Which One Are We? Critique Ourselves

Which One Are We? Critique Ourselves!

We’ve had a lot of discussions lately about careers, workplace, leisure time, recreation, religion and family. This discussion always seems to surface when we are working about 100 straight days prior, during and after the camp during the summer months when everyone is busy having vacations. Keeping priorities straight while trying to build a career will be a defining moment in most every person’s life. The moment will define, and label, you as an employee or you will define the moment and acquire a great label. I had a good session on the phone with my good friend, Tom Hexum, and we’ve come up with some ideas about work and its place in your life.

The dictionary tells us authentic people have a particular way of dealing with the external world, being faithful to internal rather than external beliefs and ideas. This is a good start for anyone while pursuing a career or multiple careers.

How do you prioritize work and your career? Work – life balance has been an issue for years. Is work on par with faith, family, leisure and recreation or does one have a priority over the other. As a teacher, coach, business owner, NHL scout and executive, I am one who has formed my own provocative opinions during my adult life. The answer is simple for me. The passion for work, especially working with young people, watching them grow and seeing them move on is much more important to me than any of the others. Included in the group are our own children, relatives, children of associates, draft picks, campers, students, future picks, and free agents. Leisure activities, time off and recreation are not on a par with my commitment to my work; not even close. The importance of my work far outweighs anything I do. My faith tells me I should go well beyond my job description and my family benefits more when I do well in my job. So, why not make work a priority?

“When there is work to do, there is no time for other things, but you can find a way to fit some good times in. “Getting it done” is required of anyone pursuing a career and advancement, whether monetary, promotion or both.” They do what it takes regardless of the perceived sacrifice.

The reasoning is simple for me. Work gives you an opportunity to have a better life, more opportunities and gives you a chance to help more people help themselves; including our own family. I’ve always been able to find my share of church, family and leisure activities around my work. Suffice to say I fit it in some way; but not to the max that would be appreciated more by others.

I am witness to all of these young people with aspirations in life and they seem to think everything surrounding work is on par with work. They crave instant gratification. They couldn’t be more wrong. Things don’t just happen. Sometimes you have to scratch and claw your way to success while sacrificing some things you enjoy more or something like faith and family you consider more important.

“Faith based people who fail to go beyond their job description must be reading different scriptures than I’ve read. Faith isn’t a crutch; faith is incentive to enjoy working hard @ what you do or want to do.”

Worst case, you have to make a “real” commitment of some kind and go beyond the ordinary. With 2,000 hrs being the average work year for most, this means you commit far beyond the 2,000 hrs to achieve. 2,000 hrs is mediocrity @ its finest. If you are not interested in being a difference maker, and going beyond your job description, I don’t know how any employer can commit to you. You have no idea the number of people I’ve met that are satisfied to “just do my job”. They are the same people who question why they don’t get a raise and/or promoted.

The great mentors in the world live by the quote: “My obligation and responsibility to you is greater than your obligation and responsibility to me. I will do what it takes and enjoy doing what it takes.” Live by these words, and you end up being the primary beneficiary because people become what you believe they can be. Young coaches get in to the game with the idea of having a great career. Problems arise when their career has priority over those they are working with. This is the opposite of how life works.

Categorizing this situation is easy for me because I am witness to it most every day. There are coaches in the game for their career and personal gain and there are those who are in it for those in their care. Some are in to it for extra spending money; which to me is criminal. The first, even though talented, will have a short career and be scrambling for work. There are too many who fail to embrace opportunity, fail to go beyond their job description and visibly show a caring level to impact others.

Someone taught them early on in life that perception and deception is more important than substance and reality. Some possess all the skills, and articulate extremely well with good sound bites. Others add a great hand shake and look you in the eye just like they were taught. I’ve had too many experiences with this type of person and I am always wary of “articulation, good sound bites, a fake hand shake and look in the eye”. I want to see and feel the substance. I’m not satisfied until I sort it out and it’s time tested.

Mentors are a level up on a coach by a considerable margin. This is a simple choice for me because those putting the players before their career will have better careers. I know I would never be enjoying the career I have if it wasn’t for the players in my life. Focusing on players getting better in every possible way should be the priority and you will end up the beneficiary. The players I coached in my early years are the underlying reason for me enjoying a career in the NHL along with those who were in a position to give me an opportunity.

“I can honestly say I’ve lived every job I ever had and I still haven’t arrived, and I’m a very lucky person. My avocation @ age three (3) is my vocation as I start working my way thru the 70’s.”

It’s always been fun to thin slice people in the profession; whether myself, management, players, coaches or mentors. The players are the easiest because they only need to be difference makers with some degree of consistency, be a “real person”, reach a skill threshold required for the level they play and the mind will take it fm there. Skill to express your skills and skill to get out of yourself and bring others in to your life enter in to the equation.

“How hard is it to be a real person?” There is a difference between a “good guy” and a “real person”. Good guys often times are only good guys who are lukewarm, ride the fence and talk out of both sides of their mouth. They say what they think you want to hear and they lack substance. “Real people” are more likely to take a stand with a thought provoking statement.
The coaches are a little more difficult, but you can see it, feel it and it moves right through the team with regard to their impact on players. The interest and sincerity shown is easy to measure. It is all part of their demeanor, eyes, tone of voice and words; words having the least impact. Once @ this level, they are well on their way to the Mentor level.

Mentors stand alone in this world. True Mentors are very visible and their work is easy to observe and measure. They always pass the authenticity test which puts them a level up on a coach. “The great mentors get angry @ the right things, with the right people, the right way, @ the right time and the right length of time. They should be recognized and commended for this. They embolden those in their care with boldness and courage. They are 24/7 when it comes to all the intangibles required to be a great Mentor and are consistently demanding when it comes to intangibles complementing a skillset. The great Mentors judge people with the sole purpose of improvement as their main objective.

Management is easy to sort out by assessing their caring levels and inner circle. I feel it is important to have business – personal type of relationship because the love, loyalty and respect are always present. There are two winners or no winners. Working in this setting makes work fun; even makes hard work fun. You would probably stay on if you won the lottery. There is no better boss than one capable of creating a positive culture. The same can be said for anyone in leadership roles capable of creating a winning culture.

Work hard with drive to excel; make it a priority and go beyond your job description. Be curious with a high compete level, smart, think things through, and articulate well with good sound bites that are time tested. Back it up with substance and reality and you will be well on your way to a successful career.

People with a passion for life and the game are forever looking for something new or something to solve. They are always looking for lessons in life and the game. They are the most curious people we know and they never arrive. This is a prerequisite for being a complete athlete and leader.

Show us a life examined, re-examined and critiqued on a daily basis and we will show you a life worth living. There is nothing more important than passing the “authenticity test”; what you see is what you get and what you get is a “real person”, one who cares about others, before any personal gains. This internal attribute, being faithful to internal thoughts, beliefs and ideas; will take you far beyond anything external. There is an authenticity test for every position in the game.

Copyright by Chuck Grillo, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake, Rd P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.96.2444 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

Legends; the role they play in my life

Legends; the role they play in my life

I find it important, when the opportunity is there, to sit down with Legends fm any sport. I had the honor of doing just that on July 25, 2010. Fred Zamberletti, Grandfather of Patrick and Jay stopped in during registration with his daughter, Lisa. Lisa has the same passion for her children, and sports, as Fred has shown during his fifty (50) years with the Vikings. While on their way, she called the camp and said, “I’ve talked my father in to driving up with me fm Bloomington and he wants to meet you.” While it was nice of Lisa, she had it wrong. I was the one who wanted to meet him.

We sat down in the dryland and strength training area to discuss sports; past, present and future. He was especially happy to see the number of players in the gym when they were not scheduled to be there. One player told him, “Character is defined by what you do when no one is looking.” Needless to say, Fred was impressed. He met our intern trainer, Katie, fm Mankato and couldn’t have been nicer to her. They spoke and he was in no hurry to cut the conversation short. The message is clear, “All the great people in our society have time for young people just starting out in their careers. Fred is one who believes all they need is an opportunity.”

The stories flowed all the way back to his time in Hibbing, MN in 1959. He knew every coach in the Hibbing system regardless of what sport they were involved. Names like Herman Frickey, Joe Milinovich, Mario Retica, George Perpich, Frank Bugliosi, Al Rice, Mike Marion, Nick Maras, Cal Sabatini, Matt Berklich and others were all known by first name. He was throwing out all of the names and had even spent some time in the service with George Jetty. He spoke about Don Brose and the great job he did with the Mankato State program.

We talked about the Hankinson family. Ben is here with his two boys and eight others fm Edina. One of them is the son of Dean Williamson, grandson of Murray (72 Olympic Coach) who Fred knew well. He took time to say hi and throw out a few colorful one liners.

I was most impressed by his knowledge of hockey; past and present names and teams throughout the state of Minnesota. We talked extensively about Bud Grant, Herb Brooks and others.

Fred Zamberletti's Biography

Fred Zamberletti enters 2007 with a long and storied history with the franchise and a remarkable streak intact-Zamberletti has not missed a game in the 47-year history of the Vikings, working 948 consecutive contests. The streak includes all preseason, regular season and postseason games in club history.

Zamberletti has earned the respect and trust of countless players and staff during his tenure with the Vikings. In his time with the team Zamberletti has been a friend, brother, father figure and mentor to countless players, coaches and co-workers. When the team held Fred Zamberletti Day on December 20, 1998 before kickoff of the Vikings-Jacksonville Jaguars game, over 100 Vikings alumni turned out to celebrate with him.

To the media he's known as "Trainer for Life." Former head coach Bud Grant acknowledged him as the "Cornerstone of the Vikings" and former General Manager Mike Lynn referred to Fred as "Mr. Viking." The players with respect and admiration refer to him as "The Man." To his friends and compatriots he is known as "The Voice of Reason." Zamberletti was the Head Trainer from 1961-98, Coordinator of Medical Services from 1999-2001 and currently Senior Consultant. A successful entrepreneur and a man of deep religious beliefs, the 74-year-old Zamberletti was a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Infantry.

Following his graduation from the University of Iowa he served as chief physical therapist at Hibbing General Hospital in 1959 and head athletic trainer at the University of Toledo in 1960 before joining the Vikings at the team's inception in 1961.

Zamberletti is a native of Melcher, IA, and in addition to numerous professional awards he was inducted into the Minnesota Athletic Trainers Hall of Fame and was chosen Professional Athletic Trainer of the Year in 1986 by the Drackett Company of Cincinnati. He and the Vikings staff earned the 1996 NFL Athletic Training Staff of the Year. In 1999 he earned the Cain Fain Award at the NFL Physicians Sports Sciences Symposium and is an Honorary Fellow of the Minneapolis Sports Medicine Center. Recognized by the governor as an Honorary Ambassador of the State of Minnesota, Zamberletti has also received Minneapolis' Honorary Citizen Award. The PFATS' senior member enjoys walking, bocce ball and cribbage.

Fred was quick to comment when I mentioned the use of the Johari Window in our program. He said, “I find it interesting you bring up the Johari Window. I know very few who are aware of the process for creating awareness and solving problems. I know people who need it badly and have no idea what it is.”

His one liners were one after the other, all tied to affection, loyalty and respect.

I find one common denominator with Legends. It’s all about the passion they have for the sports in general, the passion they have for people, the history of the game and their willingness to talk unconditionally about something they love. We can always learn something fm them because their knowledge and wisdom runs so deep.

I have no problem saying I have a deep respect and love for Fred Zamberletti as a person and professional after just two hours. This is the neat thing about sports. We don’t need a lifetime to develop a relationship. The sporting world is full of short term relationships that last forever. We can always take something fm these relationships even if we don’t see the person again. It’s there, it’s unconditional and it’s priceless. I took a lot fm the experience and will treasure the moment as long as I live.

Thanks, Fred!

We finished the day with Luke and Pepper, Camp Dogs; Piper, Youngest employee; Rob Grillo, San Jose; Dino Grillo, Multi task hockey man; Greg Malone, Tampa Bay; Scott Luce, Florida; Scott Hillman, Independence, MO; Josh Hauge, Fairbanks Ice Dogs; Clairene Grillo, Matriarch of MHC before going home to see Biscuit.

Copyright by Chuck Grillo, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake, Rd P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.96.2444 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

Rachel's Renegades - a truly spectacular group of young players

Minnesota Hockey Camps with
Rachel’s Renegades
July 18 – 24, 2010

As I am driving back home from Minnesota Hockey Camps, it gave me some time to reflect on not only my past week with the Renegades but back to a time when I worked at Minnesota Hockey Camps as a young girl. Back then, there were only a handful of girl hockey players, Cammi Granato was one of those handful, she now has a picture in my dad’s office with her gold medal as captain of the USA Women’s Hockey Team and is a proud member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. I wondered what it would be like to truly share the Minnesota Hockey Camps experience with my own girls and 25 years later I was able to do just that…my daughters returned to camp when girls’ hockey has now become more of the norm than just a handful.

My daughters and I wanted to take our hockey camp experience and share this experience with other girls and that is when Rachel’s Renegades was formed. Little did I know that the experience and a group of 15 girls would impact my life just as the week had impacted their own. We had a group of eleven girls (nine from Stillwater and two from Alexandria) staying on site in cabin #14 with one den mother (myself) and a group of four Brainerd girls who attended day camp.

I think back and am sure I questioned how these eleven girls would spend 7 days together when many of them had never been away from home more than a day. Everything just fell into place. The girls figured out a roommate plan. Two of the girls made signs for every room and woke up before me on Monday morning to post the signs. No one had much time to miss home as the week began.

The mornings were off to an early start with the daily wake up at 7:00am. I never once had to ask a second time for anyone to get up and they all woke with a smile (I am not sure if the smiles were from the sunshine or the morning song that greeted the girls every day). The nights started with a few later nights but as the week and the hard work wore on, the bed time laughter ceased to about five (5) minutes and the cabin was silent.

Their days consisted of the traditional Minnesota Hockey Camps routine which included two ice times, dry land training, weight training, classroom, stick handling and shooting. There was a small amount of recreational time when the girls spent their time playing volleyball, swimming or rollerblading. Four of the girls used their down time to take the “1000 sit ups a day challenge” and were rewarded by Joe Ciardelli, MHC Strength and Conditioning Director, with their name posted on the sit up wall of fame.

This week was a perfect fit for these girls as they were learning about independence, being away from home and the whole camp experience not to mention it involved hockey, their number one passion. It also included some great mentors within Carolyn Sneep, who plays hockey for St. Olaf College and Joe Blake, their counselor, whose passion for the game was apparent in every day activity not to mention connecting with the girls as a true role model. Caroline and Joe even offered to spend one evening frosting cookies with the girls for a night time snack and a little down time.

When I look back as the den mother of the Renegades, one particular event changed me the most. My Dad (Ole’ Gringo) gave a presentation on his “Template for Success…An invitation to critique yourself”. I wondered what these young girls would take away from such a presentation that he typically addresses to a much older audience. So I went back to the cabin and asked what the one thing they took away from the presentation. The first gal who spoke commented,”I wrote a couple of pointers on my arm. Think big. Believe big. Dream big and big things will happen”. She also commented to “always do something out of the ordinary”. Other comments included “it will be the speech I will remember the rest of my life” and “W-I-N…what’s important now”.

Out of all the comments I hope that the one that sticks the most is what it means to be a “great player versus a great person”. The very best player may not be the very best person and that the person you become can lift you up to exceptional player status when you figure out how life works and what it means to be a great person”. Gringo used a prime example of how Sidney Crosby is both a great player and a great person which ultimately proves his tremendous success in life on and off the ice.

What an honor for me to spend a week with these girls. I truly hope the girls will have this memory of their camp experience for the rest of their life and that they too will someday reflect back as I have done to their very first Minnesota Hockey Camps experience and maybe, just maybe, share the experience with their children. I wish nothing but huge success for these gals…they proved to me that hard work and fun can coincide as they truly begin to figure out “how life works”.

Thank you Minnesota Hockey Camps for a great week!

Sincerely,
Rachel Grillo Rondeau

Rachel’s Renegades…breakin’ down the game one goal at a time.
A group of girl hockey players with a passion for the game and building character for life.

Chuck Grillo's comments: This message is one of those moments that mean more to me than those I write, because this is a daughter having a true life of experience out of love for a group of young players. Her obligation to them is greater than their obligation to her, yet she makes it appear that she is the one receiving the rewards. This make her a true mentor; one who emboldens those in her care. Her Mentorship skills are valued versus feared; and that is the measuring stick for any Mentor. I am a very proud Dad!

It's my belief that every one of these young players will reciprocate in some way @ different times in their lives.

Copyright by Chuck Grillo, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake, Rd P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.96.2444 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

Make-up of a Winner

Make up of a winner – Make up of a Winner

We care about what we do, work it and live it. Hockey has been a way of life versus a way to make a living. We have been in development for over 40 years now. I lost interest in the fantasy of sports not long after I started because I discovered image through perception was the furthest thing from what is real. I lost interest because I discovered real fast that image through perception was taking over in our society. I was witness to companies failing because people and athletes got caught up in perception and image being more important than substance and reality. Companies are people driven and perception and sound bytes just do not cut it.

Image resulting from substance is what we are looking for. Show people you are on the team for all the right reasons and you can be counted on to be there when they need you. Be respectful of what each player and staff member brings to the setting. This includes being there for your teammates and coaches after your playing days are over.

In my later years I have been consumed by the tragedy of sports, especially in the area of development. We have done the best we can do with the knowledge we have at our camp. As the years go by, we find we need more and more knowledge. This stems from observing both highly skilled and supposedly predictable players, as well as those with a blend of upside and skill, who fail to become what others believe and/or predicted they would be.

Our camp is a value paid, value received experience for many reasons. Our goal is to show a sincere love for the players and those who loyally work for the camp. We try to blend firmness with humor and fun. We are in to negotiating what is right for our players and employees while keeping in mind that discipline is paramount with so many on the grounds. We like to know what players think because this leads to a more positive training atmosphere. We recognize no two people are the same, so our treatment will not be the same. We do know that players who come to us have the potential to be under our care for a life time. “

Our obligation to them is greater than their obligation to us.”

We recognize that a much of what is done in the game today comes from consulting with players and negotiating the things we want them to do. It is in the best interest of both parties to determine assets that help define the role of the person and player. We also recognize the need for a game within their game.


We go through life and change is inevitable. While there is no harm in change, philosophies are updated as we get older. Our attitude changes as we gain experience and learn more. Young people gain from positive changes in our philosophies and beliefs. We can't expect everyone to believe in what we do. Some simply are not interested in what we do and do not want to put in the hours necessary to have a value paid, value received experience. We can accept that, but we still feel the need to speak our piece.

We have continued to preach that open-mindedness and willingness to learn and grow is the right way to go. When we are satisfied, reach a comfort zone, repeat ourselves or fail to progress, we should get out of the development business and do something else.

“Like our athletes, we never arrive.”

We can all learn something about ourselves when we take time to digest the beliefs of others. Nothing about us should be predictable outside of our willingness to learn and get better.

Players are in a position to control only what they can control when you are playing. Don’t worry about how many shifts you get or how your skills compare to other players. Worry about your assets; things you do well. The most important ingredient is preparation because you never know when you are going to get that opportunity.

“When you get the opportunity, overachieve in your asset categories.”

The big message is still, "What do I have to do to take my game to the highest level? What will insure or guarantee my success?" Training properly during the summer months is an insurance policy to succeed and still carries no guarantee. It is human nature to get up every morning to “Be whom and what we are”. We need to acquire a habit of getting up every morning to “Be as much as we can be”.

We like to build a team setting in the weight room, dryland and ice sheet where players have fun exchanging ideas with each other and laughing their way through a work out. We want players to think their way through games, practice, plyos, strength training, jumping and sprinting; to come up with an understanding of why it is all good. I've always been under the impression that we must respect each player's intelligence to the point where players are allowed to think their way through games and training sessions versus simply executing a person's thoughts. The new breed of coach is too domineering. They jump on the 1st mistake versus letting a player figure it out by emulating someone who does that particular skill or play to perfection. They lack respect for players' intelligence levels. This is why Herb Brook’s system was the best for young people who wanted to improve.



Young people have to understand that they will emulate excellence if they permit themselves to emulate excellence.The smart players and teams have players in shape before training camp. The smart player learns to maximize his potential through honest training sessions. This way they get off to a good start. Some are on their way to great seasons and playoffs while other players and teams are still getting in shape.When we talk, we have to know what we are talking about; and I think we do. When we write, make sure we understand what we are writing about; and I think we do.

My relationship with Herb Brooks taught me that it is not all bad to be provocative because it is thought provoking. We have an opinion and we know we put ourselves in a position to attract scorn from people with different beliefs in what we do. This is what makes it all so special. The bottom line is there are too many examples of career tragedies to ignore what is happening right in front of our own eyes. This would not happen if a training regimen was laid out to a point where young people felt it was not only fun but required for success. Your position in the games reaches far beyond your own community.

“Think big, believe big things can happen, keep the rink big and big things have a better chance of happening.”

When I was involved with Herbie, he would always call when he had a new idea. When he was in the mood to talk, I was mesmerized by what he had to say. He was a confrontational, provocative thinker and doer that made you think and respond in a way that fit your own skills. If you listened carefully there was a message in his words that fit your personality and assets. It wasn't about copying Herbie. That is what made him unique when compared to others. If you felt like responding you better be prepared to say what you think and know what you are talking about.Herb had the unique ability to rip and praise you @ the same time if you listened carefully. He understood people and what made each person go. He could have coached in any era because he had the respect of the players. Respect, loyalty and love are all earned. He had a way of earning your respect and loyalty. The end result was love for the man. This is what we are striving for @ this camp.

As I walked by his mural @ the University of Minnesota each year, I stop to say hi in a way only the two of us would understand. I did it when the building was almost empty and I did it both nights I was there on October 27 and 28, 2006 because I forgot a few things the first night. I was quick to point out that he deserved to go in to the NHL Hall of Fame for all the right reasons.I think of all the things we write and say because of our experiences. Many people see what we say and do as a criticism of what is going on in the game and society today. We’ve been accused of bashing agencies and people when all we are doing is attempting to create awareness for the good of any athlete. If awareness and exposure provokes anything but thinking about where we are today, we have a misunderstanding of the meaning of both words.


We are saying things based on our experiences and that is the honest truth. This makes what we say alright because everyone in this country has a right to their opinion. No one has to agree with us but they should respect our right to say it and then decide how it fits them or their child; or if it fits them and their child. The ability to expose and create awareness is the one thing I love most about this camp and my life.We have to do everything with a little flair plus a lot of humor; and things will go our way. I want our athletes to leave this place knowing they have a right and an obligation to themselves to overachieve in their asset categories with charisma, character and composure. They have a right to have an attitude, boldness, gregariousness and a swagger just like anyone else. They do all this by ridding themselves of any and all inhibitions while executing during a critical moment. They also have to understand that doing and saying things, whether great or not so good, sets a person up to be critiqued. Once we show even a glimpse of excellence as a player, or take the time to document our beliefs, we set ourselves up to be critiqued.“Maximizing potential cannot be achieved in a domineering atmosphere.”

The neat thing about being competitive, whether in business or a sport, is the opponent is just like you. There is a great deal of respect for competitors who take their assets to the highest level. You come to realize that these competitors could end up being your best friends after you shake hands and begin to share what works in developing people and players.

We go in to all this knowing we are setting ourselves up to be critiqued and criticized; no different than a player who makes a statement during a shift on the ice. I wouldn’t want to live my life any other way.

Copyright by Chuck Grillo, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake, Rd P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.96.2444 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

Doing Something Out of the Ordinary

Something Out of the Ordinary

Every time I go to a convention or sports festival, I come away with questions related to improvement. After attending the U18 festival, I have three questions. One, how much time is spent on the mind? How is this time reinforced? Two, why is there not more input fm all the expertise sitting in the rink; whether pro, college or junior? Three, why not invite the parents to all session that are personal growth in nature so they can reinforce what’s said?

Do something out of the ordinary @ any age and your life changes forever. Your life becomes more of a business than it was before this happens. This is a small part of how life works yet young people fail to recognize this as part of the growth process. Seasoned pros are subject to the same scrutiny after toiling as journeymen and then finally doing something out of the ordinary. People impressed by the moment want to see it again.

I’ve been witness to people doing something out of the ordinary many times over my career and I’ve always wondered why they had no idea how to repeat and no idea how important it is to duplicate. We have a responsibility to youth that goes far beyond youths’ responsibility to us. They are innocent, some with a lot of try, which turns out good on occasion. How do we get them to understand the importance of repetition and duplication? How do we get them to understand that once you show something special, people think less of you if you fail to do it again, and again, and again?

Once you show others your “WOW factor” you need to purge, sustain and build on that moment if you want to continue to be the “flavor” or the day. We say purge because you have to focus in on duplicating your effort over and over again; guard against sophistication and complacency setting in.

“We never arrive in life.” Very few athletes understand how this works. If they did, they would have no problem understanding the importance of consistency when it comes to the different levels of performance.

Consistency is an asset controlled by the mind. Mentors have the obligation to spend as much time on the mind as they do on technical and tactical levels. If all you have to offer is, “You need to be more involved, more physical, more energy, you are probably just a coach or something similar; someone with no value and just in charge of the group.”

“There is a huge difference between a coach and a mentor.”

Things don’t just happen in life. If you are fortunate to “WOW” someone, realize you will have to duplicate it if you want continued appreciation for what you do well.

“Doing something out of the ordinary is a defining moment in your life and the moment will either define you or you will define the moment.”

Next comes all the adulation that is a part of people doing well. Parents’ inability to deal with adulation reaches a point where it finally has a negative effect on the child/athlete. Parents need to guard against adulation as much as the athletes have to guard against sophistication and complacency when things go well.

“Adulation, sophistication and complacency kill careers.” Guard against any chance of this mindset surfacing.

Why is it athletes do better when they identify with adults? Answer is: Your life is a business. Business and personal relationships with those in charge are precious experiences that become of part of your routine the rest of your life. Adults are an important part of your life. Every child needs three (3) to six (6) mentors outside of their immediate family.

“Mentors are judged by their ability to instill boldness and courage in those they mentor. They focus on the mind more than the skills; with knowledge that mind skills are more important than feet and hand skills. The mind dictates the level of control you have over your opponent in life and the mind determines how well your feet and hand execute.”

Our good friend fm Denver, Sammy Granados, says, “You have what it takes to get here; do you have what it takes to build on that and stay?”

Copyright by Chuck Grillo, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake, Rd P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.96.2444 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

Happy With Our Life

HAPPY WITH OUR LIFE

ST Cloud State Coach, Bob Motzko, calls MHC “the best kept secret in hockey”. Bob, having known our family most all of his playing and coaching career, is one who is qualified to judge what he’s observed over the years.

Our family has our own little corner of the world in the pristine surroundings @ Minnewawa Lodge, Home of Minnesota Hockey Camps, in the heart of the Brainerd Lakes Area. The setting for the camp is addictive and the serenity the envy of most that experience even one trip on to the grounds. This is where we hang out and this is where we like to offer our training services to those interested; whether aspiring professionals or young people on a path to becoming productive citizens. Our circle of friends and associates is very small. Most important of those is our strength trainer, Joe Ciardelli, our only full time employee outside of our family.

We are grateful to those who continue to work with us as coaches and our support staffs are special to us. Some are “lifers” with us and others are passing through hoping to become a better player, better coach, better worker, and even better person. We enjoy being who we are and we enjoy helping them reach their goals and objectives in their personal lives.

We may be “nobodies” in the scope of the whole world, but we are somebody in the real world of countless people whose lives we have impacted along the way. We measure our net worth in 8 x 10’s. This places us amongst the richest in the world and we get to take all of these memories with us. Observing the National Camps for USA hockey during the summer, the first thought entering our mind is how much we could help those who need to put the finishing touches on their body and their game.

We love where we are in our life. It’s a happy place, a cool place, a place to improve all of our lives; whether player, support staff, staff or owners. The only change we need is the continuous change that comes with getting better and the change that comes with the search for peace of mind.

The hockey sports scene has changed considerably over the years but the only changes we’ve made are the upgrading of our facility and the continuous search for down to earth training methods; simple but effective. We are still in to telling young people things they do not want to hear with the hope that they recognize what’s important in life; how life really works. We believe it is all about the journey, keeping your vehicle on the road to success. We are also aware that this is a complex process in this millennial generation influenced by generation X, the baby boomers and the few traditionalists that are still standing.

If you want to be part of the proud, the few, the MHC campers, who leave this camp a better player, and even better person, consider spending some weeks with us. We are a value paid, value received camp with a vested interest in people becoming what we believe they can be. We do it by “helping people help themselves” and we have a way of getting the message across.

Copyright by Chuck Grillo, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake, Rd P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.96.2444 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

NHL Draft Day

NHL draft day is a defining moment in the lives of more than just the players selected.

“When a defining moment comes along, either you define the moment or the moment defines you.”

Lots of dreams come true, some dreams are shattered and frustration boils over after hearsay and promises during their draft year. The players are rated on their quickness, speed, shooting, offensive hockey sense, defensive hockey sense, character and work ethic. They all received grades and all that gets tweaked in line with their ability to adjust to all the requirements for performing.

Curiosity that leads to learning all aspects of the game, including history and developing a respect for the game gets questioned. Then there all the words that begin with “C” that will ultimately define each player’s position in the draft and the game. Teams are looking for young people with compassion for others, players who care about their teammates in addition to their career. Teams are looking for young people with the composure to put mistakes and success behind them and those willing to compete with courage and confidence in a play-off setting. These players generally make solid choices and are comfortable in their own skin while defining and trusting their game. Cup champions are made up of players with character and the class of a champion who get it done in a critical moment

Being selected is the end of one journey and the beginning of a new one and should be considered only an honor. Expectations increase and players must recognize the importance of training hard to meet those expectations. They have to guard against any complacency and sophistication that unexpectedly, or sub-consciously, sets in. Maintaining a “chip on your shoulder” mentality versus a “got it made” mentality is paramount to maximizing your potential as an athlete.

The greatest trap to fall in to is the “I’ve arrived” mode which goes against trying to live up to the expectations of an NHL career. It is extremely important to learn about and recognize all the pitfalls. When we see people drafted, the first thing we think about is all of the people trying to get in to the player’s pockets. There are agents, advisers, fitness gurus and nutritionists all looking for a piece of the player. Any agent looking beyond development, both personal growth and physical, is wrong. Then there are family, friends, neighbors who join in on all of the adulation that comes with draft status. Adulation is known to kill careers.

It’s easy to learn fm all the mistakes others have made. Don’t believe that what happens to others can’t happen to others. The NFL did a study and 78% will become bankrupt, divorced or unemployed with two years of retirement. We have to assume all professional athletes are close to that number fm past research. The most important thing to remember is most players don’t get a 2nd contract so they better be on top of what’s important now in every single situation. They can start by being in the best possible condition each year they report to the team.

Their skills will get them in the door and their intangibles ultimately determine their fate. The skill to express their skills, the skill to get out of themselves, and the skill to constructively critique your assets and liabilities all enter in to the equation.

Copyright by Chuck Grillo, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake, Rd P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.96.2444 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