Your resolution to a happy New Year

It is 24 hours till the New Year. Imagine that. So what have you to show for your last 12 months?

If you are like most people, for the past 365 days - you slept and ate approximately 3500 hours of it away.

A better question is, what are you going to do this year?

When was the last time you sat down and wrote out what you wanted to achieve? Did you even write down goals for yourself?

If you are an adult "goals" are nothing new for you. You have heard somewhere along the way that you should have some. But what? If you are a teen or tween, you might be thinking 'what is a goal?' I like to think of a goal as a dream that has become part of my world. It is no longer something (an idea or vision) in my head.

I like to use New Year's as a time to re-evaluate my goals... did I achieve what I set out to, are the ones I have still valid, am I on target or have they changed. I use it as time for reflection as well.

Goals for me are like shooting a puck at a net. If there is no net then I just the shoot the puck aimlessly. But if there is a net to shoot at, then I can put the puck in a specific area with a specific purpose in mind. The purpose might be to see how hard I can shoot, or how accurate I can be or how often I can put it in a certain are. All of these purposes allow me to shoot for an end result. What is the end result? Feeling good about myself.

So, isn't time you began feeling good? What goals do you want this year?

Take out a sheet of paper or if you have already written goals from the beginning of the season, take that out and I want you to go to a place where you will not be bothered. You want to have some quiet undisturbed time to do this.

Begin to think about the things that are important to you. Think about past accomplishments and how you felt once they were achieved. Think of how you were making a difference and delivering on every move. You should be able to find a few things. This will get you feeling good about yourself.

Now that you have this sense of pride, write down on the blank sheet of paper a header - My Goals for '09 (this will be all the things you want to have happen in your life). Under that, in no particular order - answer this question - "What do you want to accomplish this year?"

List all kinds of things... people you want to meet, how you want to be as a person, what difference you want to make. You may have big goals, small ones, ones you have no idea how you will achieve them... there are no rules. Just jot down those that come to your head.

Once you have that, beside (or below) each one write down all the reasons you can think of why you want them. If you have already written goals, but have not achieved them yet, here would be a good spot to write out "Why" you still want them. What do you think it will get you to achieve this goal? Who will you become?

If you are beginning to get emotionally charged - you now you have hit a nerve and that is the TRUE reason you want this goal. It also will become the driver in you.

Choose one or two from your list that you know you must achieve.

Once you have them,
a) write out by when you would like to have this achieved.
b) write out all the things you think you need to do to achieve it.
c) write out how you will be able to handle obstacles that come up.
d) write our how you will celebrate it once achieved.

Here is a tip if you are struggling... work from the outcome (the end goal). In other words, think about what it would be like for you to have already achieved it. You will begin to see what the end is like and then be able to see what steps you took to get to that place. Do this all the way back to the present. Once you have written it out, you will have in fact written out a plan of how to get what you want. The last step is simple - take action on the steps you wrote out.

Now, why am I telling you this? What does this have to do with hockey you might asking yourself?

Well, if you are a coach, a parent, a player a referee or any other role in the game... let me ask you a question, why are you doing what you are doing? What are you expecting to get out of your participation in this game?

The answer is your outcome - the goal you are after. Imagine what it would be like to be fulfilled because you achieved your goal. Maybe all you are looking for is to make a difference for someone. Or maybe you have no choice and being forced to participate. Either way, what is it you would like to get out of this year? It must be something that you can control. This way you will know you can take appropriate action.

I like to think that each New Year brings an opportunity of hope... a start of a new beginning.

Live your dreams and wishes. You deserve it!

Have an outstanding joyous New Year and remember...

Keep it fun!



Kevin V. Huhn

Hey Coach! Who is in charge?

Whatever happen to “I'm the coach and what I say, goes.”

Ok so it may sound harsh, but I remember a time when my parents asked me if I wanted to play hockey, paid for registration and then brought me to the rink for practices and games... That was the extent of their involvement. There was no telling the coach what to do or how to do it. It was a very clear relationship between parent, child and coach. In my case, my dad could have easily shared his 20+ years of hockey experience with a few of the guys I called "coach".


Now, I am not saying that parents meddle in the coaches’ job, today. I believe without the support of parents, a lot of what has evolved in youth hockey is a result of parents' participation, dedication and commitment. And there would be no youth hockey (to the extent there) is without them.


What I am talking about is the right that parents think they have when it comes to deciding on the development and skill teaching to their child(ren) in hockey. Let me say that again... the right that parents think they have.


When a person signs up to coach hockey he knows, or soon becomes aware, that s/he takes on the responsibility of becoming the role model, teacher and supporter of a group of young people in their formative years. The person knows that it is up to him/her to provide an environment that is safe and fun-filled for the player to learn new skills and build confidence in themselves.


It is very tough for the coach to plan out a season, then execute the plan, providing quality training and mentorship, when their teaching methods are being scrutinized, their decisions are being questioned and their strategies are being undermined by the very same people who said please coach my child.


It is a coach's duty and responsibilty to manage expectations, communicate effectively and provide a good environment for everyone involved. But in order to do that, s/he needs the space to do it in. S/he need the undivided attention of the child.

If you are a parent of a child in the game and you are uneasy about a coach, then before you are about to make a comment to the coach about how s/he is coaching, consider the following:

1. Hockey is a team sport - all the players on the team need to learn how to play a role for the good of the group, by being the best s/he can be in thier role.


2. The coach is responsible for many things and one of them is helping her/his players be the best they can be in a given situation.


3. Is your child physically in danger or being harmed?


4. Is there another perspective of the situation that you have not considered?


5. Have you asked your child what they feel or think about what has happened?


6. If this were happening to another child on the team, would you still feel the same way?
   

I have found over the past 20 years as a parent, when I stand back and watch my child perform or play a sport versus me putting my nose in on how or what they should do (making my opinion known), my children have a better sense of connection, enjoyment and experience in what they are doing. Even though at times, the result is not what I think it should be, my child walks away happier and more fulfilled. Which is what most parents want for their children, to be happy with a fulfilling and enjoyable life.

The coach has taken on the role of guiding a group of individuals perform tasks individually to achieve a collective objective - allow him/her to do it and let yourself enjoy the result - Your child playing a game, learning and experiencing growth as a human.

Do I need an agent to play in the NHL?

As November ends and December begins it is the time of the season when teenage players and parents of those players become more inquisitive about the marketplace known as professional hockey. Questions like "Should my son have an agent?" and "Do you know an agent I can call?" become part of their conversations around the rink.

More often than not, they stem from the myth that in order to become a successful player you need an agent. Albeit true having connections or knowing someone is a plus, it is not "the" answer to making it pro for a young budding star. Understanding that player agents do not make money until the contract with a team is signed, is the first step to knowing what you will be dealing with. And like any business, agents are in business to make money.

Like the stock market, player agents want to make sure they invest their resources (time & effort) wisely for a good return. They spend many months and years honing their clients to become the strong valued commodity that a team is willing to pay for. Everything from proper training on ice to media grooming is planned out for the player's development. So the last thing they can afford is a crap shoot. They would prefer to invest their time and effort on a commodity (player) that has a higher percentage of making them money, than on one who may just fall by the way side.

A study was done years ago that showed the odds of a player signing an NHL contract is 1 in 40,000. The question you should ask is not "do I need an agent?" but what needs to be done to make it. Consider a player's age. If a player is 18 or younger and playing major junior, Junior A, or B, then his NHL draft year is in 2009, 2010 or later and his odds are in his favor. If a player is older than 18, he most likely is past his NHL draft year and has less of a chance to make it.

The business of hockey (player agents and teams) across North America know almost every player who is 18 years of age at the major junior and college levels of hockey. There are player reviews by central scouting, with in depth write-ups. Players also can not rule out word of mouth. If a player is a late bloomer he will quickly learn he needs to become a marketing expert, by talking to coaches, leveraging relationships and connecting with decision makers.

The process of becoming a professional hockey player, is one of learning and growing. It is not to be bestowed on any one person. Here are some key steps that will help players live out a dream of playing professionally and connecting with the "right" agent.

1. Pick up the phone and conduct interviews with agents (there is a list of agents below from the NHLPA and PHPA. There is a list of sample questions to help with your interviewing process).
2. Speak to other players on the team and ask if they like their agent and is their agent willing to take on new clients.
3. Speak to the management of the team and ask if there are agents that have good/bad relations with.
4. Make contact with NHL team GMs and ask who they like to deal with.
   

Here is the link to the certified agents that the NHLPA / NHL work with.
http://nhlpa.com/Agents/

Here is the link to the PHPA that work with the AHL, CHL and ECHL
http://www.phpa.com/en/content/home/agents/listing/?

If you are not sure what to ask here are questions you can use: http://www.thehockeysource.tv/sectionsourceknowledge/agents.php
On that page you will find a sample of questions to ask any agent.

The more homework a player does, the more he will realize the work that is needed to play professional hockey.

Let me cut to the chase...

You don't have much time BUT you want answers.


Like most people in youth or minor hockey today, there are so many things you are being told that you can't always make sense of what you are being told. If you are a parent then you know that this time of the season can be quite stressful. By now your son or daughter have experienced time away from their studies, chores and personal enjoyments. Not too mention YOUR increased level of stress driving them, watching them and helping them stay focused on "all" aspects of thier young life.



So what can you do, starting today, that will help you feel like you are back in control?


Do what you can control. Like every good hockey player knows you can only do your own job. When you try and do someone else's, you create a gap and get in their way. Here is a list of five stress busters.

1. Be supportive - ask questions instead of making observations. Realize that you are not playing the game. Decisions are required to be made at an instance. Ask clarifying questions and then listen. You will be amazed at how simple asking a question can get them re-focused on what is important.


2. Get yourself organized. Children follow what you do, not what you say. If you are organized and plan what you need to get done, they will learn a life long skill.


3. Speak to your son/daughter's coach and teacher. Seek to understand the needs of the people who spend a majority of your child's waking hours. You will see the demand that is put on them.


4. Buddy up with another parent. Give your self a break to do other things that are important to your family. At the same, you can give another parent a break while you get to connect with your child and thier friends (teammates).


5. Imagine that your child was someone else's. How would you treat them? Probably with fewer rules and more of a free spirited attitude.

Whether you are in Canada, the US or Australia... the same issues come up in this game. Take the time each day to enjoy and share the magical moments. Hockey is a game and is meant to be fun!