Ice Hockey – PARADIGM Sports

Kudos to Great Sports Parents

Posted March 13, 2021January 27, 2022 Glen MulcahyPosted in Coach, Early Sport Specialization, Parents, Uncategorized

Having lost my father at a very young age, and being fortunate to have such an amazing mother who raised me and my brother as a single parent, as well as all the amazing coaches and teachers who took me under their wing who were parents themselves, is one of the driving reasons why I have worked tirelessly in recent years to support all those parents in the youth sports space.

As I have traveled across Canada doing workshops, talks over the years, and over the last 12 month virtually, by far the #1 question I get asked is “how do I deal with parents” and the first thing that I have shared is they need to revisit “dealing with” and in lieu engage parents as integral part of your team. Regardless of what level you are coaching, whether it be recreational sports for kids U13 or competitive levels U18 and everything in between, if coaching youth sports the athletes you coach will parents or guardians.

The sooner that you recognize that they can help you taking on volunteer roles like manager, treasurer, fundraising coordinators, assistant coaches and so on vs. alienating them, the sooner that you will be able to lead your teams to have amazing seasons in lieu of ones that are cluttered with issues that coaches come to me over and over again.

Due to the evolution of the internet and social media over the last couple of decades literally daily there are posts highlighting parents who are screaming at kids during various sports events, criticizing officials, players and even coaches but they represent only a small % of youth sports parents, the majority that I have hand the privilege to interact with in my 20+ years of coaching have been amazingly supportive who truly love their kids and LOVE to watch them play.

My mother was one of those parents, she was at the majority of the games that I am my brother played in the various sports the played and then did the same for our kids as the proud grandmother (Nanny) and after each time she came to see them in sports, drama, band or any other activities they pursued would come to them as she did for me an my brother and say just how much she loved to watch us play.

With the recent passing of the greatest Hockey Dad of all time, Walter Gretzky, my thoughts and prayers for the family in this difficult time, as it brought back a flood of memories for me, both of my mother who I sadly lost in 2013 to he long fight with cancer, but the passing of my father tragically when I was 8 Years old 1/2 way through the baseball season that he had committed to coach me for the first time.

Although I shared with my mother and Nanny during the days that followed that I was going to quit baseball as a result, they said I had to finish the season as that is what my father would have wanted. Fortunately I did and learned one of the many life lessons I did from sport about the importance of commitment.

I share this with you because I also made a commitment before I had kids to ensure that I supported them to the best of my ability, which included thousands of hours coaching them and their team mates (my extended adopted family) on various teams and sports over the years.

One of the hardest conversations that I ever had was when my son shared with me that he was going to quit hockey when he was 15, 2 years beyond the global trend where kids are quitting by the age of 13, but for all of the reasons that I have shared in talks where I learned that I neglected to ask him at the beginning of every season if he wanted to keep playing hockey, in lieu assumed much like had since he was 5 years old and started playing organized hockey.

The reasons that he shared he was quitting had to do a lot with the winning at all costs coach that he had the prior season who thought nothing of running short benches including the game that was the straw that broke the camel’s back for me when he sat my son and two team mates for better part of last game in a tournament but he had dedicated to his Nanny (my mother) prior to the game who he lost just a month prior and was there for her last breath by her bedside.

He also shared that he was not having fun anymore, that he wanted to explore other sports and activities like band, drama, robotics and list goes on.

It was an eye opener for me which is why I encourage every youth sports parent to ensure that you support them try as many sports as possible as you never know what they will fall in love with.

Like me, he tried volleyball and Rugby that school year (Grade 10) and fell in love with Rugby and played until he graduated high school and aspired to play club rugby after he graduated from college but then COVID hit so will have to wait until next year to do so.

Although he took the season off as a first year U18, he did ask if could play again the following year and he tried out and made the AAA team even though he missed a full year of “development” (in the minor hockey system as people have been sharing with me over the years too many kids are playing too many games and not practicing enough)

In essence, he got his love for the game back as he had a break, a break that I should have clued into he needed as his parent, but like many parents, I “assumed” that he wanted to keep playing year after year, so from that point going forward I asked both him and my daughter if they wanted to keep playing or try other sports.

I can’t emphasize enough for you to do so with your kids, and also the importance of recognizing that their journey will be over before you know it.

Now that both my kids have aged out of youth sports, although the craziness of driving the to all their practices, games, and other activities were insane at times (especially when they overlapped and had to decide how to juggle), the one thing that my son and I did after he took that season off was read “Bobby’s Orr’s – My Story”

One of the biggest takeaways in thet book he and my son had was the fact that Bobby’s Dad, Doug, unlike Wayne’s Dad Walter, never coached Bobby. What he did do, however, like all the other amazing youth sports parents that rarely get acknowledge for being so supportive like all those we call the silent majority (over 90% of sports parents are supportive, positive) vs. the vocal minority (the 5-10% of parents who are the ones screaming at kids, officials, coaches) in the stands.

Doug would be that parent like many that drove Bobby to all of his practices, games and share with him the following quote below;

When my son did return back to junior camps, his junior spring hockey team, and other teams when I was dropping him off for practices, games or other activities I would ask him … Hey Bud .. .what are you going to do today?

His answer every time was …

Dad, I am just going to go out there, have fun, and see what happens with a HUGE smile on his face.

He would still be playing adult recreational hockey this season had we not been dealing with COVID, but for me, and for every parent, coach I interact with, our greatest reward is to ensure that our kids or players love the game more at the end of the season and play well into their adulthood with those same huge smiles so we can continue to Love Watching Them Play.

Will 4 on 4 be the “new” normal?

Posted June 27, 2020January 27, 2022 Glen MulcahyPosted in Athlete, Coach, COVID-19, Parents

It is so exciting to see the globe enter different phases post COVID-19 quarantine period start put all sports on hold mid March as well as other sectors coming back.

I think one of the biggest milestones for yours truly was when I finally was able to get my hair cut again, normally I do so every month, and the last appointment I had pre Covid just before quarantine period was on March 9^th so come June 19^th when I got to see my “stylist” of 25+ years was just one of many examples how we are returning back.

I recently read another great article that JJ Adams wrote for the Vancouver Sun and Province newspapers “Rec hockey overhauled to keep it fun, less risky”

The online version of the same article in the Sun Newspaper (yes, there are still people that read the paper, yours truly is one as my first “job” was carrier for the Sun for 8 years) starts with the quote that I shared in our newsletter …..

One of the main contributors to the article that JJ talked to was the CEO of Canlan Ice Sports, who run 3 multi sheet ice rinks in the Vancouver and 12 others in Canada and Illinois.

He shared how they have reinvented the format for both their adult and youth recreational leagues which I am very familiar with, having coached in all of the facilities for years and then when my son’s minor hockey “career” was over, in lieu of pursuing the junior hockey path he found very frustrating (as did I), he accepted an invitation to play for an adult team playing in ASHL tier 1 even though he was 18 at the time.

He was able to play 2 seasons with that team but like all others, his season ended March 13^th, 2020 and I know he is itching to return to play once a week with his buds as his hockey bag still sits fully packed in our garage.

I shared the highlights of the article at one of our many home cooked dinners we have had the last few months and he shared one of his fondest memories playing hockey growing up we not the 5 on 5 recreational or competitive teams he played for, but was the spring 3 on 3 on smaller ice surfaces or 3 on 3 , 4 on 4 on full ice with modified rules.

For me as well, that was some of my fondest memories, going back to watching him play with the “big boys” when he was invited to play 3 on 3 with his counterparts who were all a year older for his first spring “season” of 12 games from end of March to mid June once a week.

We played in a faculty that had 3 smaller ice surfaces that became a go to for many associations in the winter for practices, small area games and then a natural fit for cross ice hockey (ice sheets are approx. 45% smaller than a full sheet)

3 on 3 had rules to keep the flow going of the game including floating blue line (once entered the offensive zone the red line then became the blue line to keep the puck moving), changing on the fly (vs .buzzers that were being used from H1-4 when we did play full ice) and no penalties, only penalty shots. No body checking for all age groups also.

Each year thereafter he would ask me to put a team together as he had so much fun so we did and many of the original players and goalies returned year after year as they had so much fun.

Even coaches had fun, as did parents who watched many of the games from the pub (many of which would sure one of their counterparts would be the DD)

When the boys got into their teens, one of the players grandparents was the head skills developer for one of the Canlan sheets near us and asked us if they boys would like to try full ice 4 on 4 or 3 on 3 which is what really kept the bug going for my son and all of his friends.

THEY Loved both options, and although scores were kept, it was literally watching pond hockey and although I was their coach, I encouraged them all the time to just go out there and have fun, they already had their winter seasons with plenty of competitive games and practices, this was just an opportunity to keep their skate legs going once a week in the offseason.

My daughter also played one season of “fun hockey” with one of her softball counterparts, even though she could barely skate at the time, so Canlan and the other private facilities do have several fun progams and youth and adults to consider (although I am not a fan of the competitive spring hockey model that has evolved as have have shared for years)

So when I saw how Canlan was improvising so kids and adults could return back to play I same some of the similar rules we had played with as well as new ones so they could ensure that those that returned back to play could do so safely.

Canlan, like many other multi-sheet corporations like Planet Ice are privately held and run, and their recreational leagues do not fall under the umbrella of Hockey Canada.

The upside for them (and for all the hockey keeners from youth to adults) is they can run programs year round but the cons are the coaches or officials do not have to be Hockey Canada certified, nor do they qualify for Hockey Canada’s insurance program which Tom Renney et al have announced the contagious disclaimer is going to remain unchanged until 2024 to permit local hockey associations to return to play in the fall.

Some of the things that Canlan is doing to permit their leagues to start up again when physical distancing permits

#1 – In lieu of 5 on 5 (with goalie), they will be 4 on 4 (with a goalie) for cohort groups of 10 per bench (8 skaters, one goalie, one coach)

This will permit more space between the players during game play and comply with current PHO cohort guidelines

#2 – NO penalties, in lieu penalty shots (think basketball free throw)

The difference with the way penalty shots will be done Post COVID-19 is those that are awarded the penalty shot in lieu of puck being placed on the centre ice face-off dot and player skating in on a breakaway, the puck will be place in between the hashmarks and players will have to shoot for there to try and score.

OK potentially for adults, teenage players who will have the physical strength to do so, not so much for players U12 but that will adhere to the LTAD models that are restricting competitive games

# 3 – Face masks – Canlan is also working with Bauer for various of masks that players can use while playing, as well as ones for coaches, administrators, on ice officials and even parents/fans

#4 – No Face-offs – Ensures Physical Distancing is adhered to with two 10 minute running time periods (vs. 3 15-20 minute stop time)

#5 – Refs will have electronic whistles (pushing a button vs. blowing thru)

#6 – Social Distancing Dots on the bench (for 4 additional players to sit and coach to stand)

#7 – Water Bottle Shield on the bench

** Pre-Covid, it was amazing how few players brought water bottles to practices when I was doing coach evaluations … I suspect that the awareness created with COVID that will no longer need a reminder

#8 – Pregame questionnaire and “zone control attendant” to ensure adhere to social distancing when come to the facility, will be escorted to their dressing rooms that has been marked to ensure players/goals get dressed 6’ or more apart

#9 – No Showers (yikes, that could lead to some stinky drives home)

#10 – No dilly dallying in the dressing rooms post game

Translation – NO BEER for the ASHL players and one of the best part of playing adult recreation team sports, the post-game rituals and conversations in the dressing room, dugout or benches so in lieu this means they will have to improvise, adapt and overcome (i.e. head to a pub or an empty parking lot and park all their cars and open bumpers, doors to permit social distancing and ensure can answer the first question everyone will have) …..

WHO HAS THE BEER (cooler, water etc)? (The Snack)

Before the last words everyone will say as they are closing their doors to head home

WHEN DO WE PLAY AGAIN?

Kudos to Canlan, Bauer and other organizations that are working on the ways so that can all return to play the games we love to play, coach, ref and watch as safely as possible.

When things change in minor hockey

Posted July 30, 2018January 27, 2022 Glen MulcahyLeave a commentPosted in Athlete, Coach, Organization Executive

…… Not Necessarily for the Better

I am in the midst of a move from my former warehouse with office buildout out to a full office layout to permit us to continue growing as an organization and host on-site workshops and parent education sessions starting this fall for groups from 20 to 100+ (more to follow on that front once we are settled in the new space).

My son and daughter gave me a hand this past Friday tearing down one of the workstations so we could move it to the other space where the first thing they said was WOW this is huge and is such a better layout than your old “office”. Then my daughter commented why I was bringing all my OLD stuff there in lieu of nicer/newer to which I said because there is nothing wrong with it.

I believe we could all learn a little from that type of old-school thinking when it comes to youth sports ( I believe kids should play with wood sticks until they are strong enough to benefit from the flex also), too many people are trying to keep up with the Jones on gear, teams without cluing in when it is all over it were all worth it.

In the course of the back and forth my son commented when he was looking at many of the team photos I have along the wall that was our impromptu boardroom (pictured below) when he was looking at the team poster I still had from a tournament our association hosted and he said “That was the best team I had in Hockey”.

I turned to him and said “Why? You played on so many teams over the years including all your AAA rep and Spring teams afterward”

His response?

“Because it was the best group of guys and coaches I had, and it was the most fun I ever had playing hockey.”

He was 8 years old that season, it was our H4 Novice Team thinking back I had to agree it was one of the best teams I had coached over the years also.

It was not due to the winning record we had, far from it, we only won a handful of games.

It was not due to any tournament wins (we lost all but one game in the three tournaments we played in)

That particular team was a mix of 5 new players, 5 who played a couple of years and 5 who were going into their 4th season.

The top player on our team, “Switch” (I nicknamed as he always prompted me to switch to play forward when his turn was to play D) whom I had not coached previously, was one that I identified even then could play at a high level, and he is now playing his third season of major journey hockey 11 years later. Another that I had coached the year prior also was drafted and has played 2 years of major junior.

Being that he was so far ahead of the rest of the group and could score at will, I knew the only way that those starting out would enjoy the seasons as we were still playing full ice games (which took a decade to change to cross ice) is I would have to promote team play.

I knew in tournaments that there was a rule called the Gretzky rule, where a player could only score 3 goals in a game and any goals after that would not count. The reason for the rule was to ensure that an early bloomer would not dominate a game, would focus on team play by not only scoring but assisting goals and all players would contribute.

To ensure that we played as a team in all games, I talked to him and his parents to see if they would buy-in to the Gretzky rule for all games, not just tournaments. One of his close friends was on our team who was one of our first year players and I used that as a selling point that I would like him and all the other new players to touch the puck, make and receive passes, get shots and ultimately every player on the team to score a goal before the season ended.

Both he and his parents said they were on board, so for every game, we played that season, he would score his 3 goals, in some games soon into the first period.

At times, when he would get the puck after, as he was so proficient on his core skills he would carry the puck into the zone, and as he and his parents were big fans of the game, although Gretz was way before his time, it did not take him long to figure out where his office was, behind the opposition net.

I will never forget one of the plays he made to set up his friend for his first goal, he waited patiently behind the net for his friend to get in position with his stick on the ice in front and in lieu of skating to either side to pass to him, he flipped the puck over the net and it landed right in front of his friends stick and he buried it while the goalies head was spinning.

He was 8 when he did that and the skills he demonstrated over the years I had the opportunity to coach him never ceased to amaze me.

The celebration that followed afterward was like we had won the Stanley Cup, all the coaches jumped up, the team skated on the ice, gloves, and sticks were flying everywhere and “Switch” was probably the one celebrating the most.

As the season went on, each time a player got his first goal, especially when Switch would get the assist, our team would celebrate.

Opposing teams and coaches thought we were nuts, in most instances we were down by 5 or more goals.

One of the other activities that made the season fun for players and parents alike was “Game On”, where one of the parents would host a street hockey day for the players and Sunday NFL football party for the parents. It started out initially as a one hour game, then turned into what it was like for many of us parents, a full day of playing on the street, almost every player would take turns putting the goalie gear on.

It was that season that I also started to see the whispers in the corners amongst parents, and it was then when I started to see the beginning for what is commonplace today, the recruiting process of Spring Hockey. Switch had been playing Spring hockey literally since he put skates on, others each year started to be recruited as well and the process started earlier and earlier. I used to say parents were more concerned about what spring team their kids were on than winter so they could brag to others.

During that season I was pulled aside by Spring “Scouts” asking about Switch after many games and each time I would either talk to or send an email to his parents to which they would say, thanks but no thanks, he is happy where he is.

Each year thereafter I would get asked by parents what spring programs to try out for, I even was asked to coach for a few programs but I did not sway from my focus on Fun and skill development focus in Spring but found the majority of programs were pushing the envelope in terms of focusing on winning tournaments for bragging rights and costs were excessive as well.

As we only a few short weeks away from kids hitting the ice for their rep tryouts and recreational evaluations after what has now been a prolonged heat wave in Vancouver, I can’t help but think back when was it that we got caught up (as in me and my son) in the insanity of Spring Hockey and it was after that season when a coach recommended to me that my son could benefit from offseason skills development.

Fast forward 10+ years, only a handful of kids that I know that went down the competitive spring hockey path played beyond minor hockey, only 2 of the hundreds of kids I coached over the years reached the Major Junior Level and although both are very strong players, they were not drafted to the NHL.

Switches parents also came to me on many occasions that year saying he was having the best year ever on any team, a ton of fun and really loved how I coached. This was a kid that played on top level teams for several years so I was always humbled when they did so.

Although my son did play with him at the AAA level on a few teams after that Novice season, he was right, that was the best year, best team, the best group of parents of any of the teams we had. Once we entered the Rep Stream followed by Spring Hockey each year the level of competition ramped up to a point where it just did was not fun anymore and kids started quitting.

A colleague of mine said his son in Midget, was the last player in his age group to still be playing, just as when my son played he was one of last 3 from his original Atom Team (9-10)

We had a ton of fun even though we did not win many games, all the kids improved significantly, every kid on the team scored at least one goal that season and most of all, all returned to play the following year.

The last thing my son shared with me when we were talking about that team was how many times he got to play D with the other strong forward on our team, whom he hung out with frequently at the house playing in our driveway playing for hours on end.

That has always been my goal, to ensure that kids love the game more at the end of a season than they did at the beginning, and for that team, I can say they all did.

Sadly 10 years later, many of those kids from that team quit for various reasons, including my son after his Bantam AAA teams season where I was just a “Hockey Dad” watching his winning at all costs coach from the stands as he shared when he quit

“it’s just not fun anymore, there is too much BS”

Fortunately, he did not lose the love for the game completely, did play one more season of Midget AAA and is looking forward to playing beer league this fall with many of his cronies.

That is where 99.96% of the kids are headed IF we do our job right as coaches, unfortunately as parents with all the pressure of spiraling costs, dreams to play collegiately, junior or long shot playing professionally, we get caught up in the madness that is supposed to be a game played by kids.

In lieu, it has become more about the adults competing with other adults thru kids.

Let’s all work together to bring the game back to the kids … where it belongs.