Improve Dryland Stickhandling Skills with the Green Biscuit
Today's review doesn't take us too far back into the archives, but the Green Biscuit remains one of our reader favorites. It is more than just a great training tool, it is also worth a second look!
The Green Biscuit is a new innovative stickhandling puck designed to simulate on-ice feel off the ice. So is it worth it? Here’s our review of the Green Biscuit:
Overview: Young hockey players find out early that becoming a good player is not always easy. There are many skills that need to come together including skating, skickhandling, shooting and passing. All of these skills take time to develop. Most coaches can’t devote the required amount of practice time to just passing because there are so many equally important areas to cover. Passing is something every player can learn to do well. With the right instruction and work ethic a marginal passer can develop into a very good passer. The Green Biscuit is a great tool to help develop and improve these emerging skills.
Purpose: The Green Biscuit is a puck that has been developed to improve stickhandling off the ice. The puck weighs close to 4 ounces but with the off ice friction, it simulates a 6 oz puck.
Price: $10.95 for 1 puck
Video: Here is a great video demonstrating the features of the Green Biscuit in action:
Puck Features:
- Off-ice training hockey puck to develop passing and stickhandling skills
- Mimics the feel of an on-ice puck
- No more chasing pucks and balls
- Develops a variety of skills - stickhandling, forehand pass, backhand pass, saucer pass, drop pass, toe drag, one touch pass
Final period: The Green Biscuit is an off-ice training hockey puck that helps develop passing and stickhandling skills. It is an affordable training accessory that will help your play improve their stickhandling and passing skills. For more information on the Green Biscuit, please visit HockeyShot.com
Editor’s Note: For a limited-time, when you use the code “teamcares″ at HockeyShot.com, you will receive 10% off any purchase.
Teaching Players the Importance of Right and Wrong
Research shows that sports participation is actually eroding the moral reasoning of many athletes. The good news is that coaches can make a difference by coaching ethical toughness and by engaging athletes in dialog about ethics and sports. Anyone paying attention knows that there is an ethics crisis in sports. The media is full of stories about ethically challenged athletes, coaches, parents and administrators. Most of us can point to people in our own communities who have visibly crossed ethical lines in pursuit of athletic success.
The headline-grabbing ethics violations we see in the news are rooted in a much less visible crisis that runs wider and deeper than many people think. The less visible ethics crisis in sports is a steady, widespread erosion of moral reasoning in competitive athletes. This is certainly not happening to all athletes, but it is happening enough to cause serious concern.
Research on Moral Reasoning of Athletes
The erosion of moral reasoning has been documented by The Center for Ethical Theory and Honor In Competition and Sport (ETHICS) at the University of Idaho. ETHICS has studied the moral reasoning of athletes for 20 years. Over that time the Center has compiled data on the moral reasoning of over 70,000 athletes at the high school and college level. Their findings show that on average, the longer a person participates in competitive athletics, the more impaired their moral reasoning becomes. Quite simply, the longer they are involved, the more likely they are to lie or cheat, or tolerate lying and cheating, in the name of winning.
If we project the Center’s research findings to the entire population of young athletes, we can assume that this problem involves thousands of athletes across the country. When we consider that most sports programs justify their existence in terms of character education, the fact that competitive athletics may actually erode moral reasoning is troubling.
The good news is, research by ETHICS also shows the moral reasoning of athletes can be sustained or restored through deliberate character education. The ETHICS’ Character Education Program and other such programs help athletes strengthen their moral choices regarding athletic competition.
Coaching for Ethical Toughness
Few of us have the time or resources to implement a full-fledged character education initiative as part of our athletic program. But we can talk about character every day, and more importantly, engage our athletes in dialog about ethics and sports. As recommended by researchers Brenda Light Bedemeier and David Light Shields in their work for the President’s Council on Fitness and Sports:
The most important educational process is probably dialog. Moral reasoning is unlikely to advance if the athlete is simply a passive recipient of the coach’s exhortations, however prosocial they may be. Children and adolescents need to talk about their values; they need to discuss their views of right and wrong, both with their peers and with respectful adults. Coaches should make space in team meetings for discussion of moral issues relevant to sports in general and to the life of the team in particular.
The power of dialog will be amplified if it is combined with meaningful responsibility. Athletes who cooperatively share in important dimensions of team decision-making are likely to benefit substantially. To maximize social and moral growth, coaches should use a democratic leadership style in which responsibility for developing team norms, goals, and expectations is shared with the members of the team. If team members develop a sense of ownership for the team and feel responsible for maintaining the team’s expectations, they can learn important lessons about both character and citizenship.
In simple terms, coaches can and do help athletes sustain and strengthen their moral reasoning. This works best when coaches make it a priority to ‘coach for ethical toughness’ as well as mental and physical toughness, and include their athletes in a daily dialog about ethics and moral reasoning.
Editor’s Note: Thank you to PositiveSports.net for this article.
Q&A: Is it Time to Quit Hockey?
Here is an intriguing reader question from Nick regarding whether or not his son should just give up on hockey given uncertainty about his future. President and Director of the New England Hockey Institute, Dennis Chighisola provided some excellent expert advice on the subject and suggests that in the end it is always about the love of the game!Question: My son is a second year Bantam with a November 94 birthday. He is 4’9” and about 78 pounds. His bone age is approximately 10 years old so it will be several years before he will start to catch up size wise to his peers. Next year he will either play as a Midget Minor, if he even has a chance of making a low-level travel team, or he will have to play in the high school group, if he plays in an in house league. Neither situation seems appealing at this point. On a travel team he will get more practice ice time but probably little game time. On a high school level house league he would probably get more game time but there is less than half the practice time per week which means limited development during the season. Is it time to just give up on hockey?
Answer: When faced with a choice between games and practices, I’ll always opt for more practices. Practices are where players get to hone their skills. No one ever improved from just playing in a game. The mentioning of a third option (quitting) bothers me a little. I’m wondering if the idea of packing it in is just something that’s crossing the parent’s mind, or if it is a feeling the youngster has openly expressed. No matter, please read on…
I can’t help raising a point I think about often. All winter long I get to watch the guys coming and going from a local senior league that plays next door to where my team practices. It’s a night-out for those older guys— feeling part of a team again, getting some exercise, hanging out long after their games to swap war stories and have some laughs. The funny thing is the teams are a mix of former NHL players and other old pros, long ago college players and probably some guys who didn’t play that high when they were younger. Plenty of my former high school and college players are there too, which brings me to sense that they must have really loved the game if they’re still at it.
This is the point I want to raise for Nick’s sake. On a Monday night in Hingham, MA, it seems to matter not where the guys had been long before. As a matter of fact, it appears to me that all of those senior league members have returned to where they began just playing the game for the love of it. And if we think about it further, the guys who reached fairly high levels only stayed there for a fraction of all the time they’ve played. In essence, they’ve spent most of their lives playing just for the love of it.
Now if Nick can agree with what I’ve said to this point, perhaps the most important next step is to resolve his son’s reason for playing. Hockey isn’t for everyone and there are countless other things a young teen can do for enjoyment. However, if the boy is still loving the game this might at least help ease some current bumps in the road. Perspective is everything. It is best that both the most-skilled and the least-skilled players on any young team do not go to the rink on a given night with visions of the NHL. I think it better that every youngster head-out with a smile and mainly just for the love of playing hockey.
I hope Nick understands why I dealt primarily with the larger question here. It will probably become clearer for which team his son should aim. Despite my 40-ish years in the game I wouldn’t dare predict which young players will or won’t “make it” in the end (and I’ll further suggest that professional scouts couldn’t do any better). Anyone can spot the kid with potential on a given night but things change rapidly in a youngster’s life — physically and interest-wise. Besides, it is hard to measure what is inside a young player, beginning with his love of the game.
Editor’s Note: Thank you to Dennis Chighisola (Coach Chic) for his valuable input on this question.
Let’s Play Hockey Expo 2009 – Skinner Hockey
This article is part of the ongoing Let’s Play Hockey Expo 2009 series presented by DailySportsDeal.com. The Let’s Play Hockey Expo is the largest hockey consumer expo in the U.S. In this segment, Executive Editor TK Stohlman interviews professional hockey skills coach, Sean Skinner of Skinner Hockey.Sean also shares with parents what he thinks is one of the best things parents can do to help improve youth hockey for their player. For more information on Skinner Hockey visit their website at www.SkinnerHockey.com.
Supporting Your Player in Silence
Parents are comfortable giving instructions to their child and this comfort naturally spills over into athletic competitions. However, when it comes to game time instruction, coaches, league staff, officials and sports psychologists all have one word of advice – “DON’T!”Although it may seem like a good idea to yell “pass” or “hustle” from the sidelines, studies show that these instructions cause more distraction than help. They interfere with coach-to-player and player-to-player communications and, more importantly, interfere with children’s ability to learn to think on their own.
Kids are going to make mistakes while playing sports, professional athletes do too. Michael Jordan missed three times as many game winning shots as he made and Joe Montana completed only about half of his pass attempts. Kids still learning their sport are not going to perform any better and there are many more games ahead in which to improve.
So, what can parents do along the sidelines? The answer is that they can cheer and not much else. Parents must let their kids play the game for themselves and develop their own experiences working with peers and coaches. If children make mistakes, learning to deal with mistakes with their teammates, coaches and officials is part of the process of growing into a better adult.
Editor’s Note: Thank you to the Sports Esteem for this article.
Q&A: Are Exposure Camps Worth The Investment?
Summer is a great time for kids to brush up on their skills and prepare for the upcoming season. The following article addresses a reader’s question regarding the benefits of sending kids to exposure camps and clinics.
Question: Steve asks, what is your take on all the “exposure” camps and clinics that are popping up around the country? Specifically in hockey, there are now camps that promise that college and junior level coaches will be there scouting/looking for players. Are these worth the couple hundred dollars to attend? What expectations should we have if we attend these camps? What other recommendations do you have for helping get more exposure for my son?
Answer: Summer means a little time off from organized hockey, but it does not mean that we stay off the ice completely. Most high school hockey players are bombarded with camp and showcase brochures throughout the hockey season. I strongly recommend that all high school level athletes consider a hockey camp, which can be very beneficial as long as you are aware of a few key points.
An unfortunate bottom line is that most camps and showcases have one purpose; they are a money-maker for the organizers. Coaches and clubs bring in a lot of income through this method. Although we would like to think everyone has good intentions, it’s often not the case. Beware of overpriced camps as they do not necessarily indicate the best training or coaching. Another common misconception is that you will be “discovered” at a camp. Parents and athletes, please pay attention to the next few sentences! Coaches do not scout for players at camps. If college coaches are running the camp, they do not have the time or interest in discovering new talent. If the coach doesn’t know about you beforehand, they will not know about you on your way out!
After considering the two biggest misconceptions of college camps, you can move on to the factors that really matter. High level training is an obvious benefit to a college run camp. There are few other opportunities for a high school athlete to work with a college level coach. You will run new drills, learn new techniques and get some needed repetition with each skill. Hopefully, you will take away an honest evaluation of your abilities as well because many camps give you a written evaluation form. The college coach will help you see your game from a different perspective – in addition to your high school, travel or juniors coach. Lastly, camps keep you in shape during the off-season.
There are essentially two ways you may receive camp information. One, you are someone the coach is recruiting. Two (and much more likely), you are in some type of database or list and the coach has absolutely no idea who you are or your talent level. So based on that information, you will either attend a camp for training purposes or evaluation purposes to assist with your recruiting.
Before you attend a camp for training purposes always do some research on the coaching staff. How much experience do they have? How successful have these coaches been? Do they have a reputation for producing great hockey players? Consider how they actually run the camp as well. Are you with players your age and ability level? Do they run at a fast pace? Are you getting personal attention? You may want to talk to someone who has attended the camp before signing up.
Alternatively, many college coaches use camps as an opportunity to evaluate your hockey abilities in person. For this reason, you could also choose to go to camp at a college or university where the coach is recruiting you. Find out where you are on the recruiting list and how interested are they in you. Is it a realistic fit? You are not likely the only recruit they are inviting to the camp. Be sure that you know this coach is interested before investing your time and money to go.
Showcases can also be a great way to see how you measure up against the top competition. See if the showcase provides a list of where their former participants have gone to college and which college coaches will be in attendance. You want to make sure that there will actually be great competition at the event. If you do attend a showcase it is important that you let coaches know you will be there prior to attending. They will show up to the games with a list of players and you need to make sure your name is on the list. Otherwise, it is very likely that you will be overlooked.
Make an informed and well-thought out decision before you decide on a college camp or showcase. Consider the misconceptions, benefits, and reasons for attending your camp or showcase of choice. Good luck!
Editor’s Note: Thank you to the NCSA for providing an answer to this reader question.
Let’s Play Hockey Expo 2009 – SweetHockey
This article is part of the ongoing Let’s Play Hockey Expo 2009 series presented by DailySportsDeal.com. The Let’s Play Hockey Expo is the largest hockey consumer expo in the U.S. In this segment, Executive Editor TK Stohlman interviews former NHL Player, Lance Pitlick of SweetHockey.SweetHockey is the developer of SweetHands, a hockey tool that helps develop better stick handling skills. They also offer a variety of off ice training devices as well as instructional DVD's and other hockey teaching tools. For more information please visit www.SweetHockey.com.
How to Avoid Overcorrecting Your Player
Most parents only want what is best for their children. In sports this attitude can be both a help and a hindrance. Sometimes a well meaning parent can question or criticize their player’s performance without considering other issues that might be contributing to the problem. The following article addresses the issue of overcorrecting your player and factors to consider when problems occur.When driving, a sudden swerve or overcorrection can sometimes lead to an even greater risk of a serious accident. The overcorrection is caused by the driver’s mistaken sense of time and force. Either the driver reacted too quickly or with too much force. In youth sports, an overcorrection is likely to occur after a game or a practice. Parents, sensing an emergency with their child’s game, apply too much force in too little time and turn a problem into a potential accident. Before solving emergencies, parents first need to diagnose, analyze and then formulate a plan of action.
Problem areas parents should consider include:
- Were there external distractions such as problems at school or with friends or siblings?
- Were there physical difficulties such as an illness, lack of proper nutrition or insufficient rest?
- Is there a diminished lack of interest in the sport caused by burnout or a lack of time for other activities?
- Is physical conditioning in areas such as stamina or strength adequate for playing an entire game?
- Does a lack of fundamental skills hinder more advanced play?
- Is there a good understanding of strategy and positioning so that a young player knows how to react in specific situations?
- Is the child playing at the right level of competition? Playing with kids who are much more or much less talented can be discouraging and slow improvement.
All of the above problems can look like a lack of “hustle” from a parent’s perspective on the sidelines. If it is not clear what the problem is, parents should have a positive conversation with their child or with the coach to better identify the problem and the corrective actions necessary. A sport is a learned activity and requires time to master. However, the age of the player and the length of time between events gives a parent plenty of opportunity to take the right actions to correct sports emergencies.
Editor’s Note: Thank you to Sports Esteem for this article.
Q&A: What Level of Travel Team Should I Consider For My Son?
A few weeks ago Stacy sent us a question regarding the right age for travel hockey. President and Director of the New England Hockey Institute, Dennis Chighisola provided some excellent expert advice on the subject. In this article, Stacy follows up with an additional question, regarding the best level of play for her son in a travel team setting.Question: I am the Stacy that asked the question regarding the right age for travel hockey. I have one more - is there a level of play that I should consider for my son on a travel team (i.e. should he be the best skater or in the top 5 skaters on his house team, or is it enough that he skates well, is dependable in his level of play, is very coachable, and has a desire to learn)?
We are having our son “try out” for a B tier team in the fall which includes two practices per week plus one game and an occasional tournament and the coach has a great resume as well. This fits our lifestyle and gets our son more playing/practice experience without turning hockey into our “lifestyle”. What do you think? Thanks!!
Answer: To begin, I think it very important what you sense about your son’s interest. I know “competitiveness” was previously a concern of yours, but you’d be better able to get a handle on whether he’d enjoy more hockey, and perhaps a little more prodding by a coach to improve his game. I think you have pretty much answered that in noting that he appears “…very coachable, and has a desire to learn…”
At the same time, I wouldn’t put too much stock in your son’s current physical abilities within the house team (typically, this isn’t the best atmosphere to fairly evaluate any youngster’s game-playing capabilities). Actually this is what your son’s fall tryouts will be about. Your first goal is that he make the team. After that, most kids who are passionate about the sport usually want to become “…the best skater, or in the top 5 skaters on the team…”
Additionally, the lifestyle component you mention is very important. Hoping your boy makes the “B” team, it will be important that it fits your family’s wants and needs. However, any experienced hockey folks are going to chuckle a bit when I say, expect your hockey interests to change over the years. Some parents will find their youngsters lose interest, while many others will see them getting great enjoyment from their rink experiences. So, I guess I am just saying to be ready to rethink things as time goes along.
A few final points…
You and your son are fortunate in that you have over three months to prepare for those tryouts. My suggestion is to use that time wisely.
I also hope there is an alternative should your son not make that “B” team. As I suggested previously, a “C” team isn’t a bad place for a new travel team kid to get his or her feet wet. And, because travel teams usually practice more than a house league team, anything at the travel level is a better choice when it comes to long-term development.
All this said, I don’t want anyone to get the wrong impression when it comes to my feelings about house league programs. I think they are an awesome alternative for kids who just want to play a little or for kids not looking to make a top-tier high school team someday.
Editor’s Note: Thank you to Dennis Chighisola (Coach Chic) for his valuable input on this question.
Let’s Play Hockey Expo 2009 – Sports Signup
This article is part of the ongoing Let’s Play Hockey Expo 2009 series presented by DailySportsDeal.com. The Let’s Play Hockey Expo is the largest hockey consumer expo in the U.S. In this interview, Executive Editor TK Stohlman interviews Josh LaStarza of Sports Signup.Sports Signup provides online registration to a wide variety of sporting teams and events. The company also offers data management, email contact and a variety of additional online support tools. For more information about this online service, visit them at www.sportssignup.com.
