USA Hockey – PARADIGM Sports

If you pick them, PLAY them

Posted February 19, 2020January 27, 2022 Glen MulcahyPosted in Athlete, Coach, Organization Executive, Parents

Earlier this week I received a message thru our Facebook page then exchanged a few emails with a parent who reached out as they were concerned that his sons U13 competitive stream (rep) coaches were running short bench game after game including having specialty teams like a power play, penalty kill.

It was not the first reach out I have received nor do I suspect it would be the last but the parent shared with me that he came across the blog that I had written about my son whose coach used the very same short bench tactic time after time, but for me really became personal when he did so a month after my mother passed away and he shared my son had dedicated the game in her memory

The wave of emotions that I experienced then is not as high now as I have really tried to focus on the half-full approach working with coaches and parents in recent years to highlight the good work that is being done by many youth sports organizations to bring the game back to the kids.

I have always been a believer in all the sports I coached to give every player an opportunity to contribute to the outcome, and even went to the extent to ensure that every player had opportunities to play positions that everyone wanted to, in baseball to play pitcher, shortstop or catcher, in hockey all positions including goalie until U13 (even then had to have players suit up when both our goalies got injured).

The reason?

In this day and age where more and more kids are pulling out of youth sports as Project Play highlighted last year where 62% “retire” by the age of 11 after an average 3 year “career,” one would think that youth sports organizations would be doing EVERYTHING possible to reverse these trends and not turning a blind eye to coaches that are missing what youth sports should be, a safe environment to develop not only the skills of the game but skills of life.

What life lesson does a 11-year-old kid learn when he does not get the opportunity to play when it is their time to go out?

Having talked to many kids that were victims of short benches going back to 7-8 years of age, all told me the reason they quit is the coach only played their favorites.

Here’s my take on the coaches that do so.

If you pick them, PLAY them.

The worst culprits in the youth sports space that run short benches to win games at all costs are the ones in the competitive stream or rep level, but even when I have had recreation stream coaches in clinics or workshops they have shared with me they have seen more than their fair share of coaches that run short benches to win games, some as early as the beginning of the game, many in the latter stages of a game when it is close.

In many sports, particularly the recreation level, youth sports organizations do have what is called fair play, equal play policies where coaches must play all players as equally as possible.

But entice those coaches with a tournament trophy, banner for league or playoffs, or just a feather in the cap as their team won against a rival association then it is like offering a bonus to a car sales rep for selling 20 cars in a month … it becomes the end all and be all, do whatever it takes even if you have to take shortcuts to do so.

The big issue I have when coaches do so is they picked the players for their teams either thru the tryout process (which painfully starts earlier and earlier every year) or a draft (usually started U9 age groups in many sports).

This means that they chose the players for their teams yet they think nothing of sitting a player and playing their favorites game after game in lieu of focusing on developing every player on their team so the team as a whole collectively gets better?

They also will have those very same favorite players on specialty teams which further deprives players of playing time and the opportunity to contribute to game outcomes.

Over the last few years, I have highlighted some examples of nations or sports organizations whose participation rates are not declining like many of those are in USA and Canada but are GROWING.

Perhaps youth sports orgs and their coaches (which I recognize many are volunteers) could learn something from those as they also have had many players reach high levels as a result of their development models.

SWEDEN

Hmmm .. maybe Sweden is on to something in terms of the player development model?

What makes the Swedish hockey model different?

#1 – All of their ice rinks are community-owned, unlike Canada and the USA where private multi-sheet facilities are almost on every street corner like a Tim Hortons is in Canada or Dunkin Donuts in the USA. Because they are community rinks and Sweden recognizing the importance of multi-sport participation they melt their ice on April 1^st every year.

This means NO SPRING HOCKEY.

A phenomenon that has exploded in Canada in the USA that both Hockey Canada and USA Hockey are not sanctioning as they don’t want kids to play hockey year-round.

#2 – Because of the Spring Hockey model, the youth sports coaches that coach in winter as volunteers may aspire to get a paid position coaching in the spring which means they have to win as many games as possible to apply for those spring hockey coaching gigs.

#3 – Unlike Canada and the USA, Sweden does not COMPETE until the kids are U15 age (13-14), there are no scoresheets, scorekeepers, standings or individual stats being kept

Why?

Because Sweden’s model emphasizes the importance of focusing on the core skills of hockey during the key motor skill acquisition years.

#4 – Practice to Game ratio is minimum 3:1 also, as Sweden recognizes that players develop in practices, not games and in some instances with the explosion of spring and travel teams, kids as young as 6 years old may play over 80 games in one year, equivalent to the NHL?

In terms of the practice to game ratio in Canada, this could be fixed very easily as most rep teams get 2 practices, 2 games a week, convert one of the game slots to a practice slot and alternate home and away weeks with other teams in your tier.

Voila – 3:1 Practice to game ratio.

Based on the fact that parents pushed back because their 6 year old super elite prospects would not be able to play full ice hockey when Hockey Canada rolled out cross-ice hockey a few years back (proven to optimal development) I suspect although a simple fix, the push back will be even worse.

The fixation with playing competitive games in Canada is too much, too early and we could learn from Sweden as well as another country that is setting the bar, Norway

NORWAY

Another country who has set the bar for reaching the highest level of competition is Norway, who won 39 Medals in the 2018 Winter Olympics made them the all-time winningest country since the inception of the Winter Games.

Like Sweden, they don’t promote competition in youth sports until the kids become teenagers (13) and focus on multi-sport athleticism so kids become the best athletes they can become.

They both focus on the importance of playing with their friends, playing for their communities (vs. travel teams) and having FUN.

As a result, both nation’s youth sports participation rates are over 90% vs. those in Canada and the USA seeing the attrition rates we are seeing.

They also DON’T have the issues attracting and retaining officials like we do where our rates are as high as 50% of young officials quit in their first year, 30% every year thereafter due to the abuse they are taking from those winning at all coaches and over the top parents.

Coaches, if you pick them, play them. Focus on developing all players and winning will be the byproduct in lieu of the focus.

AND

If you do so, they will love the game more at the end of the season than the beginning and come back with big smiles on their faces next season in lieu of many of the players quitting a game they once loved.

Don’t be one of “those” coaches that thinks nothing of sitting a 10 year old kid to win a game when every player on your team should be given the opportunity to contribute to the outcome, win or loss.

In doing so, their confidence will remain intact and like all the players I coached their only questions after the game will be ….

What’s the Snack Coach?
When do we Play again?

If you are still playing a sport in your adulthood as still love the game as you did as a youth player ….

The first question you ask when you get in the dressing room?

Who has, how much is the beer? THE SNACK

When do we play again?

Take the high road and if you pick them, PLAY them so they keep playing well into their adulthood.

The Costs of Going ALL IN

Posted February 1, 2020January 27, 2022 Glen MulcahyPosted in Athlete, Coach, Early Sport Specialization, Organization Executive, Parents

The Costs of Going ALL IN

This week we came across an article and W5 Episode that aired last spring highlighting two families where they have gone all in to support their kids in chasing their dreams of playing NCAA on full-ride scholarships, national teams or professionally.

In the first of three-part series, they focused mainly on young hockey players and ended with an interview with the chief executive officer of a marketing research company based in the US that focused on the costs of youth sport participation not only in the US but internationally.

Their findings had my head spinning and although I have always encouraged players to chase their dream whatever they aspire to (regardless if it is sport, music, drama, academics) but what this 3 part series showed is a reflection how so many families are chasing the dream it has lead to youth sports exploding into multi-billion dollar industries primarily in Canada and the USA with no signs that it will slow down anytime soon.

A couple of years back Time Magazine’s front page highlighted that the US Youth Sports industry had then exceeded $15 Billion USD (approx. $20B CDN based on current foreign exchange). The highlight of the article was a young baseball phenom appropriate nicknamed Joey Baseball

The article and spin-off videos highlighted how Joey Erace, then 10 years old, and his family were chasing the dream for him to play MLB. He was playing on multiple travel teams, getting private one on one instruction for pitching ($100/hr), one on one fielding sessions ($100.00/Hr), had his own home batting cage, was getting sponsorship offers, over 24K followers on Instagram and even being asked for autographs from fellow aspiring young kids who were following him.

His life had evolved to baseball, baseball, baseball.

All this at 10 Yrs. Old?

Fast forward to 2019 and the US Youth Sports Industry had grown to over $17 Billion as a result of more and more players and their parents continuing to chase the dream to reach those lofty goals of representing their countries on national teams, getting NCAA scholarships, what is now multi-million salaries in various professional sports and possibly the Olympics.

Coming back to the W5 episodes shared last Spring, the marketing research firm WinterGreen whose chief executive Susan Eustis was interviewed at the tail end of episode one shared that the Canadian Youth Sports Industry in 2010 was $1.2 Billion, had grown to 5.2 Billion mid-way point of the 2000’s but in 2017 had climbed to $7.6B and last reported number for 2018 was a staggering ….

$8.7 BILLION DOLLARS!!!

THAT’S OVER A 400% INCREASE SINCE 2010

Based on the current exchange this is approx. $6.5 B USD.

Compare that to the USA with 9X the population of Canada (327 M vs. 37M) whose last reported number is $17 Billion USD

As a result, Canada’s youth sport participation costs are the HIGHEST cost per capita than any other country in the world.

Highlighted in the episodes were two youth sports players and their families who were all in as either a hockey or soccer family;

Ethan Mcfarland – 14 years old at the time the episodes aired who aspires to get a full-ride Michigan State Scholarship to play NCAA Div 1 hockey and be drafted and play in the NHL.

No different than many kids have growing up in prior generations, playing shinny with their buds on frozen lakes, outdoor ice rinks, stick and puck for hours on end BUT the sad reality is 0.3% of those will reach that level as I have shared out in talks across Canada.

The cost for him to reach that goal is he has abandoned what all the powers that be and sports medicine research has shown is multi-sport participation so he becomes the best athlete he can be.

He also has a modified school course load geared specifically for “elite” athletes as a hybrid to homeschooling so he can make it to all of his shooting, skating, puck control sessions both on and off-ice in addition to sessions with Psychologists, nutritionists, custom skate, stick equipment manufacturers

All the while his parents seem to be nonchalant about the fact to support doing all of this is costing them tens of thousands of dollars a year much like thousands of other kids across Canada that are doing the same to chase the dream.

Probably one of the best data sets that I can provide to hockey parents to reinforce the importance for their kids to avoid this excessive time and financial commitment to focus on hockey, hockey, hockey is the NHL players association was surveyed last year and as Ken Martel (technical director for USA Hockey) shared with me and has now shared with other sports orgs, below is a slide from presentation he did for New Zealand Hockey (yes they play hockey in New Zealand)

Another statistic – Since 2010, there has been a 63% decrease in full-ride scholarships offered to Canadian born players to play in the NCAA which is a direct correlation with the ADM model in the USA, more and more US-born players are being recruited for those scholarships vs. past years seeking Canadian born players.

The other family highlighted was the Nicolazzo family whose three children, Xavier (7 at the time), sister Kiarra (10), and older brother Romero (13). Their Dad Frank coaches both boys teams.

Year-Round Soccer, Soccer, Soccer, every day all year long including indoor session when Canada’s winter kicks in including playing on numerous travel teams costing tens of thousands of dollars every year.

REALITY CHECK – a colleague of mine shared me the soccer statistics which I reciprocated with hockey a few years back regarding NCAA/Professional path of US Soccer Players

As admirable as it is for all three of their children to chase the dream, like Hockey, the reality that they will reach that level is a longshot at best and depends on so many factors for all the stars to align.

The sad reality for both families and their kids who are rolling the dice and going all-in with one sport year-round as early as 7 years old is there is a very strong possibility that one or all of the issues below may happen;

Kids are suffering pressure as early as 9-10 years old W5 highlighted in their episode.

Shouldn’t 9 -10-year-olds be playing a game for the sake of it, not feeling the pressure to reach a lofty goal 10 years or more down the road?

All the research and data shows that these young players may quit (62% in the US are quitting by age 11, 70% by age 13 with similar trends in Canada and many other nations) due to pressure, burnout, not having fun as a result of focusing on winning at all costs chasing the dream because they are not having fun

They may suffer a season-ending, worse yet a potentially career-ending injury like multiple concussions, tears of ulnar, medial, anterior cruciate ligaments

May suffer depression, anxiety IF they make it to the NCAA, pro-level as they were deprived of a normal childhood which has been identified by many NCAA athletic directors is a major issue of new players coming into their programs now vs. a decade ago

Worse case – may consider, or actually do commit suicide as there has been a 56% increase in the suicide rate the last 10 years from 10-24 years of age. If you don’t think this is a reality, I personally know of 3 kids who committed suicide, the third happened to be the brother of one and cousin of two other players I coached so really hit me hard. This stat was shared by Corey Hirsch, advocate for mental health and the Hockey Talks program the day that Tyler Motte shared he is dealing with depression and anxiety issues with amazing support by the Vancouver Canucks. Why? Because 7 years ago Rick Rypien committed suicide as a result of similar mental health issues stemming from the pressure to perform.

All of the above aside, many of the single-sport players I have interacted with as they got to older levels (15+) stopped smiling, stopped laughing, appeared methodical, robotic when they came to training sessions, games, other activities.

Why?

Because they lost that original love for the game they had which many parents argue with me is the reason when they support their kids to play year long, pay for all kinds of development the grind of playing one sport all year long starting as early as many kids do today became a job.

When they originally started down the path did they ask if they could WORK hockey, soccer etc?

No – they asked if they could PLAY hockey, soccer etc.

Last but not least, in the event that you have not been following business news of late, many countries are looming towards another recessionary period so the tens of thousands of dollars that parents are spending each year, much of which via credit facilities including second mortgages, credit cards, lines of credit will put the entire family in harm’s way if one of the dual incomes is lost to downsizing.

Is it really worth taking that risk going all in with one sport?

In lieu of looking at youth sports as a return on investment, we should be looking at all the other benefits it provides, developing character, valuable life lessons, healthy (both physical and mental) lifestyles, friendships, social skills being part of teams, being well rounded and becoming the best ATHLETE they can be.

If at the end of the day they are one of the select few to reach the level of NCAA, National or professional level then that is just icing on the cake.

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

When the NHL dream comes to fruition

Posted June 24, 2019January 27, 2022 Glen MulcahyPosted in Athlete, Coach, Early Sport Specialization, Organization Executive, Parents

BONUS – Download this Blog in PDF Format HERE

Having been a fan of the NHL since I literally came out of the womb, and for the First 3^rd of my life growing up in various suburbs of Montreal, QC and every other city thereafter having a hockey rink it became a dream of mine like any other kid growing up to be like my idol and play in the NHL.

We dreamt of scoring that game-winning goal in double OT to hoist the Cup or making the save to keep the game or series alive, making that blocked shot to prevent the game winning goal, making that pass to set it up, making that big hit to get momentum and the list goes on.

Most of those dreams as was shared in the recent NHL draft that I was fortunate to receive a last minute ticket to attend for the first time, when player videos were played on Rogers Arena big screen of the time the kids being drafted in the first round spent on their backyard rinks, outdoor rinks, ponds or mini- stick competitions in their basements as I did as a kid.

In the case of this year’s NHL draft, another of the Hughes brothers was drafted in the first round to follow his older brother Quinn who was selected as the 7^th overall pick in the first round by our home city Vancouver Canucks.

This time, it was Jack, who was pegged for most of this season to be picked 1^st overall and the New Jersey Devils, announced by one of the greatest goalies of all time and hall of famer Martin Brodeur.

Back to back years where brothers and parents hugged in the stands where all the players sat with their families waiting for their names to be called by one of the 31 teams with all of their senior management, coaches and other personnel amassed on the floor of Rogers Arena

Although two of the three Hughes brothers drafted in to the NHL thus far (the next projected to come to the NHL is Luke), participated in the US NTDP, until that point they experienced playing on outdoor rinks (the epitome of free play) and their organized minor hockey in Toronto, Canada as their dad worked with the Leaf’s and other Hockey organizations.

The very same coaches that I have worked with facilitating Hockey Canada NCCP Clinics for BC Hockey but their Ontario counterparts are the ones that were instrumental in developing Quinn’s and Jacks passion for the game and initial development of their core skills.

Like the other Canadian players who were drafted, Quinn and Jack had very similar experience playing mini stick, on outdoor rinks or ponds, minor hockey in the GTHL then their junior path was US NTDP vs. Junior A or Major Junior

Listen to the podcast below to get more insight from the US NTDP U18 head coach who shares insight on the various players before they were selected in this year’s draft (including Montreal’s pick Cole Caulfield who they stole at 15)

The second pick by the New York Rangers, as suspected, was for Kappo Kakko, the Finnish phenom who played on the Finnish U18, World Junior and World Championship Gold Medal teams this past season.

Similar to 2016 when Auston Matthews (USA) was the #1 pick by Toronto, then Patrick Laine (Finland) the 2^nd overall pick by the New York Rangers so game on, as both teams are in the same division, we will see these two young players playing each other for years to come.

What was different about this draft, however, was the number of other US born players that were selected in the first round, 8 from National Development Team (7 in the first 15 picks), three others were born in the USA that was also chosen the first round, 5 others in additional rounds for a total of 13 (62% of the players from the NTDP U18 team)

Compare that to Canadian players, #3 – Kirby Dach – WHL, #4 – Bowen Byram (WHL) and 11 others for a total of 13

Others chosen not from the NTDP or Canadian (the exception being Thomas Harly with dual citizenship

1 other from the USA – USHL

1 – Dual Citizenship (Canada/USA)

2 more from Finland

4 from Sweden

1 from Russia – think back in the 60-70-80’s when the Red Army Dominated Internationally

1 from Germany

When I talked to Ken Martel for our online summer event, he shared that this year’s U18 US NDTP was a special group of players and they did anticipate several to be drafted in the first round, I think he and rest of USA hockey staff are sitting back and doing the same thing I did…. especially once all rounds completed, 17 were drafted.

WOW with a sense of pride like many of the parents who did the same when their son’s names were called.

So what makes the US National Team Development Program unique and lead to so many players being drafted in the first round from ONE team?

#1 – With the exception of Jack who played all his minor hockey in Canada, this year’s group are all players that went thru the US American Development Model (ADM) which adheres to age-appropriate training, small area games, and cross-ice hockey for the earlier age groups (from 5-8 years of age), endorsing multi-sport participation and FUN.

The ADM was implemented by USA Hockey in 2009 when all of the players from this year’s draft class would have been 7 years old.

#2 – Coaching certification – they all benefited from coaching certification programs in either Canada or the USA.

All of Quinn’s and Jacks Minor Hockey Coaches would have been certified thru the NCCP Hockey Canada program and all the other US players benefited from one of the top coaching certification programs in the USA to coincide with the roll-out of their ADM model in 2009. The majority of other sports in the USA have less developed or no coaching certification programs at all as they don’t have a centralized coaching certification program as we do in Canada.

#3 – Unlike all the Canadian and International players that come to Canada to play in major junior or Junior leagues playing on multiple teams, the U18 and U16 US NDTP are national teams that train and play in all tournaments and stay together as a group annually so they develop chemistry, competitive spirit vs. Canada’s “all-star” teams that are formed a few weeks prior to participating in international events.

Did Quinn and Jack get the best of both worlds then? Playing minor hockey in Canada than being selected to the US National Development program where they moved to Plymouth, billeted, went to school and trained with their teams?

The closest equivalent in Canada would be the explosion of academies where kids play on U15, U16 or U18 teams, go to schools together, the billet in same neighborhoods etc.

In BC/Alberta alone, there are 14 academies as members of the CSSHL (Canadian School Sport Hockey League) now with bantam prep, bantam varsity, U16, U18 boys and now girls teams with an annual bill to parents anywhere from $15-40K

A few other things jumped out for me when I was watching the draft in person that you don’t get a true feel for when watching on TV;

# 1 – When each player was interviewed and aired on the big screen to fill the 3 minute time limit that teams have to make their pick, literally EVERY player said that the experience was surreal, it had not sunk in yet, that their dream of playing in the NHL was getting closer and many shared that they wanted to make an impact and help their teams.

Translation – they are Gen Z, and regardless if it is sport, business, school, having mentored many students over the years who work with us as interns, literally every one answers the question, where do you see yourself in 5 Years?

Answer – I want to make a difference and contribute.

#2 – In those interviews, they also would thank their parents, friends, coaches and others who helped them get to this special moment that showed how much it takes a village to raise a child.

At about the ½ way point of the draft (after the Habs picked), I went to get a snack and while walking in the concourse came across a group of those from the village, several Alex Newhook’s (Colorado) friends who flew in from his home town in St. Johns Newfoundland, wearing his various jerseys were screaming at the top of their lungs in celebration.

Another was a group of Moncton WHL Wildcats teammates sitting adjacent to us who also traveled across the country from Moncton, Nova Scotia who jumped from their seats when their fellow teammate Jakob Pelletiers named was called and drafted to Calgary.

Many of the other players shared how many friends and family were there and what the whole experience reminded me of was high school graduation, as each player went up to receive his jersey ( graduation certificate), family and friends sitting in the stands would celebrate.

It was similar to when I attended both of my kids (now adults) high school and university graduation ceremonies and all I could think about was how proud I was of both of them, similar to that of all the parents would be of these potential prospect NHL players.

For a fleeting moment I thought to myself it would have been great to have been one of those parents to have seen all of my sons hard work pay off over the years to be drafted to either the WHL or the NHL, but then I reminded myself he learned a ton, had fun (for the most part) and he is now playing adult rec (AKA beer league) and loving the game more than he did in the crazy days (when winning at costs prevailed for all kids to contribute but that is another story in itself).

The other thing I thought about was all those players I coached (hundreds over the years), only a handful have gone on to play junior, one is finishing his tenure playing major junior whom I thought potentially would be drafted to the NHL and would have been great to see him go up on that stage with others but it was a reality check just how hard it is to make it just to the NHL draft, let alone play.

Then as the draft finished up we walked to a local restaurant to have dinner and truly appreciated the moment when Alex Newhook and his family and friends walked up the restaurant we were at on the outside deck, we all stood up to give him a standing ovation and then quieted down when he approached the hostess and asked if it would be possible to get a table.

Two of the tables on the deck as did we stood up (we were heading out) offered ours so a teenager could celebrate such a special moment with his family as I did with my kids when they hit such special milestones.

I then headed to my car, my cohort headed to his hotel as was attending day 2 of the draft the next day.

Although such a small % of kids that play hockey will reach this milestone, and even if drafted, may or may not even play or have long careers in the NHL my friend shared with the reason why he loves going to the drafts is that is the time we as coaches can see when kids realize their dreams they had as toddlers, as Jack Hughes did and all those other first overall picks before him.

I am looking forward to seeing how the careers of this year’s draft class evolves.

I can then look back when they make team rosters and do all the others things that we dreamed about as kids and say to myself like all the other members of their villages and say to myself, WOW I was there when they got drafted and saw their dream come to fruition.

Bonus – Download this blog in PDF Format HERE

What US Lacrosse is doing to promote Multi-Sport Participation

Posted May 13, 2019January 27, 2022 Glen MulcahyPosted in Athlete, Coach, Early Sport Specialization, Organization Executive, Parents

I recently sat in on the first webinar hosted by Project Play which highlighted three different US National Sports Bodies (NGB’s) that were promoting multi-sport participation, one of which is one of the few youth sports in the US that is growing year after year, US Lacrosse.

The insight was shared on the webinar by Erin Smith, currently the Managing Director of Education and Training for US Lacrosse and has worn many other hats over with US LAX the last 15 years.

Why is US Lacrosse one of the organizations that are bucking the trends?

Unlike many of the youth sports organization in Canada, US and globally, they continue to see increases in their membership year after year, now have over 430,000 members and continue to grow.

As a national sports organization in the US, they are still in their infancy, 9 former regional orgs merged together in 1998 to become the national sports body for the US.

In 2015-16, largely due to the great work that USA Hockey has done in terms of developing the American Development Model, US Lacrosse created their first version of their Athlete Development Model with 6 core values.

#1 – Fun and Kid Centred

HMMMM … perhaps the sports organizations that continue to experience negative comps year after year could learn something by focusing on similar core values?

As I have shared for years, kids play sports because they are fun and quit when they are not, it’s NOT rocket science and I was so happy to see that a NGB has Fun and focusing on the kids (the end users/consumers) and believe many other orgs that are suffering high rates of attrition should do the same.

#2 – Program Design for Development

Development as in skills vs. winning at all costs?

It is great to see a NGB understand that the purpose of Youth sports organizations is developing youth into adults.

#3 – Multi-Sport Participation

Promoting Multisport participation, as the President of Greater Edmonton Lacrosse shared with me last year, Lacrosse is a great complementary sport and requires so many technical skills that will transfer to other sports. Perhaps that is one of the reasons why Wayne Gretzky, John Tavares, Steve Stamkos and other NHL’ers were or are pretty good?

#4 – Small Sided and Free Play

Many national sports organizations in Canada and the USA who have incorporated LTAD models have incorporated small sided games that are age appropriate, examples being USA and Hockey Canada’s cross-ice hockey for ages 5-8 years old, soccer small area games with 3, 7 players, tennis, volleyball, basketball lowering the nets etc.

What really excited me about US Lacrosse was they also are focusing on the importance of Free Play that many researchers have identified in recent years is a critical to ensure optimal skill development, decision making, handling adversity and overall fundamental skill development.

#5 – Physical Literacy

Still one of the biggest challenges that many face in the grassroots segments is having coaches understand the importance of developing all fundamental movement skills so kids are not only proficient in their respective sports (thanks largely to the pitfalls of early sport specialization) so kids are confident, competent and ultimately active for life.

#6 – Trained Coaches

In terms of trained coaches, although the course content has been revamped to educate coaches on areas like multi-sport participation it was only done last year and only 5+ Years will you see the cause and effect of updated coaching modules. I suspect in a few years you will see the changes that US LAX is aspiring for and will receive a higher grade accordingly down the road.

How do I know this?

After running Hockey Canada Clinics as one of my hats for over a decade, each time that Hockey Canada revamps the clinic materials, it takes a few years for the materials in new modules to get to the coaches that have already taken a clinic IF it gets to them.

This is why I am a big advocate for the NCCP program requiring ongoing Professional Development Credits to ensure that coaches learn the latest and greatest to be the best they can be.

The three core areas of the Project Play checklist that US Lacrosse is focusing on to promote multi-sport participation in particular are;

#1 – Working with Other Sports Organizations

Collaborating in lieu of competing for the same player so they can play multiple sports?

KUDOS to US Lacrosse for doing so.

Here is insight from Dave Newson, the executive director at Semiahmoo Minor hockey organization who spoke with us for our winter 2018 virtual event how they were collaborated with their fellow soccer association to permit scheduling so kids could play both soccer and hockey

After they did so, many other local sports organizations started to do the same, the dominoes they are falling as kids want to PLAY more than one sport.

#2 Focused on Engaging parents

In addition to providing resources to coaches to share with parents in their parent meetings, they are promoting multi-sport participation on social media and video below using the analogy of eating pizza every day would be like playing one sport every day, not good for the kid’s development overall.

INSERT QUOTE OF THE WEEK HERE

Play More (sports) to play better (as an overall athlete)

#3 – Focused on improving their coaching development

Like US Hockey, US Lacrosse now has 4 coaching levels that ties in their athlete development model, starting at the grassroots level up to the high-performance level.

Last year they redid all of their coaching courses and the Level one course now highlights the benefits of multi-sport participation so the grassroots coaches (many of which are moms or dads that get recruited to coach because their kids are playing) get educated on the benefits right from the get-go.

The added benefit, as many are parents themselves, they can share with the parents on their teams as well as others they know so the word of mouth will spread.

Probably one of the biggest issues that I have come across when I have interacted with coaches in Canada that are just getting started regardless of the sport is there lack of knowledge or even awareness of their respective sports long term athletic development models or fundamental movement skills required to be proficient at ANY sport, let alone the ones they are now coaching.

Things like balance, agility, running, falling, getting up, throwing, catching, one handed and two handed hitting, running which are all fundamental movement skills that every kid should have but thanks to PE programs being cut so much at the school levels, too much structure taking away free play, too many kids can’t perform the basic skills as our past generation did.

KUDOS to US Lacrosse for recognizing the importance of not only talking the talk (via core values, public service messages (PSA’s), Whitepapers (PDF’s) and education but WALKING THE WALK.

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

Youth Sports Organizations that are bucking the trends

Posted March 28, 2019January 27, 2022 Glen Mulcahy1 CommentPosted in Athlete, Coach, Early Sport Specialization, Organization Executive, Uncategorized

Many sports organizations are still suffering high rates of attrition where 70% of kids are quitting youth sports by the age of 13 due to the myriad of reasons that we have shared in blogs, presentations, social media and daily interactions with exec, coaches, parents, officials, and players themselves.

It is due largely in part to the professionalism of youth sports and focus on winning at all costs which it turn has led to parental behavior, coach criticism or running short benches, the commitment (time, financial and travel), ride home (and to), harassment and not being safe for kids to fail.

Translation – Kids are quitting in droves because youth sports are no longer fun for them to PLAY.

Last week we posted “Why kids play Video Games” as they are one of the key competitors vying for kids time today where kids are running to screens spending on average 7.5 hours a day so have replaced their former active playing time with inactive screen time.

It seems like literally every day that I open a paper, scroll thru various social media feeds or we follow that there are so many negative posts it is really hard to be positive (Half Full) vs. negative (half empty) outlook.

This only leads to complaining more about the issues in lieu of being part of the solution and doing something about it.

We have been extremely fortunate as an organization to partner with some amazing counterparts across the world who are advocating for the much needed change we need in youth sports and what gets lost in all the negativity we see daily are some of the AMAZING people and organizations that are bucking the trends and reversing their attrition rates by creating an amazing customer and quality sports experience.

This is our focus when working with organizations, to develop programs so they can attract, retain and ultimately grow their memberships.

This week we wanted to share some of those that we feel deserve Kudos for moving the needle in the right direction.

Others we are working with or come access will share in our posts, social media and digital mediums (podcasts, videos) as they deserve to be highlighted for one, but they also provide examples that if all stakeholders within organizations buy-in to the main reason we all are involved in youth sports is to focus on providing the best experience possible so the kids LOVE the game more at the end of a season than they did at the beginning.

These are three of the ones we have had an opportunity to connect with various coaches, parents, board members who have shared how they are moving the needle in the right direction.

I could not write anything about sports organizations that are setting the bar for long term athletic development and reversing their attrition rates if did not reference the one that has been the reference by many in the sports space for several years now.

In the fall I had the great pleasure to talk to Bob Mancini, Regional ADM Manager for USA Hockey and he shared with me insight on the roll-out of their ADM model which has been a 20-year work in progress.

From 2002-2012 they worked on creating the framework for the model along with representatives of their state, regional and city hockey organizations.

This included evaluation of various LTAD models adapted by other countries that was created by Sport for Life in Canada in the 1990’s and tweaked the American Development Model (ADM) to work best for their membership to include;

Age Appropriate Training
Quality Age Appropriate Coaching Development
Small Area Games
Cross-Ice Hockey
Smaller equipment, nets, adaptable pads, lighter pucks
Mobile Ap for practice planning
Resources for practice planning by age groups and positions
Promoting Multi-Sport Participation
Equal Playing Time for all players U12

In 2009 USA Hockey rolled out the ADM model and although it was seen with original resistance similar to when Hockey Canada Mandated Cross-Ice Hockey, delaying body checking until Bantam in the competitive stream, removing from all recreational levels, according to Bob when I talked to him he shared that after a few years and doing the Analytics showing the benefits they got buy-in from the entire membership.

One of the hats that I wear for BC Hockey is Regional Evaluation Lead and I am responsible for getting coaches in parts of the lower mainland of Vancouver as well as all of Washington State evaluated running practices to complete their Dev 1 Certification requirements for coaches in the competitive stream. I also interact with many of them in clinics and when they are prompted about long term player development, physical literacy, fundamental movement skills many of their hands go up as they are about 5 years ahead of when Hockey Canada rolled out their Long Term Player Development model.

Like many other sports worldwide, USA Hockey was experiencing high rates of attrition during the roll-out of ADM, losing 60% of players by peewee (by age of 12)

Three things that they did to reverse the trends

Continued to focus on ADM and age-appropriate coaching development
Focused on FUN
Eliminated their National U12 Championships

It was #3 that Bob shared had the biggest impact as organizations that vied to get teams in their national championships could back off from the former winning at all costs focus (one of reasons why kids quit) and focus on long term development and loving the game.

Their attrition rate reduced to only 8% as a result, retaining 92% of their players at the peewee age group.

For more insight on the USA Hockey ADM Model and other resources, here is a link to their website www.admkids.com

Another sports organization, TopSports based in Toronto, Ontario, that I had an opportunity to talk to one of the founders, Luke Earl, as he and a few colleagues came together to found a sports organization as were unhappy with current offerings for their young kids.

Luke and all of the other team members are former multi-sports athletes themselves, some playing professionally after their collegiate playing days for tops schools like Yale, Harvard, Ryerson, Loyola and Brock Universities.

They also are going to be one of the first early adopters of the Personal Sport record for all of their programs so they can provide both qualitative AND quantitative measurements to their athletes and their families.

What gets measures – Matters.

What are they doing differently?

#1 Focusing on multi-sport participation – kids play hockey in the winter and hang up their skates at the end of the winter season – No Spring Hockey – No Summer Hockey – No Spring or Summer Development.

In lieu -Playing Lacrosse in the Spring and are working on a Soccer and Baseball arm as well to give kids an opportunity to play other sport

#2 Focusing on LTAD (Long Term Athletic Development)

#3 Having NCCP Certified Coaches for all sports (vs. many private non-sanctions sports organizations where they bring in former players to “coach”, many of which with no or limited coaching experience and no certification

#4 Fees that are 1/3 or less that of other similar sports organizations

#5 Focus on FUN, Life Skills and love for the game

For more information on their organization check out their website www.topsports.ca

I came across representatives of More Sports, a community multiple sport model based in Vancouver, BC in various hubs of Vancouver while I was attending UBC’s Career Fair as potential employer (we sponsor co-op students who do all the AMAZING work behind the scenes so you can read these blogs, listen to podcasts and watch videos, digital events etc.)

They shared with me that they were founded to provide neighborhood-based sports programs for children and leadership courses for their young leaders. It started when a father took his kids to a local park in east Vancouver in 1998 and was told they could not play on a soccer field without a permit.

They only way they could play soccer would be signing up for the local club with reg fees (at the time of $125) which was more than the family could afford.

Fast forward 20 years later, More Sports has supported thousands of kids playing multiple sports for fees as low as $40 for 12-week programs, and if kids can’t afford that, are subsidized by organizations like Jumpstart and the United Way.

The kids range in ages from 6 to 12 years of age and have an opportunity to sample several different sports including soccer, basketball, spikeball, volleyball, floor hockey, badminton, flag football, and are looking at including ice hockey to the mix contingent on partnering with groups that can help subsidize.

The other benefit is that all of the “coaches” are not much older than the kids, they are High school age between 12-18 years old, who lead the kids in multiple sports activities and are provided with a youth leadership program who then will give back to the community.

In this day and age of play to play, travel teams leading to even further disparity of the haves vs. the have nots having the opportunity to participate in sports, it truly was refreshing to see a community-based sports organization that was providing great experiences to all those involved.

I hope to have the opportunity to visit their programs and share more insight in the future.

For more information, check out their website wwww.moresports.org

These are just 3 great examples of organizations that are bucking the trends from a national governing body to two community-based organizations who are providing quality sports experiences and unlike many other sports organizations the,y not only are attracting but retaining and GROWING year after year.

The needle can move if all stakeholders buy-in to move it.

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