item, may be customized with add-ons such as lights, glitter, and multiple levels. Customers have access to a virtual proof before approving the final order.


• When you deal with this company, you are dealing directly with the owner, not just a sales rep. The owner is a parent and a businessman who takes pride in providing customers with complete satisfaction.

The website itself is a little cluttered. The layout and language of the front page are a bit confusing at first  and it’s not convenient to e-mail for prices. That being said one of the nicest things about SteelBerry Awards is that when you call, you talk to a real person. They are friendly, professional, and work with you to make sure you are happy. Whether you need trading pins for an upcoming tournament or promotional items for your team or association, SteelBerry is known for their customer service. They will work with you to ensure that you are completely satisfied.

Final Period: If you’re interested in ordering team pins or other promotional items, SteelBerry inspires confidence in the level of support they put behind their products. They have a huge range of offerings, and they’re enthusiastic about their product and confident about their ability to meet your needs.

Editor’s Note: For a limited time, use the code “myteamcares” at SteelBerryAwards.com and receive 10% off any order at SteelBerry Awards. 

7 Concepts to Help Your Player be Mentally Tough

In this article for parents and players, former NHL player and player development expert, Jeff Serowik, discusses how players can improve their mental toughness and perform consistently at a higher level.



This is a message on mental toughness. When you reach a particular level in hockey, you will realize that mental toughness will set you apart from your competition. Two players can have the same skills and speed, but it is their mental state, which enables one player to be great, while the other is ordinary.

Hockey is truly a game of mistakes. Even the superstars make them. The key is learning to overcome those mistakes quickly to succeed. Successful players know how to get their head right back into the game - I mean immediately in the very next shift! Young players need to develop this aspect of their game just as much as they develop skating, shooting, checking, and team building skills. Learn this now!

Here are a few concepts that will help you develop your mental game:

1. Take note of your favorite NHL Player. He will make mistakes during the course of a game; but they go by practically unnoticed because he doesn’t go into a shell, get down, feel sorry for himself, throw a temper tantrum, bang his stick, or take frustrations out on a fellow teammate. Never show your opponent you’re frustrated or weak!


2. Tune out negative situations around you and turn them into positives. Example: If you get beat 1 on 1 or have a bad give-away, don’t get down on yourself. It’s now history; - focus on the present. Quickly get yourself and your head back into the game with a good hit, a shot on goal, or just beat your opponent down the ice and work hard. Do anything positive – no matter how small. You will regain confidence. Charlie Corey, my Prep School coach used to say, “Serowik, do you think people in China care you made a mistake?” It’s done and forgotten, - move on!


3. Make a list of your responsibilities as a hockey player. Think about them before every game. During the game don’t think, - REACT! Example: If you are a defenseman, write down your duties in all three zones, power play and penalty kill. Move the puck quickly, stick between the legs, play the man, box your opponent out, hit the net every shot, head on a swivel, communication, control gap, how to play a 1v1, 2v1, 3v2 etc. …And so on. I had a 2-page list that I carried in my wallet for my entire 10 year pro career. I pulled out that list before each and every game and went over everything, so that it was all in fresh mental storage. If it’s in mental storage and you’ve already thought it through before game time, then it will come to you naturally during the game. Once the game begins you don’t want to think - just REACT!


4. Take 10 - 15 minutes before each game for “alone time”. Go over your responsibilities, almost like saying your prayers. Go tape your stick by yourself, -visualize all positive thoughts. Example: Picture yourself scoring the winning goal, having a big hit, a great assist, hugging your teammates in victory. These are all positive thoughts that will put you in the frame of mind to be a winner.


5. Tailor makes a catch phrase to say to you in time of trouble. Example: “Keep it Simple” - and my favorite, “Move Mountain”.


6. When game time comes, - you should come out for warm-ups hard and ready to compete. This is NOT the time to be social or screw around with teammates. Get a good handle on the puck, make some hard passes, stretch out, and get your legs going with some hard sprints.


7. On your first shift do something, - anything to get yourself into the game quickly. I’d to make a crisp hard pass, give a big hit, or even get hit by my opponent to wake me up and motivate me. The first couple of shifts usually dictate the rest of the game.

I hope these points are helpful. Getting mentally tough is a lot easier said than done. Work on it everyday and you will be on your way to becoming a mentally tough hockey player. Special thanks to Jeff Serowik and Pro Ambitions Hockey for sharing this article.

Top Mistake to Avoid When Motivating Your Players

Young players fear failure, even if they don’t admit it. And certain mistakes on your part can make such fears loom larger than they really should – large enough to cost the team a win, if the kids are too focused on the possibility of losing.



To avoid making things worse, don’t pressure your player by overblowing the importance of the game’s outcome.  Do listen carefully to the child’s concerns, and give plenty of support and positive reinforcement.

Improved Stickhandling with the SweetHands Trainer

The SweetHands Hockey Trainer helps your player improve their stickhandling speed and timing. The SweetHands Hockey Trainer also claims to improve your player’s eye and stick coordination. So is it worth it? Here’s our review of the SweetHands Hockey Trainer.



Overview: The SweetHands Hockey Trainer is an innovative hockey skills training aid that helps players increase their stickhandling speed and timing, improve eye and stick coordination. It also enables your player to achieve better puck control and feel.

The SweetHands Stickhandling Trainer comes in eight one foot sections to provide several configuration options. SweetHands is adaptable for both off-ice and on-ice training (removable spikes are included for the on-ice drills).

Video: Below is a video that shows the SweetHands Stickhandling Trainer in action.



SweetHands is available in 2 models.

1. Regular (or Original) -The original SweetHands is intended for home use as well as for coaches that want to integrate some drills into their practice.

2. Super - This is an industrial grade version intended for heavy use in environments such as hockey schools and off-ice training facilities or the garages.

Both versions may be used as one 8 foot section or in two 4 foot sections.



Price: $114.95 for the Original SweetHands Trainer and $149.95$ for Super SweetHands. Each SweetHands Trainer comes with an instructional DVD featuring many great drills and exercises. (Instructional DVD Value - $24.95)

Super SweetHands was built for use by hockey camps, schools and instructors. Designed to withstand constant use and abuse. The Super SweetHands is made of the same materials found in plexiglass and will hold up to the rigors of even the most intense hockey camps. For families, only purchase the more affordable Original SweetHands Trainer. You will save money and your player will receive the same benefits.

Top Features: The top feature of the SweetHands Stickhandling Trainer is that it will improve your players speed, timing, eye and stick coordination when handling a puck or stickhandling ball.

Here are some of the other features that HockeyShot lists on their website about the Sweethands Stickhandling Trainer:

• SweetHands comes in eight one foot sections to make either one eight foot unit or two four foot units.


• SweetHands is lightweight and easy to carry in your player’s hockey bag. The total weight is less than nine pounds.


• SweetHands also comes with small spikes that screw into the base to help minimize sliding when using SweetHands on ice.


• NOTE: 2 in 1 - SweetHands can be used as one 8 foot piece or two four foot pieces. Your player or coach can vary their drills with the two sizes for maximum effectiveness.

It’s important to note that the SweetHands Stickhandling Trainer is for players who will use it and not just let it sit in the garage. If your hockey player does not enjoy practicing on his/her own or going to the rink for open hockey, there is no sense in purchasing the SweetHands Stickhandling Trainer. However, if your hockey player enjoys going to open hockey practice and practicing at home, then the SweetHands Stickhandling Trainer will help them improve their stickhandling.

Final Period: The SweetHands Stickhandling Trainer can help your player develop proper form and technique when it comes to stickhandling. It can be used off-ice at home or on-ice during practices. If your player needs to improve their stickhandling, the SweetHands Trainer will help them improve their stickhandling skills.

Parent and Player Perspective: The SweetHands Trainer claims to improve a player’s stickhandling speed and timing along with eye and stick coordination. Mite through Bantam testers all agreed that players do get “quicker hands” from passing through the small slots. Off-ice, a FlyPuck worked best on a sloped driveway and a Smart Hockey Training Ball was ideal for a flat sidewalk. On the carpet — yes, they tried it in the house — a training ball is a necessity. The SweetHands Trainer expands and collapses easily, making it a cinch to set up and simple to store right back in the box it came in.

Editor’s Note: For a limited-time, when you use the code “teamcares″ at HockeyShot.com, parents will receive 10% off any purchase.

Coaches: 5 Tips for Better Post-Game Discussions

The intensity and emotion of a close competition can easily carry over into post-game discussions. It is often difficult for coaches to stop trying to manage the game after it is over. However, post-game conversations are not a part of the game. After all, nothing that is said after a game can affect its outcome. Conversations after a game have much more impact on the next practice or the next game. With that in mind, here are five suggestions for coaches for post-game conversations with players and parents:

1. Be patient. There will be plenty of time to address mistakes. Make a list of mistakes made during the game and then set it aside for review before planning the next practice or game.


2. Be positive. Allow the players to celebrate their good plays so that they continue to build their inner desire to improve.


3. Be communicative. Don’t shy away from players or parents after a loss any more than after a win. Changing parental interactions based on the outcome will leave parents assuming the worst about their child or the team.


4. Be objective. Before looking to player mistakes, first look to see if there were other things that could have been done better in preparation or motivation.


5. Be candid. If you made a mistake during the game, don’t be afraid to admit it. If coaches are honest about their mistakes, players are more likely to be honest about theirs.

Parents and players take their cues from the coach. A compliment helps reassure parents of their child’s potential and keeps them from focusing too much on their own judgments. It can even help shape parental conversations in the car on the way home. Good post-game conversations can do more to bring a team together than any conversation before a game.

Special thanks to Sports Esteem for the above article.

Here’s the Ticket: A Fundraiser That Parents Want

Instead of forcing parents to buy “stuff” they hardly use or want, get them something they can use. Some of the best youth sports fundraisers involve local pro teams. Most pro teams have a fundraiser where youth sports teams receive tickets at a 50 percent discount and sell them at full price. The profit per ticket can be as much as $50 per ticket.

For example, if each family on a team buys four tickets for two games, this equates to a youth hockey team raising $5,600 for their team. A Win/Win for everyone! Parents get tickets they will use and the team has a successful fundraiser.

Team Management – Lower Your Registration Fees

It is becoming increasingly popular to accept registrations online. When signing up for a registration service, be sure to check the fees you are being charged. If you are being charged more than 3% - 4% per transaction, then shop around.

Also be sure to double-check the per-registration charge (commonly called the per-transaction charge) – the per registration charge should not be more then $.50 per registration. Shop around and ask questions to make sure you are getting the best value so you can help your parents save money.

Handling Bad Calls – How to Help Your Player

Parents are going to see bad calls. Some of these calls will actually be bad calls, but most will just seem that way. Officials have a difficult job to do and cannot see everything that happens. Sometimes this is because they were not looking where the problem occurred. Other times they were not focused on watching for the penalty. Officials cannot call all penalties, just the ones they see. Here’s what you can do to help your player when you think an official makes a bad call.

To keep the game moving along with younger players, officials may also take into account a player’s intent and avoid calling every penalty. Officials are often kids themselves, learning skills just like the players. The turnover for youth officials often approaches 50% to 70% annually. After just one year, many youth officials find something better to do than deal with adults.

Yelling at an official in a youth game should never be allowed or condoned by parents, coaches, or league officials. Not only does it set a bad example and create potential embarrassment for kids, it also escalates negative emotions and greatly increases the risks of a confrontation. If parents see something they believe is unfair, they should express those concerns to league officials after the game. However, if parents see something they believe is unsafe, they should express those concerns to the coach and let the coach handle the situation.

Special thanks to Sports Esteem for the above article.

How to Measure Your Return on Instruction

Parents must be able to see whether the instruction being given to their player is worthwhile and relevant. Here’s a quick test to see if the instructor/coach is prepared.



In practice, is the method of practice being used organized and efficient? Does today’s practice take into account the last practice lesson? If so, great! If not, talk to the instructor/coach and respectfully ask if he/she has a plan for your player.

Recruiting Advice – Early Testing Is Better

If your child is considering a college with standardized testing requirements, have them take the test(s) as soon as possible. Scholarship offers can come at the beginning of a high school student’s senior year, if not sooner.

Coaches like to know that their choice recruits can pass admission standards; if your child has already passed the required tests, coaches might be more likely to go ahead and extend an offer.

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