Here are the notes for the parent meeting – I reserve the right to change my mind as I am doing the presentation….
NMHA IP Meeting Presentation Sept 10, 2013 Post on the IP2 blog
Welcome and explain scope of the meeting:
Introduce the people involved
Outline the program
Explain the expectations for instructors, players and parents
Answer any questions parents might have
A Introduction of the IP team
- Karen Russell NMHA President and Initiation Director
- Jonathan MacDonald new Head Instructor for IP1 ( a promotion!)
- David Vesey Head Instructor for IP2
- On ice instructors (10 in IP1 and 10 in IP2)
Since the head instructor’s job is to select, train and supervise on ice
instructors if you have any concerns about the on ice instruction speak to the
head instructor immediately NOT to the on ice instructors.
5. Parent bench reps
Responsibility for getting gear on and off, bringing water to the bench
Communication with parents
Being the “Eyes on the bench”
Monitoring the “fun factor” of the players and parents
Monitoring safety issues
B Outline of the program:
IP is a Hockey Canada initiative not an NMHA one
IP program is the first part of the Hockey Canada long term player development model for hockey players. It is supposed to form a foundation based on the joy of playing hockey and focussing on the development of fundamental skills.
The enrollment in the NMHA program consists of 18 teams of 20 players from 4 – 6 years of age with a huge variance in the overall ability of the players.
For that reason – IP is divided into two groups:
8 teams are in IP 1 where developing skating ability is the primary focus
10 teams in IP2 the fundamental skills of hockey are developed
Players have one hour of practice time each week starting Saturday Sept 21 for a total of 30 practices and starting in late December cross ice mini games during the week for a total of 22 games. Hockey Canada will not allow games until early December. Games and practices are on the Christmas and March breaks.
In addition to games and practices there will be opportunities to participate in additional activities – some on ice and some off ice:
- Timbits Jamboree at the Sensplex (Feb?) where all Timbits teams will play one games and every player will receive a medal
- “Fun days” sponsored by other associations (Hockey Canada’s rule is a maximum of two) These are NOT FREE.
- Timbits at the Junior A Raider’s games
- Mini stick day in a gym
- Ball Hockey day (Kraft Hockeyville) in gym
- Team organized social events – are an important part of hockey!
Picture day will happen before a practice session (in October?)
Head Instructor role(s)
1. To design practice activities based on the Hockey Canada standards
It is supported by a targeted IP instructor course and resource binder of suggested activities centred on 4 phases
with 8- 10 lessons per phase.
Hockey Canada suggests :
85% of on ice time be spent on developing technical skills
15 % on individual tactics
The program is to be non competitive with no individual awards for excellence and no emphasis placed on winning.
Activities are designed to follow the principle of “learning through play”
The ability to play hockey requires several skills.
- Skating
- Stopping
- Balance and agility
- Puck handling
- Passing
- Shooting
These single actions each require many smaller components to be successful.
This means we have three obvious challenges to teach our Timbits:
The first challenge of the IP program is to break skills down into their individual components when many of them were never taught that way to the instructors or parents.
We need to develop a set of vocabulary so all players get the same message as they move through their development with other coaches. This is the basis of neurolinguistic programming (NLP).
The second challenge is to design activities to develop skills while still making sure players are having fun.
The third challenge is to explain this to a player who is between the ages of 4 and 6 and has a limited attention span.
- 2. Head Instructor’s role to assemble any materials needed to conduct the practice.
You will see some “unusual items” mixed with the more traditional hockey coaching aids.
Examples of six drills and the skills they teach
Note: Blue pucks are mandated by Hockey Canada
Plunger and ball
Hoola hoop skating backwards
Hotdog, hamburger and fries
Push the tire/ Pull your partner
Ringette rings
Basketball
Typical practice outline
- Warm up skating activity (emphasis is on warming up muscles and developing individual style)
- ALL IN skating based drills (cardio and skill development – also an opportunity to assess the whole the whole group at once)
- Division into four groups for individual activities. No more than 5 – 7 minutes per station. (In IP2 goalie training will begin in late November and will replace the individual station drills for the one player per team who is trying out as a goalie. Every player should have a chance to try being a goalie) most of the practice )
- Division into another four groups for more drills
- Wrap up skating based game(s)
- 3. Head Instructor’s is role is to continually assess player development and modify practices for individual player needs
4. Head Instructors’s role is to communicate with parents and players about progress
– Report cards for players NEW this year
– Weekly Blog https://davidnmhaip.wordpress.com outlines what happens in the practice as well as any comments .
It is not a forum for discussion.
5. Head Instructor’s role is to act as trainer for equipment and safety issues.
The trainer kit in IP2 has extra gear, mouth guards, laces, helmet repair parts etc
What parents can do:
- Make sure players come to every practice and every game
This year Bench reps are being asked to keep an attendance tally.
Find another thing to take away for discipline. Removing hockey as a form of discipline is not the right way to go.
2. Read the blog It will always tell you what is going to happen in the next practice or tell you about upcoming events. https://davidnmhaip.wordpress.com
3. If a player is hurt at practice or in a game please report it immediately to Karen Russell and the Head Instructor. It is essential that all safety concerns are addressed. No player will be allowed on ice if they do not have a mouth guard and neck protector. Their stick must have a “knob” of tape so that it cannot pass through the holes in a cage.
4. Make sure skates are sharp. They will need to be sharpened after 4 or 5 hours on ice for most players. The fastest way to frustrate any hockey player is to put them in skates that don’t work. Don’t buy skates too large in the hope they will grow into them.
5. Make sure that all the equipment has a name on it since there are lots of pads that look the same. We do not have a lost and found. Make sure that the player understands that it is their gear not yours!
6. Make sure that mouth guards and neck guards are not misplaced.
7. Take your player to family skating – the schedule is on the City of Ottawa website.
8. Take your players to a hockey game and point things out to them
9. Sit down and watch the pros and point things out to them
davidnmhaip 