Table of Contents

 

Introduction

 

Chapter 1          Minor hockeyHockey

Chapter 2          Equipment

Chapter 3          Physical Conditioning

Chapter 4          Nutrition

Chapter 5          Mental preparationPreparation

Chapter 6          Medical treatmentTreatment

Chapter 7          Management

Chapter 8          Coaching

Chapter 9          Scouts

Chapter 10        Agents

Chapter 11        Referees

Chapter 12        Rules

Chapter 13        Statistics

Chapter 14        Individual skillSkill

Chapter 15        Individual tacticsTactics

Chapter 16        Team tacticsTactics

Chapter 17        Drills

 

 

 


Introduction

 

Hockey-ology [D1] is about the game of hockey for all those people who love the sport regardless of their level of involvement.  The information in this book relates more to minor hockey than to the professional level, simply becauseas there is more information available for professionals than there is for amateurs.  But all of the ideas and concepts presented here can be applied for to any level, including professional, university or and high school hockey.  There are 4.5 million people involved in minor hockey in across Canada and just underfewer than twenty thousand20,000 people involved in professional hockey in across North America.  Since very little information availableThis book addresses the various concerns of all those people involved in minor hockey people, this book will serve that purpose.

 

This book is intended for those people who are already involved in the game and wish want to gain acquire more knowledge or information.  It evolved not only from my experience and formal training but mostly as a result ofas well as all the years of talking to people about all kinds types of hockey issues.  I have received many late-night calls late at night many times from players who were worried about the next day’s game or upset about a play they made in a game or curious about the next step for in their hockey career.  I have also had numerous conversations with parents who were looking for advice regarding their sons and they were not even on my team!  Even coaches and scouts would call me to seek outfor information or opinions of on situations and players.  All thisThis has led me to believe that there is a thirst for information and advice in on minor hockey and more specifically in minor hockey.  That is why I wrote this book – in order to better the game by bettering the people.


Chapter 1 - Minor Hhockey

Who’s who in the game.

 

Fast feet.  Sticks swinging.  Pucks flying.  All this these elements areis part of the action that makes upmake up the exciting game of hockey.  This game is involves roughness and finesse all at the same time.  It displays a collage of emotions, power and strategies.  Players are become involved in the game of hockey for a variety of reasons, but the number one reason is still plain old fun.  Without fun, it would be work.  And when is work fun[D2] ?  Whether you are on or off the ice when the puck drops, you better have fun or you won’t be around the game for long.

 

Players skate, shoot, pass and stickhandle the puck through a maze of other players to get an opportunity at glory – scoring that winning goal.  From a young age, these players dream of being a stars in the elite levels of hockey, such as the National Hockey League (NHL) and the Olympics.  Coaches teach and set tactics that help those players to achieve their dreams.  Parents watch in anticipation of their son or daughterchildren scoring the winning goal or making the save of the game.  Fans look for their heroes to do weave their magic so that they can feel the exhilaration of the game.  All of this happens in a matter of seconds.

 

But there is more.  More?  Yes, much more.

 

What about the safety?  What about the rules?  What about being recruited from minor hockey to junior and college or university?  How do all of these aspects contribute to making the game fun for players?  As a player, these questions need to be answered by youyou have to answer these questions.  After years of playing, you will find that hockey has its ups and downs.  You will see that there are situations in the game you have mastered and that there are onesareas in which you are unsure about and need guidance[D3] .  How you define fun will be up to you.  For most of you, the fun started starts with lacing up your skates in minor hockey.  Although your experience in this game is your own, there are influencers that can impact your level of experience.  One of these influencers is called a coach.

* * * *

Teachers share their knowledge and make us think.  Leaders give sound advice and make us feel important.  Motivators inspire us to take action on what we deem important.  Add up all these roles together and you have a coach.  A quality coach can teach, lead and motivate a group of individuals on a team to be the best that they can be.

 

Minor hockey is where it starts for most youngsters.  From the ages of five to seventeen, boys and girls rely on a lead figure to guide them and teach them skills that will make them a better players.  These are the expectations that you take on as a coach whether you consider coaching a past-timepastime or a job.  You will also bring along your own reasons for coaching, whether it is to helpsuch as helping others or because you like to teach and interactthe enjoyment of teaching and interacting with people.  Remember that Wwhatever your reason, coaching is an art that requires skill.  Do it because you enjoy it.  Your enthusiasm will transpire [D4] to your team.

 

Later in this book I will go into detail about the aspects that surround coaching.  For now, let me point out that you have one of the greatest jobs in the world.  Whether you’ve been asked to be the head coach of a team or you have decided to be an assistant coach, your job is to guide and teach a group of players about hockey.

 

You will be asked to teach specific skills, expand their understanding of a situations and demonstrate how respect for each other will impact their lives in a positive way.  It is a big task and one that only a few people dare to attempt.  On behalf of all coaches, “Thank you!”  May your whistle always blow loudly.

* * * *

As a coach, I am sure that some of your most challenging times have not been teaching skills or developing tactics but rather dealing with some of the players’ parents of your players.

 

For you parents out thereAs parents, your role is to observe a game or a practice, support your son or daughter and care for their well beingwell-being and mental health.  Your role is not toYou should not tell your children where to be and when to make the perfect play.  I can’t tell you how many times I have seen parents coach their kids over game situations or lecture them on how their level of play is unacceptable.  This could hurt harm your child.

 

Part of the training process in becoming a hockey coach is involves designing a yearly plan.  The purpose of a plan is to lay outA plan allows you to set timelines, introduce and maintain tactics or skills and set targets.  As parents, you can have a tremendous impact on your young player when you try to share your wisdom and insight.  Your child may want to listen to the coach but may also not want to go against you and your beliefs.  This will can cause confusion in their minds, be counter counter-productive in their progress and affect their play.

 

In the winter of 2002, Hockey Canada came out with a series of advertisements related to parenting.  One of the mads showed a father playing golf.  The scene is was set on a golf course green just before the father attempts attempted to make his putt.  The son was Wwatching from the fringe of the green of the hole is his sonputting green.  The father is was in his stance ready to putt and hears heard his son say things like, “C’mon dad, now don’t screw this up, this is for all the marbles.”  The purpose of theThe advertisement was was intended to show you how your actionsyou with could be negatively pressuring your son or daughter can be equally pressuring to them in the game ofwhen they played hockey[D5] .

 

Whether you yell from the stands or berate your child along the boards, there is nothing gained other than added stress or embarrassment to your player.  Regardless of the your child’s age of your son or daughter, all they want to do is to impress you.  So let them show you in their own way.  After all, you go to watch them play.

 

Growing the game starts with growing the people

The NHL and Hockey Canada talk about going back to grass roots.  Their reason isThey want to change the game and make it better.  In some European countries, organizations have positioned their best coaches at the younger levels.  The result – if you want to change the game, get to the young ones.

 

Ask yourself this, : “How can I make the game better?”

 

That is exactly what I did.  It came about because I knew that I needed greater fulfillment out offrom the game.  I have been coaching and scouting for the past twenty seasons and I felt that I was missing something.  I heard about a mentorship program for coaches offered by Hockey Canada and decided to take the training.  The course was designed with the concept of train the trainer.  It allowed coaches to become the coach’s coach.

 

It was in this course that I founded the basis for the series of books called Hockey-ology – The Study Of Having Fun With Hockey.  I recall during a particular module, where the instructor was explaining that teaching players was more about the people than about the skills.  He said, “I don’t give a crap about the X’s and O’s.  You can teach a monkey to do the X’s and O’s.”  His point was that coaches need to get a message across to their team clearly and with impact.  I heard that and WHAM!  It hit me.  The picture became so clear in my head.  Making the game better was not about showing people how to be a great technical instructor or tactics trainer, it was about making them become better people.  By growing the people, the game would get better.

 

Imagine being able to teach those involved with hockey to become more of an impact to the game.  Whether it is a player, a coach, a referee or an administrator, development properly structured to bettering the people would have a positive outcome for the game.

 

Here is an example.  A team is in search of a coach and someone in the organization hears that there is a parent who wants to do the job.  So the members of the organization agree and hire the parent to coach the sixteen players.  Problem solved, right?  Or is it?  Maybe what seems to be a solution is actually creating a worse problem.  What kind of damage can happen if this person is not a qualified coach?  Maybe the kids will be misguided or mistreated.  They may experience unfair treatment with ice time or skill enhancement.  Parents may also be affected and have false impressions of the value of coaches in the future.  All of this because we want to keep a team going rather than doing what is right for all those involved.

 

Growing the game starts with growing the people.  If an organization decides not to put a team on the ice because they cannot find a qualified coach, the message would be loud and clear: it is quality or nothing.  The end result is that players would grow up with the confidence that it takes the right kind of people to do the right kind of job.

 

Protecting them

Appropriate equipment in hockey is essential to play the game but protection is the most important reason you wear it.  The human body is very precious and we need to protect its parts.

 

In Karate, if you are a black belt you have learned an art that can kill another person.  However, the art of Karate is taught for self-defense.  You could hurt someone with this skill but that is not the purpose.  Similarly in hockey, you wear equipment to protect yourself from injury.  The equipment is meant to be used as a defensive means and not as an offensive one where a player might hit another with his elbow pad or glove.  You could hurt someone with your equipment but that is not the purpose.  Protecting your body will allow you to play with confidence and relaxation rather than with tension or nervousness or fear that you might get hurt.  Make sure you protect yourself well.  There is no second chance at being safe.

 

Once you have equipment that protects, it must now fit properly.  I can’t tell you how many times I have heard parents say, “Well this will fit for a few years,” and the piece of equipment they are referring to is two to three sizes too big.  By having this size difference, the result will be counter productive as it will not protect you and it will actually hinder body movement.  It could cause poor motion and then lead to an injury.  When you’re comfortable, you feel good.  When you feel good, you play well.  When you play well, you feel good.  When you feel good, you…  get the picture?  All of this leads to building confidence, trying new things to get better and having more fun.  The momentum keeps going.

 

For you parents reading, if the equipment does not fit well, it could be detrimental to your son or daughter’s health either by physical or mental injury.  If a player’s skates are too big, he will try to make a move, get his foot caught or lose his balance and fall.  He will feel bad, start to lose confidence and eventually not want to try anymore.  He may even quit the game.  You need to listen to your child.

 

If you are a player reading, you need to speak up and tell your parents if your equipment is too big or too small.  Make sure you get equipment that feels good when it is on, not necessarily equipment that looks good when it is on.  When you get new equipment, try it out in a practice.  This is where you can simulate game situations without the stress of the game.  Remember, you only have one body.  Protect it properly.

 

Preparing for hockey

Goals are more than shooting a puck into the net and scoring.  They assist you in the preparation of an event by planning steps to take.  They give you a clear picture of what you want to experience and they uncover your purpose in wanting that experience.  If you want to be fulfilled in your hockey role you must prepare.

 

Preparation is nothing more than applying a simple process known as KUS (you pronounce it CUZ or ‘cause - which is slang for because).  Knowing what you want, Understanding why you want it and laying out the Steps of how you are going to get it.

 

First, regardless of your role in hockey, take a minute now and see yourself at a game.  You will probably have a goal or an objective you want to achieve in mind.  You will have a purpose for wanting to do it, and a few steps in some sort of plan on how you are going to get it.  Let’s look at a specific instance: The start of a hockey game.  What is your objective for the start of a game?  If you are a player, your goal is to be dressed and focused.  If you are a coach, your goal is to have the team focused on the game strategy and have them energized.  If you are parent, your goal is to have your son or daughter at the rink on time.  If you are an administrator, your goal is to have referees in place and to have the ice time set for the game.  If you are a fan, your goal is to watch a game.  Everyone will have some kind of desired outcome.  What will be different for everyone is the reason or the purpose of wanting it.

 

The next step in preparation is to understand why you want a specific outcome.  It is imperative you understand why you want something.  It is what will keep you hungry for it.  Using our first example, imagine you are the player that wants to be dressed and focused.  Ask yourself, “Why do I want this?”  You will find that your answer will determine if you have the drive to achieve your goal.  Let me expand on that for a moment.  If your reason for wanting to be dressed is because you love the game and you know are going to make a difference for your team, then you will feel a sense of importance to making that goal a reality.  The same concept applies no matter what role you have.  Find out why you want that goal.  This is what will drive you.  If you can identify all the reasons why you must have that goal, then you will be driven to find ways to make it happen.

 

And lastly, are the steps to making the want become a reality.  This is the easiest part.  You know what you want, you know why you want it and now you are going to list out all the steps you need to do to get it.  This step is most effective if you write all of the tasks or actions down.  If we look at our example again, the players know why they want to be dressed and focused for game time.  The question now is, “How are you going to do it?”  Some of the steps can be: pack your bag at home; eat properly well enough in advance; arrive at the rink on time; ask how long you have to get ready; stretch; get dressed.  With all of this you have a plan that will make you feel prepared.  And most important, you can identify things before they happen.

 

This preparation process can be used for any aspect in hockey and by anyone involved in the game.  Know what you want.  Understand why you want it.  And lastly, write down the Steps that will get you feeling a sense of accomplishment.  Wants such as teaching more effectively, playing with greater impact, watching more intently or planning in more detail will leave you feeling more fulfilled and prepared during a hockey season.

 

A hockey year

Hockey is like a business.  Although it is ongoing from year to year, it has a beginning and an end in the short term.  In business it is called a fiscal year.  In hockey it is called a season.  For most minor hockey teams the season starts at the end of August and ends around April.

 

Within this timeline the season is divided into segments.  These segments are called preparatory, competitive and transition segments.  As a coach, you should know about the breakdown of each segment to be able to plan accordingly.  As a parent, each segment will require your attention and support in a different manner.  As a player, these segments will demand a various level of intensity for a quality output.

 

The competitive segment is made up of a series of competitions called games.  From a fan’s point of view this is the highlight of a hockey season.  The reality is, the season has two other pieces that are equally as important to a season.  They are preparatory and transition.

 

Preparatory is the portion that occurs before the start of the season.  On and off ice training as well as exhibition games are held during this time.  The length of this segment can vary from team to team.

 

Transition is post season.  This is the downtime that everyone goes into after the last game is played.  The major point I want to stress here is to take a break.  Everyone needs a little time off for rest and relaxation.  How long each segment lasts is dependent on how teams do in their season.  The most important thing to know is that in every season, there is a cycle and it requires you to participate in different ways.

 

“Coaching” a book written by Dave Chambers, explains in great detail how a season is broken down.  It highlights the overall layout of a season as it relates to players, parents, coaches and administration.  He talks about the timing and duration of items as well.

 

This season design is the premise to proper planning, establishing the duration of involvement and varying the intensity to achieve peak performance in games for players, coaches, referees, agents, managers, league administrators and referees.

* * * *

 

Games in hockey have a variety of importance.  It depends on where you are in the competitive segment of a season and your role.  The types of games played are exhibition, league and playoff.

 

Exhibition games are set up at the beginning of a season to be played with the purpose of preparation and evaluation for everyone involved.  These games are set up as one off games and in tournament style.  Tournaments are a series of three or four games which are followed by a playoff to determine the tournament champion.  For coaches and players, these may be used as team building events or as a trip away.  Tournaments are not limited to the beginning of a season.  They can also be held during the middle or at the end of a season.

 

The series of games played once the season is underway is called league games.  They are played to help progress the development of players, coaches and referees.  Teams play these games to determine the best team by a win-loss record and earn points accordingly.  A point system prioritizes the teams by most points earned and then posts the results in standings.  Whether or not you advance to the playoffs depends on the league rule of how many teams are accepted to advance.

 

The last sets of games are the most exciting games.  They are called the playoffs.  These games usually cause the highest emotions and require the best play because teams are vying to capture the title of champions by beating their opponents in the elimination rounds.  Coaches and referees are tested here because the teams are wound up, the fans are wound up and the natural reaction is to get wrapped up in this excitement and manage by fire.  In other words, the tendency is to react to the situation instead of remaining calm.  By thinking in a clear manner, players can be more effective.  They need to focus on what they can influence, not on what they can’t.  If you’re a fan, an administrator or a parent, enjoy.  This is where the energy intensifies and the level of play peaks.

 

I will look at the game strategies later in the book.  For now, understand that the game is meant to be fun.

* * * *

Fun is also a must in practices.  Player participation increases and they feel engaged and want to make it real.  They want to rehearse like it was a game.  I have run many practices and from time to time I find myself trying to get a point across and the players are not responding.  They look at me and make comments like “can we just scrimmage.”  This will usually add to my frustration and I will respond with a comment like “you just don’t get it”.  The reality was I didn’t get it.

 

Regardless of the age group, players want practice to be fun.  That is not to say that you cannot make players work hard.  Anytime there is a game or challenge of some kind added in a practice, the level of intensity picks up and the level of interest heightens.  You will see the practice come to life.

 

Player improvement depends on practice.  I heard that Tiger Woods practices 1000 shots before one shot is taken in a tournament.  As a coach in minor hockey you must consider the benefit of repetition for young players.  That does not mean that you must do the same drill for two hours but instead incorporate fun and variety for that same skill.  For example, you could do a series of five exercises which teach the same skill and keep the players’ interest level high.  Remember, “Repetition is the mother of skill.”

 

If you’re a parent, make sure you encourage the value of practicing.  Help your son or daughter see their improvement every time they practice.  One way you can do that is by bringing a video camera and taping them so that they can see themselves.  They will learn a lot just by observing their own moves and can see on their own the mistakes they make.  By the way coaches, this is ideal to use for your own improvement and to see how you are making the practice fun for everyone.

 

A practice is the best place to try new ideas and have fun doing it.  Who knows, you just may impress someone along the way.

* * * *

Recruiting can happen at the craziest time.  Players may attend a team’s spring or fall try-out and show how they can play and get selected.  Players may also have been seen during the prior season’s games, playoff games or at a tournament.  Regardless of how (and there are other ways I will mention further on) most teams will be looking to improve their team the following season and you could be the one they select to make them better.

 

Advancement in hockey is not only for players.  Coaches, referees, managers and trainers will also be looked at for possible advancement to the next level or higher.  Team owners, management, coaches and league supervisors are constantly watching for new talent.  Although the process is less refined, the same holds true for these positions.  Recruiters want to see how you respond in many situations, such as people interactions and game instances.

 

My wife has taught me that when you do a job, no matter how big or small, always do your best.  In hockey as in life, you get out of it what you put into it.  I always tell my players that they never know who is watching.  Make sure that you play your heart out.

 

Remember, you will never get a second chance to make a first impression.  So, let your passion show when you play and your preparation will move you from where you are to where you want go.

 

Inside the structure of hockey

Canada and the United States are divided into regions for minor hockey.  These regions are governed by branches or associations.  These appointed associations assign territories for leagues to govern where players can play.  In general, where you live will be indicative of where you play.

 

The governing bodies in Canada and the U.S. set rules and responsibilities for the leagues.  These leagues will take the rules of their branch and modify them to meet the specific needs in their area.  Specific rules and their application will be discussed in detail in a later chapter.  Leagues are in charge of referees’ schedules for games, training and updates.  The leagues are responsible for teams’ administration such as getting appropriate documents processed, membership guidelines and the maintenance of statistics for their team members in all age groups.  Leagues provide training in association with Hockey Canada for the betterment of the coaching and training roles in the game.  Financially, leagues survive with dues paid by teams and with sponsorship support in order to maintain an office, staff and resources.

 

In the 2002-03 season, there were thirteen branches across Canada that had 489,036 players from the ages of five to seventeen registered in minor hockey.  This did not include coaches and volunteers.  A total of 4.5 million Canadians are involved in hockey as coaches, players, officials, administrators or direct volunteers (this does not include spectators, parents and occasional volunteers).[1]  In the United States, there were 600,000 players, coaches, officials and volunteers registered in minor hockey.  Leagues for minor hockey serve a great amount of people in North America.

 

Every year the people involved in the game move and advance into new positions with teams.  The majority of this movement is by players and coaches because they usually develop and move up into higher calibers (changing from one team to another).

 

These teams are members of leagues and are based in the heart of your regional community.  The structure of these teams will vary in how they are managed.  Some are owned by the community, some have private ownerships and some belong to the high schools.  Regardless of the set up, youngsters will play hockey for one of these types of organizations.

First, let’s look at community based minor hockey.  Here you will find that there are teams for each age group from five to seventeen year olds.  Each age group has a name as shown in the table below.

Name of Group

Ages

Tyke/Mite

5 to 6

Novice/Mite

7 to 8

Atom/Squirt

9 to 10

Pee Wee

11 to 12

Bantam

13 to 14

Midget

15 to 17

 

At each age group, there are also a variety of skill levels called calibers.  These calibers are categorized as follows:  AAA, AA, BB, CC, A, B, C, Select, Rep, House league.  The general rule of thumb is that these calibers are based on ability.  For example, Pee Wee players who are the top skilled players would play for a Pee Wee AAA team and the lower skilled players would play Rep or house league hockey.  In Canada, no player is forced to play at the most elite levels.  It is your choice to try out for a AAA team, provided you are invited.  Not all towns or cities have been awarded all calibers.  You will have to contact your association or branch office for specific details.

 

Next are privately owned organizations.  They use the same principles as community hockey however their focus is usually on the elite levels such as AAA and AA.

 

The last type of hockey team is somewhat different and does not have any ownership or community involvement.  It does not work with the community hockey rules but rather with the board of education.  This type is called high school hockey.  Most high schools will have two teams for the students to play on.  One team will have students from grade seven and eight and the second team will have students from grades nine and up.  The grade nine plus team is usually called the varsity team.  Obviously, only those students attending a particular high school can play on either of the teams

 

All three types of organizations are run quite differently and have a different message in their mission statements.  For example, a community based organization has its focus on making sure the players have fun while developing.  A private ownership organization has its focus on wanting the players to have fun but also want to have a quality product on the ice to be somewhat profitable or financially stable.  Most high schools on the other hand, run a hockey team as an extra curricular activity and know that it offers a great medium for students to want to stay in school and work hard.

 

Regardless of the team your son or daughter wants to play for, the game is played on the ice and requires their skill and effort.  The cost to funding a team varies from team to team and from league to league.

 

Paying for minor hockey

Financial budgets are set on every team every season.  The costs are broken down, and fees are allocated to each player.  In this section, I have included a sample budget listing the expenditures for a team in a typical season.

 

As time has gone by since I first played minor hockey, the costs to play have increased at an enormous rate.  As a parent, when your son or daughter decides to play on a team, I recommend you ask to see the team’s budget.  Hopefully it is not a closed book affair, since you will be the one paying for it.  As hockey is becoming more specialized and the demand for sport specific training for individuals is increasing, organizations are finding out that volunteer coaches are becoming a thing of the past.  My suggestion to you if you are parent, is to understand what it is you are paying for.

 

To play on a team in minor hockey is becoming a greater challenge not only on the ice, but off the ice due to financial constraints.  The biggest way to lower costs of a team is by fund raising.  During a few of my seasons as a coach, I was part of teams that raised one hundred percent of what was forecasted and returned close to half of the registration fee back to parents at the end of the season.  If you are a parent, I can’t stress enough about the teamwork required to fund raise effectively.  Below is a sample budget of items that a team can occur in a season.  Use it as a guideline for your own hockey situation.

ITEM

Budget

(pre-season estimation)

Date amount is due

Actual

(post season amounts)

Player registration with team (includes 2 sets of jerseys & socks, pants, ice time for home games and one hour a week practices, league fees and a team winter jacket)

 $   17,000.00

 

 

Individual player equipment bags

 $        570.00

 

 

Player sweater bags

 $       658.47

 

 

Jackets for coaches

 $       400.00

 

 

Goalie sticks

 $       144.78

 

 

Player hockey gloves

 $    1,684.50

 

 

Player track suits

 $    1,760.00

 

 

Sponsor names on sweaters

 $       352.50

 

 

Player water bottles

 $        92.00

 

 

Equipment repairs

 $        35.00

 

 

Extra game socks

 $       240.00

 

 

Player names sewn on sweaters

 $       285.00

 

 

Player practice sweaters

 $       345.00

 

 

Practice socks for players

 $       253.00

 

 

Additional training camp ice

 $       963.00

 

 

Additional weekly practice ice time

 $    5,382.10

 

 

Pucks & Tools

 $       173.00

 

 

First aid kit

 $       200.00

 

 

Printing of team annual program

 $    1,475.89

 

 

Photographer for team photos

 $       154.00

 

 

Off-ice conditioning with trainer

 $    4,012.50

 

 

Team building dinner

 $       700.00

 

 

Local tournament fees no. 1

 $       750.00

 

 

Local tournament fees no. 2

 $       750.00

 

 

Travel tournament fees no. 3

 $       350.00

 

 

Meals at tournament  no. 3

 $    1,964.06

 

 

Bus for tournament no. 3

 $    3,285.00

 

 

Hotel for tournament no. 3

 $    4,837.35

 

 

TOTAL

   $48,817.15

 

 

Budgeted cost per player (19)

 $   2,569.32

 

 

REVENUES (Fund raising)

 

 

$         24, 500.00

ACTUAL COST per player

 

 

$            1,275.89

 

Any way you look at minor hockey, there is a cost to play.  Whether they come out of your pocket or through your efforts of raising money, it is not something that should be taken lightly.  Make sure your son or daughter is getting your money’s worth with quality coaching and good equipment.  This will be a foundation to their development and increase their value as a player for teams as they get older.

 

Recruiting

Prospecting is happening at an age younger than ever.  I have read articles where in certain parts of Canada and the United States, players are being sought after when they become a Pee Wee player (by the age of twelve).

 

If you are a parent, you and your son or daughter could be introduced to a new environment of the game.  Through the teenage years, your budding young star, could be interviewed by a player representative.  This person’s role is to identify potential players with talent so that they can make the money through player marketing.  This process enables agents, sometimes known as advisors, to get an understanding of your family situation and provide a possible route for your child’s career in hockey.  If they become successful hockey players in the NHL, then the agent makes a percentage of the value of the contract.

 

Agents are in business to provide you with direction in order to enhance the chances for your child to play with higher level teams.  Their objective is to have your son or daughter develop from minor hockey to become a commodity for an NHL or professional hockey franchise.

 

An agent will look at talent and character. He or she will listen for feedback from key contacts they have established around the game of hockey.  They will approach you to ask if your child has a representative and if not, they will offer their services for his or her growth potential.

 

One thing to be aware of is that the majority of quality NHL recognized agents refrain from acquiring a player before he is sixteen or seventeen.  They establish a relationship with an associate, or distant partner that grooms the player from minor hockey to junior hockey.

 

Agents have been around for years.  Their intention is to assist your child, the budding star, with dealing with the business side of hockey.  You can think of them as a buffer.  For example, they will listen to the feedback of a team manager or coach and filter the information before presenting it to you.  Their sole reason for existence is to help get your son or daughter to where they want to go by marketing and promoting their skill sets and attributes to teams.

 

Players, whether you want to be represented by someone or you want to stay on your own, know your reason for playing this great game.  Hockey is a game first and must be played with a lot of fun!  Enjoy.

 

 

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[1]Source: Hockey Canada & USA Hockey Inc. 2003


 [D1]Hockey-ology or Hockeyology? Keep it consistent throughout. The title of the book should be highlighted – italic and/or bold.

 [D2]This is not an accurate statement – work can be fun. I would rewrite this section.

 [D3]Rewrite this sentence – too wordy.

 [D4]Is this what you mean to say? Transpire = become obvious to. Do you mean “inspire”?

 [D5]This sentence is a bit awkward – rewrite. I will attempt to find another way of saying it.