I have to say something embarrassing here, in that the fodder for this post was sent me a very long time ago. How it got buried among other Ask The Coach submissions, I don't know. However, I'm glad I did just recently run across it.
Then, just so members know, that fodder came by way of a Russian hockey coach and friend who has been working in Sweden over recent years.
-- Dennis Chighisola
Top Areas of Focus in Hockey Development
Below I'll show my friend's offerings in blue, and my own comments in normal print. Before I get going, however, I have to say that my friend is a pretty bright guy, while also possessing a good sense of humor. So, with that, let's get going on what he and I believe are the top areas of focus in hockey development...
"In the younger years I believe skating would be the top focus of development. The kids who skate really well seem to develop more confidence and that confidence will help them develop in other areas as they mature as a player."
To be honest, I can kinda go along with that thing about skating -- but, and it's a big but...
While skating is important to solid hockey play, one wouldn't be very productive if that's all he or she can do. As I've joked other times in these pages, there aren't any judges watching hockey games, and holding up large cards that rate the skaters as "9.8", "9.7" or "9.9". No, success in our game is based on how many pucks we put in your net, and how few of yours get into ours.
Over all my years of observation, what I think I've seen is that kids who work plenty on their skating also fiddle a lot with a puck and ball, and they often spend lots of time shooting in their driveway or basement. In other words, I haven't seen that many players who only worked on their skating and became great hockey players.
So, putting those things together, I honestly feel that skating and puckhandling are the two top skills, and a young player can't be all that productive without both.
I can appreciate part of this one, though...
"I would like to see a poll asking what Canada does different than the USA to produce hockey players. Only 20.5% of NHL players were born in the USA. Only three of the last ten number one draft picks were from the US. Why such a gap?"
I'd welcome such a poll, as well. However, I was deeply involved in churning out future draft choices back in the late-80's and early-90's, when a lot of kids from my home area of New England were making names for themselves.
What I recall from those times was that the best players from the US Northeast were coming from a non-USA Hockey/renegade league that did a whole bunch of extras for their players. The league allowed slapshops and body-checking from the beginner ages on up, their style of play was conducive to really developing players, and most kids had access to the right kind of individual skills programs -- many of them outside coaches like an Ed Taylor, a Paul Vincent and yours truly.
As for Canada, I'd say that throughout their history they've mostly had similar leagues to what I just described. Even more in their favor, though, is the fact that they have always had far more kids playing the game than any other hockey playing nation. So, they can actually fail a lot at what they're doing, and still have a large number of strong players rise to the top each year.
Then, as I said in a recent post, real players nowadays tend to get real help outside their organizations.
"Skills, skills, skills. The problem is that parents and kids want games, games, games. We need to re-teach kids and parents the importance of both, but one needs to be mastered before the other while incorporating a fun learning environment."
Hmmmmm... For sure, I'm all about skill development. However, there's nothing wrong with having a decent balance between skills work and games. As a matter of fact, I've always been in favor of the recommended ratio of 3-practices for every game. And, I might also add that, kids (and even parents) mainly join our sport for the fun of playing.
Maybe at the root of this area of discussion, though, is the fact that there's a huge difference in the kind of skills program that will develop real hockey players, and the kind that just sends kids through the motions. And I say that to suggest that there is a huge difference between the kinds of programs I was talking about in my previous paragraph versus the cliche laden USA Hockey program of today.
"I know this may come across as stating the obvious, but I think a great deal of emphasis, up to ten years of age and beyond, should be placed on skating. After all, skating is what separates hockey from the other three major sports (USA). You are born, you learn to crawl, walk and then what??? Skating? Sorry, that would be running LOL. Anyway, running close second would be skating with the puck (puck control) and most importantly, learning how to skate the puck using peripheral vision. I happen to think, personally, this was the hardest skill to master while growing up. Some of the greatest players to ever play this game had amazing vision. My favorite, Sergei Zubov (defenseman). Look him up on Youtube and watch the way he skated with the puck."
Now our guest writer is talking -- at the end of that paragraph, and he's a whole lot closer to what I'd said earlier than when he began. Yes, puckhandling is a biggie, and it shouldn't be buried far behind skating. Oh, if I had to correct my friend on one thing up there, though: The difference between hockey and the other two skating sports -- figure skating and speed skating -- is a dawgone puck!
"I suppose that following closely behind skating with the puck would be passing the puck. Timing, leading the player you're passing to and equally as important, being able to properly receive a pass.
Obviously, none of this stuff is what the kids want to hear, but if I know Coach Chic, and I think I do, he would probably put off game play as long as possible. (Just my 2 cents)
Proper skating techniques and a puck on the stick ALL THE TIME.
I think it should be fun! It provides motivation and makes it easier to get kids to the rink."
LOL... As it turns out, my friend knows me quite well, doesn't he? I just don't know why it took him so long to get around to my way of thinking. Ya, just as my Building Blocks Approach to Offensive Skills suggests, individual skills have to be built in pyramid fashion, moving from skating to puckhandling to passing and receiving to shooting and deking. So, in the end, I guess, this old US coach and the Russian guy pretty much agree on the top areas of focus in hockey development.
