“Get It Out!” and “Go Deep!” are phrases that indicate safe hockey is in play. Again, these seem like good things, but in fact can stifle players:

• We have to allow kids the opportunity to try to make plays rather than always taking the safest route.
• We have to allow the game to become the teacher.
• Kids will learn through the playing experience how to make proper decisions with and without the puck.

I ask myself the question, “What would the player do if he or she were playing on the pond away from the watchful eye of coaches and parents?” I know that coaches are well intentioned when trying to teach the game of hockey to kids. I believe, however, that we have to be conscious of the safe hockey phenomenon and try to allow the kids every opportunity to develop the necessary puck skills that will give them a chance to succeed at the higher levels.

Make plays, don’t play it safe—but do keep your head up and keep your body safe. It’s a great day for hockey!

Editor’s Note: Thank you to Mike Sullivan for this story. Sullivan is a professional hockey player and coach who co-founded flexxCOACH, which provides coaching education programs.

Hockey players 11 and older — particularly adults — should consider the MCV4 vaccination to prevent bacterial meningitis. This deadly disease affected adult players in Fort Collins, Colorado, this year, possibly from sharing water bottles or shaking hands after removing their mouthguards. According to KidsHealth.org “Children who have not had the vaccine and are over 11 years old should also be immunized, particularly if they’re going to college, boarding school, camp, or other settings where they are going to be living in close quarters with others.”

Editor’s Note: Thank you to Kelly Anton for this story.

Example: In Michael’s first game of the season, he was on the ice for 3 of his teams goals. He was also on the ice when 2 goals were scored by the other team. He received +3 points and –2 points, so for the game’s total he was +1.

This system is mainly used to measure defenders and forwards who play a defensive role on the ice. Offensive forwards are better measured by their scoring statistics. In theory, the higher the plus/minus score, the better the player. However, it is not the most accurate of systems with players getting off and on the ice constantly. With this being the case, some coaches and players have adapted their own plus/minus system to more accurately portray what every player does on the ice and to measure their progress. Following are some examples of what teams may want to track:

Plus (+)

• Player scores
• Player gets an assist
• Player makes a great shot
• Player makes a great pass for a scoring opportunity
• Player makes a big legal hit that helps their team

Minus (–)

• Player makes a bad change
• Player doesn’t tie up his or her mark and the opposing player gets a good shot off
• Player doesn’t backcheck
• Player takes a bad penalty

Editor’s Note: Thank you to Kristin Carlson, member of Women’s Hockey Association of Minnesota, for this article.

Benefits: Get in the Game
First, let’s take a quick look at the potential benefits of playing cross-ice of half-ice hockey as proscribed in USA Hockey’s American Development Model (ADM).

• Every player should get to touch the puck more.
• Every player should have the chance to score.
• Goalies should face more shots.
• Average players get in the game.
• Higher-level players face more of a challenge than just taking advantage of breakaways.

I’ve actually seen the benefits of playing cross-ice in action as I have one son who learned before the ADM was in place (and played on full ice from age 5), and one who is learning now. But I overhear tons of talk about the smaller playing area and realize that it’s a concern for other parents. So I jotted down some of the most common questions and brought them to Joe Doyle, a USA Hockey Manager for the American Development Model.

Q: What if my kid—who is extra special—is ready for full ice?
A: USA Hockey’s position is that no 8 and Under players are “ready” to play full ice games. “Ready” is in no way a knock on the players’ skill level or skating ability. It is merely the fact that the smaller surface is age appropriate, and it is in the best interest of any 7- or 8-year-old—developmentally and fun wise.

Think of it this way: Could an 8-year-old run 90 feet down the first base path? Yes, but what would his stride look like the last 30 feet? That is why Little League baseball diamonds have 60 foot base paths—not to mention a shorter distance from the mound to home plate, 210 foot fences instead of 400 feet fences, etc. Soccer, basketball and football all shrink their playing surface and ball because it’s in the KIDS best interest in learning that particular sport’s fundamental skills.

Q: Is my super star being held back to benefit the average kids?
A: The “super star” is, in fact, put in a more challenging environment due to having less time and space with the puck—an environment that will more readily put her on the path to super stardom! At cross-ice and half-ice, he is required to play around and through players, learning real puck protection skills.

For Mites, full-ice hockey is commonly called “breakaway hockey” for good reason. The better player picks up the puck in his end, makes maybe one move, and then skates three-quarters of the length of the ice on a breakaway. That is not real hockey. The number of pivots, shots on goal, saves and true hockey plays that occur increase exponentially in cross-ice and half-ice games.

Q: How will my player get fit enough to skate full ice when the time comes?
A: This is exactly why they NEED to play cross-ice/half-ice at ages 8 and under—their bodies aren’t ready muscularly, physically, etc., to skate 200 feet and then have the energy to make a play once they get there. As their bodies grow and develop, they will become more physically able to play on the same surface that 6’4” men play on.

Q: How will they learn off-sides for when they become Squirts?
A: They’ll learn off-sides at the time they need to learn off sides—when they are Squirts. And it will likely take less than one practice or game for most of them to learn, especially for the kids who watch hockey on TV or who have older siblings who play.

For more explanation of the philosophy behind and benefits of playing cross-ice/half-ice at ages 8 and under, watch this video:

Also, check out the 10 Myths About the American Development Model here.

Editor’s Note: Thank you to Kelly Kordes Anton with help from Joe Doyle for this story.

The 4 Common Slapshot Mistakes

My website, HowToHockey.com, is currently running a slapshot challenge where I encourage players of all ages to submit videos of their slapshots. After watching all the videos, I’ve identified the following four common mistakes:

1. Not holding the stick in the right spot. It is important to have the bottom hand about halfway down the shaft. This allows the hand to flex the stick, which gives more power to your shot.
2. Chipping the puck. Some players like to cheat when they take a slapshot. Instead of hitting the ice first, flexing the stick, and then connecting with the puck, they just use the blade of their stick like a golf wedge and chip the puck at the net. While this does get the puck off of the ice (sometimes), it is a bad habit to form and will never result in a powerful slapshot.
3. Hitting the puck first. I think every player who has learned the slapshot started by just whacking the puck at the net. But to take a true slapshot, you must hit the ice first. Hitting the ice first allows the shaft of the stick to bend, which loads energy into the shaft. When the blade hits the puck, the shaft then snaps back and launches the puck at the net.
4. Using the wrong type of stick. To take a proper slapshot, the player must be able to flex the stick. If a 100 pound player is using a 100 flex stick, there is no way he will get full power from his slapshot. Make sure to choose the proper stick length and flex for you or your child.

For more information about learning and improving the slapshot, see How to Take a Slapshot.

When to Learn the Slapshot: 8 or 9

Before learning how to take a slapshot, it is important to know how to take a wrist shot, and have good skating ability and balance. During the first few years of learning ice hockey, players should focus on skating, passing, puck control, position, balance and agility. Some players may be ready at ages 6 to 8, but most start to learn at about 8 or 9. If you’re one of the many players who start later in life, focus on the basics first and then move on to the slapshot.

Editor’s Note: Thank you to Jeremy Rupke of HowToHockey.com for this story. You can subscribe to his hockey tips blog, which offers tips, skills, drills, videos and more.

The slot is located directly in front of the goaltender between the two faceoff circles on each side. If you think of the definition of slot as a narrow passage, you can see why the small area between the two faceoff circles is called the slot. The deep slot refers to the area at the top of the circles—furthest from the goaltender—where players might hover waiting for the chance to move towards the net and score.

See it in action: Check out Detroit Red Wings player, Pavel Datsyuk, fake out opponents and move into the slot to make a spectacular goal.

Editor’s Note: Thank you to Kristin Carlson, member of Women’s Hockey Association of Minnesota, for this article, and to score100goals.com for the image.

Overview:

• Shoulder: Made up of lightweight armor, these shoulder pads allow the player to feel incredibly comfortable, quick and, of course, protected. The shoulder, chest and spinal-plates all feature composite protection. The shoulder and chest plates are adjustable, making it more customizable than its competitors. This is known as the Personalized Fit System (PFS) and it’s pretty cool.
• Shin: Consisting of the same materials as the shoulder and elbow pads, the Vapor X:60 shin guards do more than offer protection. They too are lightweight, breathable and very comfortable. The coolest feature of the X:60 Protective Line is the Thermo Core Liner, which you can really feel in the shin.
• Thermo Core Liner: Created by Bauer, these moisture-wicking materials act as a cooling agent while in use. Additionally, the anti-bacterial properties help to create a dry, light and mobile performance, which is always an issue in shin pads.
• Elbow: Like the shin and shoulder pads, the Vent Armor Foam helps the player feel secure in any situation. Another cool feature, also found on the shin guard, is the Anchor Strap 2.0—basically an incredibly breathable and comfortable stretchy strap.

Other Features of the Vapor Protective Line: VAPOR Free Flex System, Vent Armor Foam, Dual Density Arch Protection, Poly Reinforced Bicep Guards (elbow only), Perforated Foam Panels and Removable Core Protection.

Skill Level: The X:60 line is intended for high-level players because of the amount of performance and protection it offers.

Competition: Easton Stealth and CCM Vector protective are also built for speed, much like the Vapor line.

Conclusion: If you consider yourself a quick, mobile and light-footed hockey player, then this is the line for you.

Retailer: Total Hockey is your source for all hockey equipment, including the Vapor Protective Line from Bauer. With a huge selection of equipment from the world’s leading manufacturers, Total Hockey has it all. Visit totalhockey.net today. Total Hockey, We Don’t Do Anything Else.

Why Kids Need Special Attention

Children have an increased risk of dehydration and heat illness for several reasons:

• They generate more heat per unit of body mass then adults.
• Once dehydrated, a child’s core body temperature increases more than an adult’s would.
• Kids are more likely than adults to not drink enough fluid when exercising.
• Children have a lower sweat rate than adults and they accumulate more heat from the environment.
• Kids lose more sodium and chloride in their sweat than adults do.

How Much Kids Need

Each child varies tremendously in fluid needs based on training, equipment (hockey equipment can make a child lose more fluid through sweat) and their own individual physiology. General guidelines for keeping kids hydrated:

• Have your child drink until he or she does not feel thirsty and then consume an extra 4–8 ounces of fluid.
• Offer your child a sports drink if he or she is exercising for a long period of time or exercising with heavy equipment on. A sports drink will help replace the electrolytes lost through sweat—and taste is critical for small kids. If they like the taste, they will drink more than if they were to consume plain water.
• Drink 4–8 ounces of fluid before activity, 4 ounces (about 8 gulps of fluid for a small child) every 15 minutes and at least 16 ounces after exercise.

Watch for Warning Signs

Be aware of the signs and symptoms of heat illness and dehydration. It is imperative that you help your child immediately so he or she doesn’t reach the point of heat exhaustion. Some signs and symptoms to be aware of:

• Increased thirst
• Weakness
• Headache
• Confusion
• Flushed, hot, dry skin
• Rapid breathing and heartbeat
• Fainting
• Muscle cramps
• Nausea or vomiting
• Irritability
• Increased sweating
• Cool skin

If your child is experiencing any of these symptoms, seek emergency care right away and while waiting, bring your child indoors or under shade immediately and take extra equipment, hats and shoes and socks off (and shirts off for boys). Have the child lie down and put cool, wet towels on the forehead, under the arms and under the knees to help him or her cool off. He or she can take sips of a clear beverage if not nauseas.

Dehydration and heat illness can be prevented but, as a parent or coach, you need to be especially aware of when it’s time to take a child off the ice or field. As a coach of an outdoor sport or during dryland training for hockey, your best bet is to schedule practice at the coolest times of the day and have the kids take breaks every 15 minutes.

Editor’s Note: Marie Spano, MS, RD, CSSD, CSCS is a sports nutrition expert who works with athletes throughout the country. Her website is: www.mariespano.com.

Price: $149.95

Kit Includes:

• Agility training starters kit set
• Six 6″ Speed Hurdles
• Two 3.5″ Reaction Balls
• One 4m agility ladder
• One Saucer Cone Prepack ( 50 pieces + hanger)
• Six 9′ Speed Skipping Ropes
• One Deluxe Carry Bag
• Added Bonus! 360 DVD ROM of 360 Training and Agility Drills

Final period: The Ultimate Dryland Training Kit features everything a coach or player needs for agility and speed training off the ice.

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

We offer solutions for dressing for the temperature extremes of summer and ice rinks that will keep your enthusiasm for hockey high. A few chilly practices or games and you’ll figure out what works for you in terms of the perfect temperature for your rink and the most practical strategy for having what you need with you at all times.

Moms: Layer & Accessorize

• Loose shawl-neck cardigans fit perfectly over most outfits. If you need to add some to your wardrobe, check out items from Three Dot and Anthropologie.
• For a sportier look, carry around a fitted fleece jacket. See some figure-flattering options at Land’s End (available online and at select Sears stores).
• Wear boyfriend jeans when your day includes an outing to the rink. Roll up these loose-fitting pants when you’re out in the sun, and roll them down when you hit the rink. Check them out at Old Navy.
• If you’re wearing a skirt or sundress, keep leggings on hand, so you can slip them on if you venture to the rink. (If you already lived through this trend in the 1980s, sorry but you’re too old to rock it again. Leave this look for the younger moms.)
• If you live in flip-flops in the summer, bring a change of shoes for the rink. You can squish ballet shoes into your purse or store ballet flats in your car (there’s a great selection at Target).
• Wrap a brightly colored scarf around your neck for added warmth at the rink, then it to tie back your hair to keep cool while spending time in the sun.

Dads: Ditch the Wingtips

• For little ones, dads usually end up in the locker room, tying and untying skates. If you’re in business clothes, keep leather driving moccasins from Minnetonka in the car to protect your polish from skate blades. If you’re in casualwear, try Keen sandals with closed toes.
• For the perfect-weight pullover, try a North Face fleece.
• Go from rink to yardwork on weekends in Columbia cargo pants (for fishing and hunting) with zip-off legs.

Siblings: Shoes, Sweatshirts and Stuff to Do

Keep a backpack in the car with shoes such as Crocs, socks, sweatshirts, sweats or leggings, and plenty of stuff to do—little cars, dolls, art supplies, etc. Just make sure it gets back in the backpack—and the backpack gets back in the car.

Rink Accessories

• At the rink, sometime the freezing metal bleachers cause the most shivering among spectators. Order a fleece blanket from L.L. Bean or a portable lightweight chair from Crazy Creek. In addition to providing extra insulation between your bottom and the cold metal, these chairs come in handy at summer picnics or afternoons at the beach.
• With all these extra layers and spare shoes needed to keep you comfortable at the rink, invest in a durable, lightweight tote bag or backpack from Land’s End.

Just like hockey stuff goes back in the bag—or is sure to be misplaced—your rink supplies need to go back in the car or bag you brought them in. Next time you arrive at the rink in flip-flops, your alternate shoes need to be with you, not back in your closet. Stay warm and keep those toes covered!

Editor’s Note: Thank you to Rose Conry, an intern with the Grow the Game Initiative, for this story. Rose studies journalism at Northwestern University, loves all sports and sails competitively with the university’s club team.