MHC has always been a proponent of one set of rules for Hockey. We proposed it back in 1998 in a letter to Mr Bettman and still believe it should be that way. See letter below:
June 16, 1998
Gary Bettman
NHL Commissioner
1251 Avenue of the Americas
47th Floor
New York, NY 10020
Dear Mr. Bettman
I've been meaning to write this letter a long time and decided I'd better get it done during this fourth game of the cup. You've done an excellent job during your tenure as commissioner and I can only see the league getting better. I see the NHL as more of a culture than a league and in many situations change is difficult and takes time.
I have always felt that some of the college rules would lead to more entertainment in the NHL. Eliminate the two-line pass and create more space behind the net. I feel you should use the red line for icing only. These two moves would eliminate hooking and holding that is so prevalent in the NHL. You would be upgrading the talent level in the league because more skill players would be needed to replace the slower players who would find it difficult to compete.
Goaltenders would find it more difficult to leave their net to make plays.
You have been successful getting the minor leagues to experiment, but I feel you should get the junior leagues and the colleges together with one set of rules, then the minor pros and then the NHL. If you would get the International Community to accept, then you will have everyone on one page. The last time I looked, the goal of every young man in the lesser leagues was to play in the NHL so why not bring everyone together. This may seem impossible but I believe that a man with your skills could accomplish this. The NHL is providing assistance to many so you do have bargaining power.
Wishing you continued success in your position as commissioner of the greatest sport in the world.
With respect
Chuck Grillo
President of Minnesota Hockey Camps
http://www.mnhockeycamps.com
CONCUSSIONS
As we look @ various ways people are attempting to curb injuries in the NHL, one glaring situation always comes to mind. We need to have guidelines that can be measured by the officials. This takes away the decision of whether a hit is accidental or with intent to injure.
We took time to go to the rule book to see if a player is limited to the number of steps they can take before it constitutes “charging”. We couldn’t find any and we firmly believe it should be three (3) or less if your thinking is in the best interests of the players. This gives the physical player ample time to deliver an honest check if that is their intent; but more importantly it forces players @ all levels to learn containment versus punishing the opponent beyond repair. When is the last time you saw the signal for charging? If recently, how often did you see it compared to other calls?
There is nothing any more dynamic in the game than an opponent controlling another opponent while separating them fm the puck. This is what we call textbook takeouts; one fundamental of textbook hockey.
As we travel around observing the game @ all levels, one glaring skill that is missing is the fundamentals of containment and use of leverage. Containment is easily learned and is a skill that extends careers. We know too many athletes who fall short in this skill and it’s costing them the opportunity to advance in the game.
Limiting the steps forces the defender to establish position, gain the shoulder (leverage) and separate the puck carrier fm the puck. We have always taught checking this way because it accomplishes a number of things that give you an edge on your opponent.
Eliminates the opponent fm the puck
Establishes position to the point where your body is able to protect the puck and the opponent will have to go around you to get to the puck
Controls the opponents’ mind. There is nothing more frustrating and psychologically damaging than the opponent controlling your body.
Teaches players the value of touch and carry skills in traffic as they attempt to protect the puck
Why take a penalty for a stupid hit, when you can frustrate your opponent, control their mind, to the point where they feel defeated with a simple textbook take out
As we think back to our early years, the number two (2) comes to mind in certain rule books. This number was used so players would have a tougher time generating speed on a hit. It kept hits limited to the genetic impact strength of the person making contact. Two (2) steps and then contact or you are whistled for charging. We don’t pretend to know the number to use in pro, but we do believe there should be a number that enables officials to make split second decisions.
With the new obstruction rules, players are capable of generating high speeds going for pucks and on the fore check. It’s time to limit access to the opponent by instituting some type of measurement like number of steps; @ least using it as a guideline. If players skate a long distance, coast, and then take two steps, the coasting phase counts as steps. They simply came too far and that can lead to injuries.
Players generating speed and traveling multiple steps to hit someone are the cause of too many injuries in the game. Injuries aside, this type of situation also incites the opponent to the level of games getting out of control because it looks so deliberate. The players feel the need to police it and thus the reason for games getting out of hand.
We’ve studied these situations for years. Limiting steps would be very easy for referees to make a decision. It is really a no decision because you simply broke the rules. Containment and takeouts become an art equal to skating, passing, receiving and shooting that we’ve had an appreciation for our entire career. We worked on it daily and our goal each game day was 100% take outs.
STATUES
This is our second (2nd) writing requesting the NHL place statues of all their Hall of Famers in front of the appropriate rinks. One, in front of their pro rink if it’s still standing; two, in front of their development rink if it’s still standing; three, in front of an appropriate rink in the vicinity. Statues have a significant value in preserving the game as well as developing more followers of the game.
One need only go to Pittsburgh and count the number of pictures taken daily of all the statues in the various sports. We’ve seen it in person in Pittsburgh and @ the Excel Energy Center with the statue of Herb Brooks. This is a small price to pay for preserving legacies and growing the great sport we’ve been a part of our entire life. Get the statues built and erected and you will see this great game grow to another level.
ADVERTISING
No sport can claim the level of humor and character that we have in hockey. Whether on the bus, plane, in a locker room, on the practice sheet or during a game, the stories from the past and in to the present are precious and too good to keep away fm the public. Ads should be rated by their level of humor or their serious message to youth.
HBO did an excellent job of selling the sport to the public on New Year’s Day. This is one more way of making sure people find out that our players and employees are great people with an unbelievable sense of humor that can brighten anyone’s life just by making them public. Humor sells the game, people with humor sell the game and the game with its humorous side will open the public’s eyes as to how real this sport is to life.
Copyright by Chuck Grillo, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake, Rd P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.963.2444 Fax 218.963.2325
Email: chuck@mnhockeycamps.com - All rights are reserved. No part of this book, blog OR template may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without permission in writing from Minnesota Hockey Camps
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Climbers Who Care
Climbers who Care
Separating yourself fm the pack
Every person on this earth has a right to advance in life. While it’s your right to keep climbing, it’s also your responsibility to care about others in the process. How you climb is the issue. You have every right to separate yourself fm the group and MHC is the first to want you to do just that. Each year, usually around the end of February, players who improve start to separate themselves fm the group. This should be your goal. There is a way to involve the team in the process and it has to do with sharing.
Climbers who Care fit in the locker room and board room. They are detail people who care about their teammates and co-workers before any personal gains. Climbers who Care fit nicely in to companies. They are authentic, do everything with purpose, for a reason, and their self-esteem rises to unimaginable levels. Keep Climbing, Keep Sharing, and Keep Caring before Carrying and Climbing.
Climbers who Care are not something new to the scene. Its part of your upbringing that needs to be revisited with frequency in team sports to stifle greed and ensure success in a team setting whether on ice or off.
There is such a thing as good greed in a game and we believe there is not enough good greed. Good greed is an average of three (3) shots per game by defensemen who can shoot (finesse defensemen). If a defenseman has a great shot, teammates have to set them up and encourage shooting; especially if they like assists and winning.
We have no statistic on forwards but a low percentage of completion on shots means the wrong person is shooting or shooting too much. When you get that opportunity in front, have the mentality to bury your chances with zero inhibitions. Don’t look surprised it’s happening in front of you.
People who care find it tough to focus on the task @ hand when people they care about suffer. When part of your head and heart are with the other person, it’s tough to focus on your vested interests; tasks @ hand. This takes an adjustment on the part of the Caregiver. This means you need an awareness of how it works and then you adjust.
Tell me a fact; I will learn. Tell me the truth; I will believe. Tell me stories related to truthful experiences; I will treasure them the rest of my life. This is the foundation for the trust that helps develop players and build teams.
Players need to put the words smart or smartly before or after technical and tactical levels of the game. Well rounded players shoot smartly when they should shoot, pass smartly when they should pass, carry smartly only out of necessity and move pucks smartly to get them back by smartly going to an open area. This will give you a higher completion rate in your passes because you will be unconditionally moving the puck to an opening the split second that opportunity is there. Bad passes are a direct result of failure to trust your instincts; most often a split second too late.
This also includes smart anticipation, smartly competing, smart take-outs, smart hits, smart checking forward or back and there is much more as you go through each skill.
Talented players, coming thru the ranks, are used to carrying before sharing because it was easy and they may have been one of a few go to guys or the go to guy. It gets harder moving up because critical moments are what they are; split second moments that close up fast. All of a sudden the strength that made you a great prospect in your early years becomes a liability that stifles growth as a pro.
“Execution in critical moments is a skill and true measurement of player performance.”
Great mentors embolden players to have the boldness and courage to make plays in grey areas that make most coaches cringe. We believe players given a license to make plays in the grey areas will improve more than peers who are forced to chip pucks out and get it deep. Once acquired, these plays become part of the player’s arsenal and the conversion percentages continue to go up.
“Grease wheels, versus reinventing, set guidelines and let instincts take over.”
We judge people and players by their deeds. Appearance, color, ethnic background, or status is not an issue. People are authentic when what you see is what you get.
Being a pro is like being in some weird bubble or fantasy land. There are both real and bogus experiences, so beware of the “false blessing of success”. There have been too many examples out there of too egotistical, too unethical, too uncaring and narcissist behavior types. It happens every season. Learn fm it and bring yourself to the level of authenticity, purpose, reality, reason, substance and self-esteem you will need to succeed.
Society’s ills are prevalent everywhere we look. Corporate climbers are in abundance these days. Sort them out, expose the problem, create awareness, correct it, or move on to what is right. Make a special place for Corporate Climbers who Care.
Corporate settings are a breeding ground for perception, deception and greed. There are agenda driven people who are “politically correct” with “corporate bedside manners” who “articulate” well with “sound bites” that make people giddy. Smart owners sort through this behavior prior to promoting.
Solid companies are built on authenticity, purpose, reality, reason and substance. Teams are part of a company, have similar issues in the locker room and on ice, but are built the same way. The players are “real people” in that locker room.
The difference is deception, false information, hand drops, fakes and good greed done in concert when passing, carrying and shooting on ice is acceptable in a team setting because it enables you to complete plays. It is fun to be deceiving when it’s recognized as a skill and leads to success.
Keep Climbing with Authenticity
Keep Caring with Purpose
Keep Giving; it’s Reality
Keep Sharing with Reason
Raise your Self-Esteem to unimaginable levels
The rest will fall nicely in to place; with Substance being your common denominator. Your career will go in the right direction.
The revered words are:
“We love your son/daughter because he/she is a detail person who cares about his/her teammates, and others, before any personal gains. This is living life, playing and working with purpose.”
Copyright by Chuck Grillo, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake, Rd P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.963.2444 Fax 218.963.2325
Email: chuck@mnhockeycamps.com - All rights are reserved. No part of this book, blog OR template may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without permission in writing from Minnesota Hockey Camps
Separating yourself fm the pack
Every person on this earth has a right to advance in life. While it’s your right to keep climbing, it’s also your responsibility to care about others in the process. How you climb is the issue. You have every right to separate yourself fm the group and MHC is the first to want you to do just that. Each year, usually around the end of February, players who improve start to separate themselves fm the group. This should be your goal. There is a way to involve the team in the process and it has to do with sharing.
Climbers who Care fit in the locker room and board room. They are detail people who care about their teammates and co-workers before any personal gains. Climbers who Care fit nicely in to companies. They are authentic, do everything with purpose, for a reason, and their self-esteem rises to unimaginable levels. Keep Climbing, Keep Sharing, and Keep Caring before Carrying and Climbing.
Climbers who Care are not something new to the scene. Its part of your upbringing that needs to be revisited with frequency in team sports to stifle greed and ensure success in a team setting whether on ice or off.
There is such a thing as good greed in a game and we believe there is not enough good greed. Good greed is an average of three (3) shots per game by defensemen who can shoot (finesse defensemen). If a defenseman has a great shot, teammates have to set them up and encourage shooting; especially if they like assists and winning.
We have no statistic on forwards but a low percentage of completion on shots means the wrong person is shooting or shooting too much. When you get that opportunity in front, have the mentality to bury your chances with zero inhibitions. Don’t look surprised it’s happening in front of you.
People who care find it tough to focus on the task @ hand when people they care about suffer. When part of your head and heart are with the other person, it’s tough to focus on your vested interests; tasks @ hand. This takes an adjustment on the part of the Caregiver. This means you need an awareness of how it works and then you adjust.
Tell me a fact; I will learn. Tell me the truth; I will believe. Tell me stories related to truthful experiences; I will treasure them the rest of my life. This is the foundation for the trust that helps develop players and build teams.
Players need to put the words smart or smartly before or after technical and tactical levels of the game. Well rounded players shoot smartly when they should shoot, pass smartly when they should pass, carry smartly only out of necessity and move pucks smartly to get them back by smartly going to an open area. This will give you a higher completion rate in your passes because you will be unconditionally moving the puck to an opening the split second that opportunity is there. Bad passes are a direct result of failure to trust your instincts; most often a split second too late.
This also includes smart anticipation, smartly competing, smart take-outs, smart hits, smart checking forward or back and there is much more as you go through each skill.
Talented players, coming thru the ranks, are used to carrying before sharing because it was easy and they may have been one of a few go to guys or the go to guy. It gets harder moving up because critical moments are what they are; split second moments that close up fast. All of a sudden the strength that made you a great prospect in your early years becomes a liability that stifles growth as a pro.
“Execution in critical moments is a skill and true measurement of player performance.”
Great mentors embolden players to have the boldness and courage to make plays in grey areas that make most coaches cringe. We believe players given a license to make plays in the grey areas will improve more than peers who are forced to chip pucks out and get it deep. Once acquired, these plays become part of the player’s arsenal and the conversion percentages continue to go up.
“Grease wheels, versus reinventing, set guidelines and let instincts take over.”
We judge people and players by their deeds. Appearance, color, ethnic background, or status is not an issue. People are authentic when what you see is what you get.
Being a pro is like being in some weird bubble or fantasy land. There are both real and bogus experiences, so beware of the “false blessing of success”. There have been too many examples out there of too egotistical, too unethical, too uncaring and narcissist behavior types. It happens every season. Learn fm it and bring yourself to the level of authenticity, purpose, reality, reason, substance and self-esteem you will need to succeed.
Society’s ills are prevalent everywhere we look. Corporate climbers are in abundance these days. Sort them out, expose the problem, create awareness, correct it, or move on to what is right. Make a special place for Corporate Climbers who Care.
Corporate settings are a breeding ground for perception, deception and greed. There are agenda driven people who are “politically correct” with “corporate bedside manners” who “articulate” well with “sound bites” that make people giddy. Smart owners sort through this behavior prior to promoting.
Solid companies are built on authenticity, purpose, reality, reason and substance. Teams are part of a company, have similar issues in the locker room and on ice, but are built the same way. The players are “real people” in that locker room.
The difference is deception, false information, hand drops, fakes and good greed done in concert when passing, carrying and shooting on ice is acceptable in a team setting because it enables you to complete plays. It is fun to be deceiving when it’s recognized as a skill and leads to success.
Keep Climbing with Authenticity
Keep Caring with Purpose
Keep Giving; it’s Reality
Keep Sharing with Reason
Raise your Self-Esteem to unimaginable levels
The rest will fall nicely in to place; with Substance being your common denominator. Your career will go in the right direction.
The revered words are:
“We love your son/daughter because he/she is a detail person who cares about his/her teammates, and others, before any personal gains. This is living life, playing and working with purpose.”
Copyright by Chuck Grillo, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake, Rd P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.963.2444 Fax 218.963.2325
Email: chuck@mnhockeycamps.com - All rights are reserved. No part of this book, blog OR template may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without permission in writing from Minnesota Hockey Camps
Monday, February 7, 2011
The Star Spangled Banner
The Star Spangled Banner
National Anthem of the United States of America
The music, which is the melody, is written by John Stafford Smith around 1775 and arranged by William J Krauss.
The current text is written by Francis Scott Key in 1814.
Since 1931 this is the official anthem of the United States of America.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When you attend over 300 events a year, you get to hear a lot of national anthems sung and played in many countries. There is nothing greater than an anthem sung the way it should be sung. There is nothing worse than performances deviating fm the Anthem.
We’ve been witness to people singing their anthem to the music and lyrics and have been swept off our feet to the point of “goose bumps”. We know the feeling when it's done right!
The Star Spangled Banner is an anthem that is respected and revered by those who love our country for all it stands for; past and present. The anthem is respected and revered by those who have experienced the graciousness of our country. We are a nation with a proven track record of helping others help themselves in time of need; whether a disaster or war time.
If you are given the honor of singing this anthem, and it is an honor, we see no reason to deviate fm the words or music written in 3/4 time. Performing isn't about you. It's about you performing an anthem the way it is written to honor this great country. Anything less is a disservice to this nation. Forgetting a word or two is acceptable and if you run in to a memory blank, those listening should help.
We're not interested in people singing it faster, slower, deviating fm the notes or putting on some display that brings attention to them. Those that want respect sing it the way it was written and they do it out of respect.
This isn't too much to ask for the freedom we all enjoy.
We already know the reply fm the newer generations: "This is a free country."
Yes, it is, but not to the point where it becomes self-serving or disrespectful to our anthem or flag.
We believe part of the selection process for singing our anthem should be the singer being qualified and required to sing the anthem as it was written; correct words, melody and tempo.
We would not fly an altered flag and we should not deviate fm the lyrics and music that have been with us officially since 1931.
When you deviate fm the rules and standards expected fm you by the team there will be consequences; sometimes career ending. Think about it.
Copyright by Chuck Grillo, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake, Rd P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.963.2444 Fax 218.963.2325
Email: chuck@mnhockeycamps.com - All rights are reserved. No part of this book, blog OR template may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without permission in writing from Minnesota Hockey Camps
National Anthem of the United States of America
The music, which is the melody, is written by John Stafford Smith around 1775 and arranged by William J Krauss.
The current text is written by Francis Scott Key in 1814.
Since 1931 this is the official anthem of the United States of America.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When you attend over 300 events a year, you get to hear a lot of national anthems sung and played in many countries. There is nothing greater than an anthem sung the way it should be sung. There is nothing worse than performances deviating fm the Anthem.
We’ve been witness to people singing their anthem to the music and lyrics and have been swept off our feet to the point of “goose bumps”. We know the feeling when it's done right!
The Star Spangled Banner is an anthem that is respected and revered by those who love our country for all it stands for; past and present. The anthem is respected and revered by those who have experienced the graciousness of our country. We are a nation with a proven track record of helping others help themselves in time of need; whether a disaster or war time.
If you are given the honor of singing this anthem, and it is an honor, we see no reason to deviate fm the words or music written in 3/4 time. Performing isn't about you. It's about you performing an anthem the way it is written to honor this great country. Anything less is a disservice to this nation. Forgetting a word or two is acceptable and if you run in to a memory blank, those listening should help.
We're not interested in people singing it faster, slower, deviating fm the notes or putting on some display that brings attention to them. Those that want respect sing it the way it was written and they do it out of respect.
This isn't too much to ask for the freedom we all enjoy.
We already know the reply fm the newer generations: "This is a free country."
Yes, it is, but not to the point where it becomes self-serving or disrespectful to our anthem or flag.
We believe part of the selection process for singing our anthem should be the singer being qualified and required to sing the anthem as it was written; correct words, melody and tempo.
We would not fly an altered flag and we should not deviate fm the lyrics and music that have been with us officially since 1931.
When you deviate fm the rules and standards expected fm you by the team there will be consequences; sometimes career ending. Think about it.
Copyright by Chuck Grillo, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake, Rd P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.963.2444 Fax 218.963.2325
Email: chuck@mnhockeycamps.com - All rights are reserved. No part of this book, blog OR template may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without permission in writing from Minnesota Hockey Camps
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Being "Whole" without the "Holes"
Being “Whole” without the “Holes”
The game is a whole lot easier when you live it versus having to live it. Life is no different. You, living your life, versus “having to live” life, give life its true meaning. It does matter what you do because you are doing it or did it. You are the only person in this world who can use what you have going for you. Recognize what you do well and overachieve @ it. Overachieve in your asset categories knowing in advance that your teammates will emulate everything you do with a touch of greatness added to it.
“You, overachieving @ what you do best, are the best teacher your teammates will ever have.”
“It's great to be good @ what you do and better to be great; however, being “whole” enhances both good and great.”
As we travel around the world we see a lot of “holes” in “whole”. Are people/players a victim of the false blessing of success? This is one more example of why being “real” is important. Your goal is to be an important part of the reason for any success your team experiences; anything beyond is a blessing.
“We are whole when we become detail people who put aside personal gains for team success.”
Blessings, titles, accolades and clippings are great; however, the affect they have on your daily routine is more important. The best way to predict your future is you creating your future. This makes you more predictable. We were put on this earth to validate and anoint ourselves beyond all other evaluations.
We are qualified to write and say something If our minds, hearts and eyes are open. Our camp philosophy is based on open minds, open hearts and open eyes when working with people. We say, write, critique, mentor and judge others with one purpose in mind; the purpose of making them better player and people. We judge and critique with the serious intent of making people better. We do this to create an awareness of the importance of you acquiring the ability to critique you.
Creating awareness and exposure is no different than losing one game during the season. You didn’t lose the final game. It’s the beginning of you becoming a better you.
“Every child needs an element of growth away fm home.
If our camp is like your home, there is no reason to be here.”
One of your greatest accomplishments in life will be people talking behind your back. They are talking behind your back because they wish they were where you are today. They wish they were you.
If being you is difficult, recalculate and create another, or new, you. Success is directly correlated to repetition of all the little things you do extremely well. Causing others to emulate what you do well is the greatest measure of success. Things can happen, even when you feel you have everything under control, work is meaningful and life is great. All of a sudden something happens and you struggle with an answer.
If wealth and fame are your game, be aware of the perils and pitfalls while remembering all those who helped you along the way. Greatness magnifies what and who you are. Your roots are a part of that. If what you are is all you have, make it be all you need. If you can’t count on you, who can you turn to? This is all the more back up for having three (3) to six (6) mentors outside of your immediate family.
You, playing and working with purpose, being great @ what you do well, make it possible for everyone to be great. Give it some thought.
Playing/working with a purpose can mean a lot of things; however, the original definition of playing/working with a purpose is sharing with and giving to others. Sharing and giving to others is meaningful to those with a purpose and beyond that to the players/colleagues who benefit; whether a person, team, or society. How many people do you know live life with a purpose; run a company with a purpose; run a group with a purpose? They make the world a better place to live, work and play.
• Purpose is crucial to a team and company success: it is the primary source of achievement and reveals the underlying human synergy within the group. None of us stand alone. A high level of synergy between staff members, as well as a group, is as dynamic as it gets. It gives people a reason to work with a purpose and raises the self-esteem levels of those involved.
• There is no such thing as false purpose. People with false purpose get exposed in a heartbeat!
If the ruling values of life are reason, purpose and self-esteem, purpose is high on the list of admirable qualities in leadership, employees and players. It is the driving force in a people driven industry.
Copyright by Chuck Grillo, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake, Rd P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.963.2444 Fax 218.963.2325
Email: chuck@mnhockeycamps.com All rights are reserved. No part of this book, blog OR template may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without permission in writing from Minnesota Hockey Camps
The game is a whole lot easier when you live it versus having to live it. Life is no different. You, living your life, versus “having to live” life, give life its true meaning. It does matter what you do because you are doing it or did it. You are the only person in this world who can use what you have going for you. Recognize what you do well and overachieve @ it. Overachieve in your asset categories knowing in advance that your teammates will emulate everything you do with a touch of greatness added to it.
“You, overachieving @ what you do best, are the best teacher your teammates will ever have.”
“It's great to be good @ what you do and better to be great; however, being “whole” enhances both good and great.”
As we travel around the world we see a lot of “holes” in “whole”. Are people/players a victim of the false blessing of success? This is one more example of why being “real” is important. Your goal is to be an important part of the reason for any success your team experiences; anything beyond is a blessing.
“We are whole when we become detail people who put aside personal gains for team success.”
Blessings, titles, accolades and clippings are great; however, the affect they have on your daily routine is more important. The best way to predict your future is you creating your future. This makes you more predictable. We were put on this earth to validate and anoint ourselves beyond all other evaluations.
We are qualified to write and say something If our minds, hearts and eyes are open. Our camp philosophy is based on open minds, open hearts and open eyes when working with people. We say, write, critique, mentor and judge others with one purpose in mind; the purpose of making them better player and people. We judge and critique with the serious intent of making people better. We do this to create an awareness of the importance of you acquiring the ability to critique you.
Creating awareness and exposure is no different than losing one game during the season. You didn’t lose the final game. It’s the beginning of you becoming a better you.
“Every child needs an element of growth away fm home.
If our camp is like your home, there is no reason to be here.”
One of your greatest accomplishments in life will be people talking behind your back. They are talking behind your back because they wish they were where you are today. They wish they were you.
If being you is difficult, recalculate and create another, or new, you. Success is directly correlated to repetition of all the little things you do extremely well. Causing others to emulate what you do well is the greatest measure of success. Things can happen, even when you feel you have everything under control, work is meaningful and life is great. All of a sudden something happens and you struggle with an answer.
If wealth and fame are your game, be aware of the perils and pitfalls while remembering all those who helped you along the way. Greatness magnifies what and who you are. Your roots are a part of that. If what you are is all you have, make it be all you need. If you can’t count on you, who can you turn to? This is all the more back up for having three (3) to six (6) mentors outside of your immediate family.
You, playing and working with purpose, being great @ what you do well, make it possible for everyone to be great. Give it some thought.
Playing/working with a purpose can mean a lot of things; however, the original definition of playing/working with a purpose is sharing with and giving to others. Sharing and giving to others is meaningful to those with a purpose and beyond that to the players/colleagues who benefit; whether a person, team, or society. How many people do you know live life with a purpose; run a company with a purpose; run a group with a purpose? They make the world a better place to live, work and play.
• Purpose is crucial to a team and company success: it is the primary source of achievement and reveals the underlying human synergy within the group. None of us stand alone. A high level of synergy between staff members, as well as a group, is as dynamic as it gets. It gives people a reason to work with a purpose and raises the self-esteem levels of those involved.
• There is no such thing as false purpose. People with false purpose get exposed in a heartbeat!
If the ruling values of life are reason, purpose and self-esteem, purpose is high on the list of admirable qualities in leadership, employees and players. It is the driving force in a people driven industry.
Copyright by Chuck Grillo, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake, Rd P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.963.2444 Fax 218.963.2325
Email: chuck@mnhockeycamps.com All rights are reserved. No part of this book, blog OR template may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without permission in writing from Minnesota Hockey Camps
Friday, January 21, 2011
Specialization; part II
Specialization; its place in Hockey
Joe Ciardelli, strength and conditioning coach @ MHC, teamed up with us on Sports Specific Training as an answer to specializing.
Specific or precise training is the final touches of the never ending training process. Sport specific training is learning how to throw a curve ball, perfecting how to draw a golf ball or practicing your slap shot. Sport specific training helps you become better at one specific sport, however, don’t mistake sport specific training with becoming a better athlete.
In order to throw a curve ball better or take a better slap shot, you need to practice that skill, but you also need to become a better athlete. Becoming a better athlete is really similar for all athletes, regardless of sport. The better your athletic skills are, the better you will become at your sport of choice. If your shoulder, back, core and lower body are stronger, you will throw a better curve ball. Also, if your shoulder, back, core and lower body are stronger, you will have a better slap shot! So why not work on becoming a better athlete?
What football coach wouldn’t want a lineman that has great explosive power? What basketball coach wouldn’t want a point guard that has great jumping skills? What track coach wouldn’t want a sprinter that is lightning fast? What hockey coach wouldn’t want a forward that can change direction on a dime or thoughts in a split second? What coach of any sport wouldn’t want an athlete that is able to do all of the above?
With proper training, all athletes regardless of sport should improve on all the skills of athletic ability; explosive power, first step quickness, lateral speed, strength, stamina, reaction time, balance, etc. These words are used in the gym all the time. They are used in the gym all the time with different sports and different athletes. Improving on these words, improves your athletic skills, regardless of sport.
Off-ice or off-field training is compatible to athletes off all sports. Becoming bigger, faster, quicker and stronger are the objectives of all athletes. These objectives can’t be accomplished without hard work in the gym or practice field. Workouts need to replicate athletic movements. It doesn’t matter if you are a linebacker taking your first step to the right to make a tackle or if you are a tennis player taking your first step to the right to hit a forehand winner.
Improvements happen by completing the right workouts off the field.
Competitions/Games are used to showcase your skills and see how you compare against others. Games aren’t for improvement; practices/workouts are for improvement. Brainerd Warriors High School Coach Jim Archibald says; “In terms of development, one (1) practice/workout is equal to eleven (11) games. If you want to improve on your abilities, then practice and workout more!
Jim grew up in Canada. He is no doubt recognizing the opportunities his son, Josh, has compared to when he was going through the process of becoming a professional athlete. Jim played for the University of North Dakota and the Minnesota North Stars.
Minnesota Hockey Camps has developed a unique training program that works for all athletes by improving athletic ability. This program is time tested and has the results to prove it. The athletes that train @ MHC leave our program better hockey players, but also better athletes and people. Many go on to star in fall sports before the hockey season starts.
Come train with us this summer!
Copyright by Joe Ciardelli and Chuck Grillo, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake, Rd P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.963.2444 Fax 218.963.2325 Email: chuck@mnhockeycamps.com All rights are reserved. No part of this book, blog OR template may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without permission in writing from Minnesota Hockey Camps
Joe Ciardelli, strength and conditioning coach @ MHC, teamed up with us on Sports Specific Training as an answer to specializing.
Specific or precise training is the final touches of the never ending training process. Sport specific training is learning how to throw a curve ball, perfecting how to draw a golf ball or practicing your slap shot. Sport specific training helps you become better at one specific sport, however, don’t mistake sport specific training with becoming a better athlete.
In order to throw a curve ball better or take a better slap shot, you need to practice that skill, but you also need to become a better athlete. Becoming a better athlete is really similar for all athletes, regardless of sport. The better your athletic skills are, the better you will become at your sport of choice. If your shoulder, back, core and lower body are stronger, you will throw a better curve ball. Also, if your shoulder, back, core and lower body are stronger, you will have a better slap shot! So why not work on becoming a better athlete?
What football coach wouldn’t want a lineman that has great explosive power? What basketball coach wouldn’t want a point guard that has great jumping skills? What track coach wouldn’t want a sprinter that is lightning fast? What hockey coach wouldn’t want a forward that can change direction on a dime or thoughts in a split second? What coach of any sport wouldn’t want an athlete that is able to do all of the above?
With proper training, all athletes regardless of sport should improve on all the skills of athletic ability; explosive power, first step quickness, lateral speed, strength, stamina, reaction time, balance, etc. These words are used in the gym all the time. They are used in the gym all the time with different sports and different athletes. Improving on these words, improves your athletic skills, regardless of sport.
Off-ice or off-field training is compatible to athletes off all sports. Becoming bigger, faster, quicker and stronger are the objectives of all athletes. These objectives can’t be accomplished without hard work in the gym or practice field. Workouts need to replicate athletic movements. It doesn’t matter if you are a linebacker taking your first step to the right to make a tackle or if you are a tennis player taking your first step to the right to hit a forehand winner.
Improvements happen by completing the right workouts off the field.
Competitions/Games are used to showcase your skills and see how you compare against others. Games aren’t for improvement; practices/workouts are for improvement. Brainerd Warriors High School Coach Jim Archibald says; “In terms of development, one (1) practice/workout is equal to eleven (11) games. If you want to improve on your abilities, then practice and workout more!
Jim grew up in Canada. He is no doubt recognizing the opportunities his son, Josh, has compared to when he was going through the process of becoming a professional athlete. Jim played for the University of North Dakota and the Minnesota North Stars.
Minnesota Hockey Camps has developed a unique training program that works for all athletes by improving athletic ability. This program is time tested and has the results to prove it. The athletes that train @ MHC leave our program better hockey players, but also better athletes and people. Many go on to star in fall sports before the hockey season starts.
Come train with us this summer!
Copyright by Joe Ciardelli and Chuck Grillo, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake, Rd P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.963.2444 Fax 218.963.2325 Email: chuck@mnhockeycamps.com All rights are reserved. No part of this book, blog OR template may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without permission in writing from Minnesota Hockey Camps
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Specialization - Pros and Cons
Specialization – Pros and Cons
Some maintain (as in the article we read in a Madison, WI newspaper) there is a change in the landscape of prep sports dating back to the early 70’s. In the past twenty-five (25) the era of the three sport athlete has given way to specialization in one sport. Some say it’s happening to pursue college scholarships and professional sports. They are placing the blame on the parents and coaches. “Kids are serving the sport instead of the sport serving the kids.” There are those who say specialization causes burn out, too many are quitting, and that couldn’t be further fm the truth.
We believe “Boring practices, poor mentors, unsolved intimidating tasks, humiliation, ridicule and scrutiny cause burnout. Failure to recognize a person’s assets, develop relationships and reward effort and achievement causes burnout. ”
If all they do is play games on week-ends and/or have boring practices during the week, this is counter-productive, but no one will convince us that twelve (12) fun filled practices and challenging ice times in around dry land, strength training, classroom and shooting isn’t the way to go. It’s all about getting bigger, quicker, stronger and faster while gaining a psychological advantage on your opponent in life. You simply learn to out-work people so the real world is a whole lot easier when your competition days are over. There is no ridicule and zero humiliation.
“We believe hard work can be fun; with courage and boldness instilled.”
We have had athletes over the years tell us how much the camp prepared them as much for life as being an athlete. Their work assignment in life became a “walk in the park” and promotions came because their employees observed their willingness to “live the brand” and log in hours unconditionally without complaining. They learned early on that “hard work is fun” and they learned it in our programs.
We receive letters most every week thanking us for our life preparation program.
Parents asked appropriate questions about our programs. We’ve included a few. If your concern is power skating, most power skating exercises can be done during a ten minute warm-up each day once you have acquired the technique.
We believe you improve the most when you skate the days you lift, sprint, and jump. This ties in all of your muscle groups which have a little different range of motion and lessens the chance of shortening any muscle group that would affect your stride. This also gives you a sense of pride in your commitment and a psychological advantage on your opponent.
If your concern is shooting, you do not need an ice sheet to shoot thousands of pucks.
If your concern is checking, we teach containment which is related to controlling the body and mind of the opponent. Control the mind of the opponent and you control the game.
Concern yourself with compete levels and the technique of containment will suffice.
Add the fun and mind challenging ice times and you have a well rounded program geared to improving any athlete for any sport. We seriously believe our Baseball, Football, Golf, Tennis and Track athletes improve greatly @ our camp. Add in some outside tennis, golf, along with the roller blade opportunities on the trail, dry land rink, and you have it all.
We coached prior to the 80’s and we are still coaching during the summer of 2011 and we always encourage our players to take part in the other sports if they can fit it in, especially if they want to do it. The biggest problem is the coaches in other sports don’t like the cross over idea and they try to intimidate. When is the Football Coach going to admit that our athletes rank amongst the highest in conditioning during Fall Football? They spend more time in the weight room and on the dry land than most Football players who “think” they work out, “think” they train, “think” they have a passion for what they do.
“If your son or daughter can go through our program, and have fun doing it, you have raised a heck-of-a child.”
There comes a time when athletes pick the sport they really like. Some sports are fillers and not as much fun for them. Every kid is different. W can remember letting our Baseball players go to Spring Football right fm the ball field; we encouraged it. Gary Sargent threw the shot put and discus after practice, and won both in High School Track while all-state in Baseball for four years. Sarge thought nothing of going fishing early, playing a little tennis, hitting the golf course, playing Baseball and going on the ice rink all in a summer day’s activity. No one made him do it.
Ralph Lovering practiced his starts with his base running, crossed over during Districts and Regional. He won 1st in the district, 2nd in regional and ran in a state track @ Macalester College the day after winning the Regional Baseball title in Thief River Falls. We know because we made the three hundred (300) mile drive with him right after the game was over. Forget the three sport athlete; they were four sport athletes and summer hockey with the right off-ice training prepared them for all of the sports. It still comes down to becoming bigger, quicker, stronger and faster; not about playing three games on a week-end.
Carl Sneep finished his USHL Lincoln Stars season in time to come home and throw a two (2) hitter and hit a three-hundred eighty (380) foot home run. He played Legion ball and trained ten (10) weeks out of every summer.
Sports, and camps, are as much about instilling intangibles and keeping active children busy as they are about getting a scholarship. This is the point so many are missing. I’ve always felt sorry for the person who went home after school hours and had no activity beyond school, yet schools continue to cut back on co-curricular activities. They must want to see the prisons overflow; which is what happens when active young people have nothing to do. I feel equally sorry for young people who are denied the camp opportunity. This is a totally different intangible building opportunity aside fm the educational process in schools; therefore a must.
“Great mentors and programs embolden people. Boldness and courage levels grow.”
“People need to know how much you care before knowing how much you know.”
We know one thing for sure. The Baseball, Golf, Football, Track and Tennis players that attend MHC show up for their respective camps in better shape than 90% of their peers. We focus on athletes getting bigger, quicker, stronger and faster and we believe that serves any sport they want to play. We also provide enough technical and tactical situations to improve skills.
As said many times, burnout is not directly correlated to specialization. Burnout stems fm poor mentoring, boring practices, humiliation, ridicule and scrutiny. Failure to do well causes burnout, especially when you don’t know how, or not taught, to learn fm failure. Burnout stems fm the inability to take on the challenge of solving intimidating tasks. Helicopter parents cause burnout unless they possess the skills to mentor an athlete properly. You don’t have to be educated to mentor but those who have it you can see it and feel it; it runs right though them.
Today’s athletes are bigger, quicker, stronger, faster, and smarter. They will thin slice and challenge you the second they meet you; they will assess your authenticity and passion for their career, life and game and then text or email results to their friends and parents. There is a good chance of your qualifications showing up on Facebook.” They are more likely to challenge those who lack substance and lack the skills of a true mentor. They read through perception and deception quickly.
Hockey is one of the sports that come under the specialization theory. Those critiquing fail to recognize how much fun the game is to both practice and play. Practice can be just as much fun as games. Whether drills, scrimmages, games or just skating, being on the ice is really fun. It’s the one game where you can have just as much fun on an outdoor rink as you do in a scheduled game. Have you ever been to a public skating session with people fm age two (2) to eighty-five (85)?
People critiquing specializing need only to watch between periods of the Winter Classic, January 1, 2010. Franco Harris and Jerome Bettis, two premier athletes in their sport, two people we love as people, were shooting pucks in to an open net. While accuracy was present once adjusting, check their shooting fundamentals and determine if they could beat a goalie on a breakaway or fm the point in a game. Then picture them on skates. Now, if both had decided to play the game @ an early age, and specialized, our guess is they would be superstars in hockey, also. Just more evidence you need a specialized athlete with specialized skills to play the greatest sport in the world today. Do you want something volcanic and enticing in life? Try practicing and player the game of Hockey.
Those critiquing are failing to recognize the very small percentage of athletes that are born to be there, regardless of what sport they choose, versus the huge percentage that are in the “catch up and pass mode, and will be until they finally catch up and pass. Can you imagine the task @ hand?
Those critiquing fail to recognize the price hockey has paid to be what it is today. Hockey received very little help fm the school systems because school programs were run by football and basketball people who didn’t want anything to do with the sport, especially basketball people. The MSHSL ignored the sport in to the early 1970’s until they found out it was so dynamic they could land lucrative TV contracts. The State High School Tournament was run by the Jaycee programs in St Paul and Bloomington. The game sold itself to the MSHSL.
Arenas were built by hockey groups while gymnasiums were attached to every school. Schools with vision attached ice arenas to schools. They soon found out that hockey was one way to support the rest of the programs. Why? Hockey is dynamic, volcanic and enticing; thus the reason why young people want to spend every waking moment training and playing the game regardless of time of the year. We challenge you to count up the economic dollars brought in to communities by arenas versus community ball parks, football stadiums and gyms. We are quick to say, “We need all of them, but Hockey deserves its place.”
“Mentors capable of creating a great pond hockey setting within a structured practice are in the minority. It’s too challenging and requires skill to teach.”
The game is unique in so many ways that specialization is very important. Players control a puck fifty-three (53), inches or more with a stick in their hands so it’s not like catching and throwing a ball. Skating is much more difficult than walking, jogging or sprinting. Split second thinking is required and intangible levels get tested most every shift.
We’ve always believed that hockey players can play most any sport while athletes in other sports would find it extremely difficult and demanding to play hockey or even go public skating. We can remember challenging an athlete in “horse” our first year teaching in 1964. He was an all-state three sport star in Football, Basketball and Baseball @ Bemidji High School and was very critical of this new sport called, Hockey. We gave him a good go @ horse and then he came out to the outdoor rink in and readily admitted he couldn’t begin to step on the ice with skates let alone play the game. I even let him try to handle a puck and shoot it. That ended all criticism, we had a new fan of the game and he and I had a better relationship in Baseball.
“This split second thinking game is forever challenging the human mind and your athletic ability; this, in itself, prevents burnout.”
Copyright by Chuck Grillo, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake, Rd P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.963.2444 Fax 218.963.2325 Email: chuck@mnhockeycamps.com All rights are reserved. No part of this book, blog OR template may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without permission in writing from Minnesota Hockey Camps
Some maintain (as in the article we read in a Madison, WI newspaper) there is a change in the landscape of prep sports dating back to the early 70’s. In the past twenty-five (25) the era of the three sport athlete has given way to specialization in one sport. Some say it’s happening to pursue college scholarships and professional sports. They are placing the blame on the parents and coaches. “Kids are serving the sport instead of the sport serving the kids.” There are those who say specialization causes burn out, too many are quitting, and that couldn’t be further fm the truth.
We believe “Boring practices, poor mentors, unsolved intimidating tasks, humiliation, ridicule and scrutiny cause burnout. Failure to recognize a person’s assets, develop relationships and reward effort and achievement causes burnout. ”
If all they do is play games on week-ends and/or have boring practices during the week, this is counter-productive, but no one will convince us that twelve (12) fun filled practices and challenging ice times in around dry land, strength training, classroom and shooting isn’t the way to go. It’s all about getting bigger, quicker, stronger and faster while gaining a psychological advantage on your opponent in life. You simply learn to out-work people so the real world is a whole lot easier when your competition days are over. There is no ridicule and zero humiliation.
“We believe hard work can be fun; with courage and boldness instilled.”
We have had athletes over the years tell us how much the camp prepared them as much for life as being an athlete. Their work assignment in life became a “walk in the park” and promotions came because their employees observed their willingness to “live the brand” and log in hours unconditionally without complaining. They learned early on that “hard work is fun” and they learned it in our programs.
We receive letters most every week thanking us for our life preparation program.
Parents asked appropriate questions about our programs. We’ve included a few. If your concern is power skating, most power skating exercises can be done during a ten minute warm-up each day once you have acquired the technique.
We believe you improve the most when you skate the days you lift, sprint, and jump. This ties in all of your muscle groups which have a little different range of motion and lessens the chance of shortening any muscle group that would affect your stride. This also gives you a sense of pride in your commitment and a psychological advantage on your opponent.
If your concern is shooting, you do not need an ice sheet to shoot thousands of pucks.
If your concern is checking, we teach containment which is related to controlling the body and mind of the opponent. Control the mind of the opponent and you control the game.
Concern yourself with compete levels and the technique of containment will suffice.
Add the fun and mind challenging ice times and you have a well rounded program geared to improving any athlete for any sport. We seriously believe our Baseball, Football, Golf, Tennis and Track athletes improve greatly @ our camp. Add in some outside tennis, golf, along with the roller blade opportunities on the trail, dry land rink, and you have it all.
We coached prior to the 80’s and we are still coaching during the summer of 2011 and we always encourage our players to take part in the other sports if they can fit it in, especially if they want to do it. The biggest problem is the coaches in other sports don’t like the cross over idea and they try to intimidate. When is the Football Coach going to admit that our athletes rank amongst the highest in conditioning during Fall Football? They spend more time in the weight room and on the dry land than most Football players who “think” they work out, “think” they train, “think” they have a passion for what they do.
“If your son or daughter can go through our program, and have fun doing it, you have raised a heck-of-a child.”
There comes a time when athletes pick the sport they really like. Some sports are fillers and not as much fun for them. Every kid is different. W can remember letting our Baseball players go to Spring Football right fm the ball field; we encouraged it. Gary Sargent threw the shot put and discus after practice, and won both in High School Track while all-state in Baseball for four years. Sarge thought nothing of going fishing early, playing a little tennis, hitting the golf course, playing Baseball and going on the ice rink all in a summer day’s activity. No one made him do it.
Ralph Lovering practiced his starts with his base running, crossed over during Districts and Regional. He won 1st in the district, 2nd in regional and ran in a state track @ Macalester College the day after winning the Regional Baseball title in Thief River Falls. We know because we made the three hundred (300) mile drive with him right after the game was over. Forget the three sport athlete; they were four sport athletes and summer hockey with the right off-ice training prepared them for all of the sports. It still comes down to becoming bigger, quicker, stronger and faster; not about playing three games on a week-end.
Carl Sneep finished his USHL Lincoln Stars season in time to come home and throw a two (2) hitter and hit a three-hundred eighty (380) foot home run. He played Legion ball and trained ten (10) weeks out of every summer.
Sports, and camps, are as much about instilling intangibles and keeping active children busy as they are about getting a scholarship. This is the point so many are missing. I’ve always felt sorry for the person who went home after school hours and had no activity beyond school, yet schools continue to cut back on co-curricular activities. They must want to see the prisons overflow; which is what happens when active young people have nothing to do. I feel equally sorry for young people who are denied the camp opportunity. This is a totally different intangible building opportunity aside fm the educational process in schools; therefore a must.
“Great mentors and programs embolden people. Boldness and courage levels grow.”
“People need to know how much you care before knowing how much you know.”
We know one thing for sure. The Baseball, Golf, Football, Track and Tennis players that attend MHC show up for their respective camps in better shape than 90% of their peers. We focus on athletes getting bigger, quicker, stronger and faster and we believe that serves any sport they want to play. We also provide enough technical and tactical situations to improve skills.
As said many times, burnout is not directly correlated to specialization. Burnout stems fm poor mentoring, boring practices, humiliation, ridicule and scrutiny. Failure to do well causes burnout, especially when you don’t know how, or not taught, to learn fm failure. Burnout stems fm the inability to take on the challenge of solving intimidating tasks. Helicopter parents cause burnout unless they possess the skills to mentor an athlete properly. You don’t have to be educated to mentor but those who have it you can see it and feel it; it runs right though them.
Today’s athletes are bigger, quicker, stronger, faster, and smarter. They will thin slice and challenge you the second they meet you; they will assess your authenticity and passion for their career, life and game and then text or email results to their friends and parents. There is a good chance of your qualifications showing up on Facebook.” They are more likely to challenge those who lack substance and lack the skills of a true mentor. They read through perception and deception quickly.
Hockey is one of the sports that come under the specialization theory. Those critiquing fail to recognize how much fun the game is to both practice and play. Practice can be just as much fun as games. Whether drills, scrimmages, games or just skating, being on the ice is really fun. It’s the one game where you can have just as much fun on an outdoor rink as you do in a scheduled game. Have you ever been to a public skating session with people fm age two (2) to eighty-five (85)?
People critiquing specializing need only to watch between periods of the Winter Classic, January 1, 2010. Franco Harris and Jerome Bettis, two premier athletes in their sport, two people we love as people, were shooting pucks in to an open net. While accuracy was present once adjusting, check their shooting fundamentals and determine if they could beat a goalie on a breakaway or fm the point in a game. Then picture them on skates. Now, if both had decided to play the game @ an early age, and specialized, our guess is they would be superstars in hockey, also. Just more evidence you need a specialized athlete with specialized skills to play the greatest sport in the world today. Do you want something volcanic and enticing in life? Try practicing and player the game of Hockey.
Those critiquing are failing to recognize the very small percentage of athletes that are born to be there, regardless of what sport they choose, versus the huge percentage that are in the “catch up and pass mode, and will be until they finally catch up and pass. Can you imagine the task @ hand?
Those critiquing fail to recognize the price hockey has paid to be what it is today. Hockey received very little help fm the school systems because school programs were run by football and basketball people who didn’t want anything to do with the sport, especially basketball people. The MSHSL ignored the sport in to the early 1970’s until they found out it was so dynamic they could land lucrative TV contracts. The State High School Tournament was run by the Jaycee programs in St Paul and Bloomington. The game sold itself to the MSHSL.
Arenas were built by hockey groups while gymnasiums were attached to every school. Schools with vision attached ice arenas to schools. They soon found out that hockey was one way to support the rest of the programs. Why? Hockey is dynamic, volcanic and enticing; thus the reason why young people want to spend every waking moment training and playing the game regardless of time of the year. We challenge you to count up the economic dollars brought in to communities by arenas versus community ball parks, football stadiums and gyms. We are quick to say, “We need all of them, but Hockey deserves its place.”
“Mentors capable of creating a great pond hockey setting within a structured practice are in the minority. It’s too challenging and requires skill to teach.”
The game is unique in so many ways that specialization is very important. Players control a puck fifty-three (53), inches or more with a stick in their hands so it’s not like catching and throwing a ball. Skating is much more difficult than walking, jogging or sprinting. Split second thinking is required and intangible levels get tested most every shift.
We’ve always believed that hockey players can play most any sport while athletes in other sports would find it extremely difficult and demanding to play hockey or even go public skating. We can remember challenging an athlete in “horse” our first year teaching in 1964. He was an all-state three sport star in Football, Basketball and Baseball @ Bemidji High School and was very critical of this new sport called, Hockey. We gave him a good go @ horse and then he came out to the outdoor rink in and readily admitted he couldn’t begin to step on the ice with skates let alone play the game. I even let him try to handle a puck and shoot it. That ended all criticism, we had a new fan of the game and he and I had a better relationship in Baseball.
“This split second thinking game is forever challenging the human mind and your athletic ability; this, in itself, prevents burnout.”
Copyright by Chuck Grillo, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake, Rd P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.963.2444 Fax 218.963.2325 Email: chuck@mnhockeycamps.com All rights are reserved. No part of this book, blog OR template may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without permission in writing from Minnesota Hockey Camps
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
MHC Revered and Respected
Minnesota Hockey Camps
Revered and Respected
There are all kinds of reasons why camps maintain, sustain and build on what they have but there are also some constants that will always be a part of MHC. Memories cultivated @ MHC are memories that will live as long as each camper is able to talk about the experience. The experience takes on a tone of reverence and each experience brought in to the conversation comes fm the heart. In many ways the memories brought up are sacred because they play such an important role in the development of the person.
Whether the relationship between counselors and campers, mentors and campers or the synergy of each work out, each experience is remembered and talked about in a manner that tells you that this experience had a profound impact on each person’s life and career. This isn’t something new. People have known for years that there is no substitute for an element of growth away fm home. They are essential to the growth of any person; young and old.
Bottom line is each camper having an element of growth aware fm home and without the eyes and ears of their parents. They are out of their comfort zone facing challenges and accomplishing things that would not be the same if their parents were standing right beside them. It’s a playground setting that is remembered and revered for a lifetime. We bring the value of the playground back in to their young lives; the playground revered for the pecking order and altering the pecking order.
There is nothing that compares to counselors and mentors who show empathy, desire to share and passion for all they do in life. Young people are content to satisfy those in charge and they don’t have to be a superstar to do it. Self-esteem levels are built through hard work alone. Any accomplishment beyond simply enhances the experience.
Our camp has its own rules; not unlike a supervised playground where young people learn to survive in the pecking order rituals of daily life. The young campers are on their own, out of their comfort zone, and take pride in every accomplishment. This is true if the accomplishment is nothing more than showing up on time to put in an honest day’s work. It all starts by creating the habit of commitment to all we do.
Most young people we meet “think” they work out, “think” they train, “think” they love the game, “think” they have a passion for life and work. It’s our position that we are on this earth to create an awareness of what it takes to critique ourselves and then forge ahead with a purpose and a passion we only “thought” was existent in our daily routine. We do know that one needs a “strict routine” to ensure success and we provide that.
The camp is there to create a setting reserved for the campers and each one takes one or more experiences and channels them towards personal growth; something they are unable to do under the protection of adults and their programs back home.
The camp was founded by Herb Brook and Chuck Grillo, and the legacy of MHC lives on. In the process we are developing success stories within and outside of the game. MHC is a special place, revered and respected for all it brings to any person’s life.
Copyright by Chuck Grillo, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake, Rd P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.963.2444 Fax 218.963.2325 Email: chuck@mnhockeycamps.com All rights are reserved. No part of this book, blog OR template may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without permission in writing from Minnesota Hockey Camps
Revered and Respected
There are all kinds of reasons why camps maintain, sustain and build on what they have but there are also some constants that will always be a part of MHC. Memories cultivated @ MHC are memories that will live as long as each camper is able to talk about the experience. The experience takes on a tone of reverence and each experience brought in to the conversation comes fm the heart. In many ways the memories brought up are sacred because they play such an important role in the development of the person.
Whether the relationship between counselors and campers, mentors and campers or the synergy of each work out, each experience is remembered and talked about in a manner that tells you that this experience had a profound impact on each person’s life and career. This isn’t something new. People have known for years that there is no substitute for an element of growth away fm home. They are essential to the growth of any person; young and old.
Bottom line is each camper having an element of growth aware fm home and without the eyes and ears of their parents. They are out of their comfort zone facing challenges and accomplishing things that would not be the same if their parents were standing right beside them. It’s a playground setting that is remembered and revered for a lifetime. We bring the value of the playground back in to their young lives; the playground revered for the pecking order and altering the pecking order.
There is nothing that compares to counselors and mentors who show empathy, desire to share and passion for all they do in life. Young people are content to satisfy those in charge and they don’t have to be a superstar to do it. Self-esteem levels are built through hard work alone. Any accomplishment beyond simply enhances the experience.
Our camp has its own rules; not unlike a supervised playground where young people learn to survive in the pecking order rituals of daily life. The young campers are on their own, out of their comfort zone, and take pride in every accomplishment. This is true if the accomplishment is nothing more than showing up on time to put in an honest day’s work. It all starts by creating the habit of commitment to all we do.
Most young people we meet “think” they work out, “think” they train, “think” they love the game, “think” they have a passion for life and work. It’s our position that we are on this earth to create an awareness of what it takes to critique ourselves and then forge ahead with a purpose and a passion we only “thought” was existent in our daily routine. We do know that one needs a “strict routine” to ensure success and we provide that.
The camp is there to create a setting reserved for the campers and each one takes one or more experiences and channels them towards personal growth; something they are unable to do under the protection of adults and their programs back home.
The camp was founded by Herb Brook and Chuck Grillo, and the legacy of MHC lives on. In the process we are developing success stories within and outside of the game. MHC is a special place, revered and respected for all it brings to any person’s life.
Copyright by Chuck Grillo, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake, Rd P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.963.2444 Fax 218.963.2325 Email: chuck@mnhockeycamps.com All rights are reserved. No part of this book, blog OR template may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without permission in writing from Minnesota Hockey Camps
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