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
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Holiday Message fm MHC
Holiday Message
Happy Holidays to you and your family from our Minnesota Hockey Camps family. All the best during the time of the year we have a lot to be thankful for. Sports are a true test of a person's intangibles. Lifetime relationships are developed over a short period of time because of the dynamics of the sport, demands of the job and the people we have the opportunity to meet through our work and travels.
Develop and cultivate as many relationships as possible. Take all the good out of each of them and put them in a memory bank.
If you send your child to camp, and they return home a better player, you will be happy. If they return home a harder worker, better person, with a better understanding of life and what it takes to play the game, you will be happier. We do all that and more. Minnesota Hockey Camps has a way of creating awareness of assets and liabilities. We teach young people the value of hard work that is fun while eliminating blind spots that shorten and stifle careers.
If you had your choice of one improvement, you will want them returning home a better person. This is something that happens just by being @ the camp and rubbing elbows with people who have a passion for life, people and the game.
The game of hockey has people in all capacities who know the value of validating and anointing themselves beyond other's beliefs, words, feelings and evaluations. We learn early on that we control our own destiny and in no way do others validate our worth and success.
We all recognize the need for support systems in every person's life, but it still comes down to each of us just “getting it done”. Keep supporting each other and the results will be dynamic. We are all part of something much bigger than all of us combined; namely each person's life and career. Our wish for this Holiday Season is something thought provoking that enhances our chances of maximizing our unique skills. This costs nothing and ends up being priceless.
It’s easy to judge a person but it takes a special skill and caring person to do something to help others solve an intimidating problem or task.
All of us would like our children to improve so they can move on through the levels. Seeking greatness in your assets is our Holiday Message to you and your family. Along with that, is you raising your level of Curiosity which enhances your chances. Keep asking questions wherever you go; whoever you meet. One of the most important traits of great leaders is Curiosity. This will blend in well with your aspirations. Every year players like Scott Hartnell, T J Oshie, Ryan Malone, Matt Greene, Derek Stepan, Clarke MacArthur, Chris and Tony Stewart came to camp; they would say something like, “You’ve seen me play this year. I don’t want to hear what I did well. I want to know what I didn’t do well and anything I can do to improve.”
Carl Sneep has always sought advice on improving and is now learning how to adjust to pro as the only rookie on the WBS Penguins team. He is fortunate to have mentors who care and know the value of instilling boldness and courage @ the pro level.
Our camp has an attitude. Countries have attitudes (Canada’s hockey attitude), States (Provinces), Communities, Organizations, Teams, Lines, Defensive pairs and Individuals have attitudes. The top one fuels the one underneath and on down. Infectious play of individuals fuels the level above and on up to the top. The USA Miracle on Ice team started out as a collection of good college players and ended up impacting the entire world. They, along with the players we coached @ camps and in high school, are the underlying reason why we enjoy an NHL career.
Winning a game, or a spot on the team, is an attitude. Everything is an attitude. We know communities where young people grow up knowing how to win. There are organizations and teams that go in to each game or a play-off setting knowing how to win. There are individuals who have the “IT Factor” that translates in to performing in critical moments and finding a way to win. Lines and tandem pairs get on a roll and earn nicknames. Goaltenders show a caring level toward their teammates that makes their teammates want to play hard for them.
Our goal is to separate ourselves fm the pack with our unique assets and still find a way to blend in to a team setting by respecting each other’s individual skills. Over-achieving in our unique assets causes those around us to emulate what we do well. This is a team that grows as a team. This is how teams, staffs and departments within a company grow.
“Try to do something out of the ordinary every shift or training session. This builds in to magical and revered memories that ultimately become defining moments in our career and lives.”
Al Neuharth, USA Today Founder wrote, "After 65 you should retire, relax, help others and enjoy it." He says, "Too old and crotchety are risky, but so is young and cocksure."
We say ask questions, sort out all the responses and make a decision. Retirement is nice but maintaining your curiosity level is more important. We want to reduce retirement to recalculating.
Recent observations and circumstances carry more weight, because what you see is what you get. We say and write a lot. We are hoping you have the willingness and wisdom to sort out the good from the bad. This is the way to survive in this world. We only do it to create awareness before problems happen and expose problems when they happen. We have to solve them, because they never just go away. Let’s refer to this as the “Crisis Control and Authenticity Tests” of a human being.
Al says, under 35 - We should listen and learn.
We say listen, learn, chip in with comments and show up on time for work regardless of age. Listening is an ongoing process. Listening is a lost art and a difference maker in winning and losing. Chipping in improves the company culture and performance. Promptness costs the world billions, people their jobs and determines company success.
Al says, 35 - 65 Help run things and look for opportunities to run them yourself.
We say be a detail person, and care about others, before any personal gains. Compete to win. Do this and opportunities fall in your lap. Good people take care of good people, regardless of the situation. Our feeling is there are a lot of good things that will fall in your lap when you work hard with pure intentions.
Personal gains come from respecting unique assets of others and sharing, even if it's a puck. Sidney Crosby and Evgeny Malkin are standard bearers and raise the bar. Sharing stops and losing starts when greed enters in to the equation. We have to guard against it. The way to guard against it is by creating awareness this can happen, exposing problems and solving them. We can’t confuse greed with good greed.
Pass smartly when you should pass, shoot smartly to bury it when you should shoot (good greed is a must if you are going to score with regularity) and carry it smartly only if you have to. The good ones think about who they are going to give it to before they get it. Handling the puck is a given. Adding the word “smart or smartly” to every fundamental and expression of skill will raise the level of performance.
Bottom line, age and experience don’t give you answers. Passion for life, work, people and play does. When we are around people with a passion for life, work and play, we are on a high. It’s fun to be around people who live what they do. They have the will to win and excel and cherish the opportunity to bring others in to their lives.
The Holidays are a time to rehash memories. Life is all about creating memories; magical and revered that all add up to define your life. When it is all said and done, each memory is a special moment. In Astronaut John Glenn’s words, “A final haunting valediction of a person who made the supreme sacrifice and/or those who sacrificed so others could feel comfortable and enjoy a better life.”
This is our camp and life; all about developing people and creating memories while instilling boldness, courage, will to win/excel, skill to get out of yourself and bring others in to your life, the skill to express your skill and the skill to achieve greatness in some asset category. Greatness isn’t about being the greatest. It’s all about doing something great that becomes a memory that lasts forever.
With our economy struggling, we hope we found a way to give you something that didn’t cost all of us anything but time; time to write, read and digest.
We wish you all the best the Holidays have to offer. Take time to give thanks.
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 Holidays to you and your family from our Minnesota Hockey Camps family. All the best during the time of the year we have a lot to be thankful for. Sports are a true test of a person's intangibles. Lifetime relationships are developed over a short period of time because of the dynamics of the sport, demands of the job and the people we have the opportunity to meet through our work and travels.
Develop and cultivate as many relationships as possible. Take all the good out of each of them and put them in a memory bank.
If you send your child to camp, and they return home a better player, you will be happy. If they return home a harder worker, better person, with a better understanding of life and what it takes to play the game, you will be happier. We do all that and more. Minnesota Hockey Camps has a way of creating awareness of assets and liabilities. We teach young people the value of hard work that is fun while eliminating blind spots that shorten and stifle careers.
If you had your choice of one improvement, you will want them returning home a better person. This is something that happens just by being @ the camp and rubbing elbows with people who have a passion for life, people and the game.
The game of hockey has people in all capacities who know the value of validating and anointing themselves beyond other's beliefs, words, feelings and evaluations. We learn early on that we control our own destiny and in no way do others validate our worth and success.
We all recognize the need for support systems in every person's life, but it still comes down to each of us just “getting it done”. Keep supporting each other and the results will be dynamic. We are all part of something much bigger than all of us combined; namely each person's life and career. Our wish for this Holiday Season is something thought provoking that enhances our chances of maximizing our unique skills. This costs nothing and ends up being priceless.
It’s easy to judge a person but it takes a special skill and caring person to do something to help others solve an intimidating problem or task.
All of us would like our children to improve so they can move on through the levels. Seeking greatness in your assets is our Holiday Message to you and your family. Along with that, is you raising your level of Curiosity which enhances your chances. Keep asking questions wherever you go; whoever you meet. One of the most important traits of great leaders is Curiosity. This will blend in well with your aspirations. Every year players like Scott Hartnell, T J Oshie, Ryan Malone, Matt Greene, Derek Stepan, Clarke MacArthur, Chris and Tony Stewart came to camp; they would say something like, “You’ve seen me play this year. I don’t want to hear what I did well. I want to know what I didn’t do well and anything I can do to improve.”
Carl Sneep has always sought advice on improving and is now learning how to adjust to pro as the only rookie on the WBS Penguins team. He is fortunate to have mentors who care and know the value of instilling boldness and courage @ the pro level.
Our camp has an attitude. Countries have attitudes (Canada’s hockey attitude), States (Provinces), Communities, Organizations, Teams, Lines, Defensive pairs and Individuals have attitudes. The top one fuels the one underneath and on down. Infectious play of individuals fuels the level above and on up to the top. The USA Miracle on Ice team started out as a collection of good college players and ended up impacting the entire world. They, along with the players we coached @ camps and in high school, are the underlying reason why we enjoy an NHL career.
Winning a game, or a spot on the team, is an attitude. Everything is an attitude. We know communities where young people grow up knowing how to win. There are organizations and teams that go in to each game or a play-off setting knowing how to win. There are individuals who have the “IT Factor” that translates in to performing in critical moments and finding a way to win. Lines and tandem pairs get on a roll and earn nicknames. Goaltenders show a caring level toward their teammates that makes their teammates want to play hard for them.
Our goal is to separate ourselves fm the pack with our unique assets and still find a way to blend in to a team setting by respecting each other’s individual skills. Over-achieving in our unique assets causes those around us to emulate what we do well. This is a team that grows as a team. This is how teams, staffs and departments within a company grow.
“Try to do something out of the ordinary every shift or training session. This builds in to magical and revered memories that ultimately become defining moments in our career and lives.”
Al Neuharth, USA Today Founder wrote, "After 65 you should retire, relax, help others and enjoy it." He says, "Too old and crotchety are risky, but so is young and cocksure."
We say ask questions, sort out all the responses and make a decision. Retirement is nice but maintaining your curiosity level is more important. We want to reduce retirement to recalculating.
Recent observations and circumstances carry more weight, because what you see is what you get. We say and write a lot. We are hoping you have the willingness and wisdom to sort out the good from the bad. This is the way to survive in this world. We only do it to create awareness before problems happen and expose problems when they happen. We have to solve them, because they never just go away. Let’s refer to this as the “Crisis Control and Authenticity Tests” of a human being.
Al says, under 35 - We should listen and learn.
We say listen, learn, chip in with comments and show up on time for work regardless of age. Listening is an ongoing process. Listening is a lost art and a difference maker in winning and losing. Chipping in improves the company culture and performance. Promptness costs the world billions, people their jobs and determines company success.
Al says, 35 - 65 Help run things and look for opportunities to run them yourself.
We say be a detail person, and care about others, before any personal gains. Compete to win. Do this and opportunities fall in your lap. Good people take care of good people, regardless of the situation. Our feeling is there are a lot of good things that will fall in your lap when you work hard with pure intentions.
Personal gains come from respecting unique assets of others and sharing, even if it's a puck. Sidney Crosby and Evgeny Malkin are standard bearers and raise the bar. Sharing stops and losing starts when greed enters in to the equation. We have to guard against it. The way to guard against it is by creating awareness this can happen, exposing problems and solving them. We can’t confuse greed with good greed.
Pass smartly when you should pass, shoot smartly to bury it when you should shoot (good greed is a must if you are going to score with regularity) and carry it smartly only if you have to. The good ones think about who they are going to give it to before they get it. Handling the puck is a given. Adding the word “smart or smartly” to every fundamental and expression of skill will raise the level of performance.
Bottom line, age and experience don’t give you answers. Passion for life, work, people and play does. When we are around people with a passion for life, work and play, we are on a high. It’s fun to be around people who live what they do. They have the will to win and excel and cherish the opportunity to bring others in to their lives.
The Holidays are a time to rehash memories. Life is all about creating memories; magical and revered that all add up to define your life. When it is all said and done, each memory is a special moment. In Astronaut John Glenn’s words, “A final haunting valediction of a person who made the supreme sacrifice and/or those who sacrificed so others could feel comfortable and enjoy a better life.”
This is our camp and life; all about developing people and creating memories while instilling boldness, courage, will to win/excel, skill to get out of yourself and bring others in to your life, the skill to express your skill and the skill to achieve greatness in some asset category. Greatness isn’t about being the greatest. It’s all about doing something great that becomes a memory that lasts forever.
With our economy struggling, we hope we found a way to give you something that didn’t cost all of us anything but time; time to write, read and digest.
We wish you all the best the Holidays have to offer. Take time to give thanks.
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
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Crisis Control
Crisis Control;
managing, mentoring, parenting, playing
Hockey is an impossible game to play afraid. It’s a violent sport and things happen out there. You can’t be tentative. If you are, you are going to get hit, and inevitably, hurt. Going hard gives you a chance to initiate versus retaliate. Playing afraid falls in to other categories like: Afraid to lose, afraid to perform and afraid to win. Just play your game, relax, be aggressive, go with your instincts and do what you do best. Panicking in any situation has never served anyone or anything well. Solve all the little problems and you are less likely to experience big problems; probably the best crisis control there is.
Crisis control, in all situations, is paramount. It comes in to play when attempting to make a team, being a part of the final roster, consistently performing day in and day out, coming off a bad performance or benching, coming out of losing streaks and in the play offs under stress. It all comes down to relaxing, doing what you do well and going with your instincts. Confidence in yourself and your team is all part of the equation. Having a trust in those you work for, and play with, is an important part of the equation. Trusting your instincts and your game is part of the equation. It starts with you doing very well without the puck and moves to doing what you can with a puck.
Crisis control starts with leadership; how they handle themselves in tough situations. Five men that come to mind for me are George Gund, eMario Lemieux, Craig Patrick, Fred Shero and Ray Shero; totally different personalities but a similar approach when it comes to crisis control. They believe that winners win and winners express themselves with no panic; and no one hands anything to them. "Just play; just work."
The game is an aspect of life. The people who play it have sons and daughter, fathers and mothers, relatives and friends. What happens out there can be bigger than the game; whether getting hurt or accepting the challenge when opportunity is there. The challenge may be the challenge of making a team, staying on the team, playing consistently well to avoid riding the pine, and going through ups and downs while winning championships. Every community, every organization, every team, every player, every situation, has a different meaning and different expectation. Expectations are in line with bringing others in to your life, talent levels and ability to express your talent individually as well as in a team setting.
The game is easier to play when you are both relaxed and angry. The thought of annihilating your opponent is a good thought and will go a long ways towards helping you survive in the game. Do everything in your power to make them fail. There is no room for gloating @ any time. There is plenty of time to reminisce when a successful career is over and you’ve embraced every challenged you faced.
Crisis control is all about defining the moments faced before they define you. Knowing that some form of crisis is in the future, prepare yourself to relax, go with your instincts and what you do well. Parents fall in to the same category as leaders. Do you pass the crisis control test, parents? We’ve asked all in the past if you pass the authenticity test. Now we are asking the same of crisis control.
Do you pass the crisis control test? You will need it to survive the slippery slope of managing, mentoring, parenting and playing. Childrens' and players’ problems need to be solved before they become a crisis. All problems need to be solved before there is a tragic ending. Taking care of the little problems as they happen averts tragedy and crisis. It all starts by being a detail person with a strict routine; one who cares about others before any personal gains.
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
managing, mentoring, parenting, playing
Hockey is an impossible game to play afraid. It’s a violent sport and things happen out there. You can’t be tentative. If you are, you are going to get hit, and inevitably, hurt. Going hard gives you a chance to initiate versus retaliate. Playing afraid falls in to other categories like: Afraid to lose, afraid to perform and afraid to win. Just play your game, relax, be aggressive, go with your instincts and do what you do best. Panicking in any situation has never served anyone or anything well. Solve all the little problems and you are less likely to experience big problems; probably the best crisis control there is.
Crisis control, in all situations, is paramount. It comes in to play when attempting to make a team, being a part of the final roster, consistently performing day in and day out, coming off a bad performance or benching, coming out of losing streaks and in the play offs under stress. It all comes down to relaxing, doing what you do well and going with your instincts. Confidence in yourself and your team is all part of the equation. Having a trust in those you work for, and play with, is an important part of the equation. Trusting your instincts and your game is part of the equation. It starts with you doing very well without the puck and moves to doing what you can with a puck.
Crisis control starts with leadership; how they handle themselves in tough situations. Five men that come to mind for me are George Gund, eMario Lemieux, Craig Patrick, Fred Shero and Ray Shero; totally different personalities but a similar approach when it comes to crisis control. They believe that winners win and winners express themselves with no panic; and no one hands anything to them. "Just play; just work."
The game is an aspect of life. The people who play it have sons and daughter, fathers and mothers, relatives and friends. What happens out there can be bigger than the game; whether getting hurt or accepting the challenge when opportunity is there. The challenge may be the challenge of making a team, staying on the team, playing consistently well to avoid riding the pine, and going through ups and downs while winning championships. Every community, every organization, every team, every player, every situation, has a different meaning and different expectation. Expectations are in line with bringing others in to your life, talent levels and ability to express your talent individually as well as in a team setting.
The game is easier to play when you are both relaxed and angry. The thought of annihilating your opponent is a good thought and will go a long ways towards helping you survive in the game. Do everything in your power to make them fail. There is no room for gloating @ any time. There is plenty of time to reminisce when a successful career is over and you’ve embraced every challenged you faced.
Crisis control is all about defining the moments faced before they define you. Knowing that some form of crisis is in the future, prepare yourself to relax, go with your instincts and what you do well. Parents fall in to the same category as leaders. Do you pass the crisis control test, parents? We’ve asked all in the past if you pass the authenticity test. Now we are asking the same of crisis control.
Do you pass the crisis control test? You will need it to survive the slippery slope of managing, mentoring, parenting and playing. Childrens' and players’ problems need to be solved before they become a crisis. All problems need to be solved before there is a tragic ending. Taking care of the little problems as they happen averts tragedy and crisis. It all starts by being a detail person with a strict routine; one who cares about others before any personal gains.
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
Monday, November 29, 2010
Tribute to Biscuit another Legend @ MHC
Biscuit; Legend @ MHC
May 24, 1996 – November 29, 2010
Courage – Fortitude – Caring - Special
When Herb Brooks was killed in a tragic car accident, I took time to document everything I could remember about our relationship. I spent about three weeks typing what I could remember. The writing went over 8,000 words.
Biscuit passed quietly away on November 29, 2010. I’ve asked Clairene to type up some memories and I will do my best to recount our life together and its meaning. I will always remember I was sitting in a Springhill Suites @ 0910 in Renton, WA when I received the text message fm Clairene that this precious dog quietly passed away. The text read, “I gave our girl many hugs and kisses fm both of us. She has gone to doggy heaven. I just got home. She relaxed and everything went well. No more pain.”
When I think of different people in my life, I have to include the dogs we’ve had over the years. You get this numbing feeling and then the emotions start to flow. I left the room, went down to the elliptical machine in the exercise room and called Clairene to talk about Biscuit’s last living moments.
I wanted to know about her body, eyes and demeanor. She had to have lived in a lot of pain these past few years without complaining one time; falling down and unable to get up @ times.
Biscuit spent her last moments on a blanket in Milton, FL @ the vet. She has been in arthritic pain for a number of years now and spent the last summer unable to go to the Camp because she was unable to walk up the steps. This alone was a sad moment because she has been a part of MHC for fourteen (14) years. She went every day for seventy straight days as well as days before and after. Her favorite spot was under Clairene’s desk away fm everyone but there was the odd camper she would gravitate to; especially around lunch and dinner.
She could always tell when it was Gringo burger day. She could smell the grill fm her place in the office and she got out of the office as soon as she could because she knew the cook would look after her. Many times that cook was me.
She would wander over to my desk when Clairene left the office or she heard the treats rattle in a plastic bottle. When she came to work each morning, the first thing she did was come and lay under my desk until I pulled out a treat. Once finished, she got up and moved to her favorite spot with the woman she loved as her keeper in the office next door.
She knew we were ready to go when the computer signaled that Microsoft Office was shutting down. She got up to go as soon as she heard the music. She could also tell when the phones were being call-forwarded and got up to leave then, also.
She had inner ear problems and always came up to see if you would rub her ears. She made you do this until you got tired.
I will never forget how scared she was when she was shipped fm Kentucky by our son, Dino. She came by plane and she had her dog cage that we had bought for the trip. Once out of that cage, she refused to ever get in that cage again. It still sits in our garage; brand new, one trip. Dino wanted us to have this dog and I was the one who pushed it. She was taken off the plane, put in our 94 Ford truck and she crawled in to a corner scared stiff. When we arrived @ our home in Lakeshore fm Minneapolis airport, she got out of the car, ran and hid under our neighbor’s car in the mud. I had to crawl under the car to get her out.
It took a while for her to get used to us but it wasn’t long and she was sleeping in a King sized bed every night of her life with us. She came up every night by our pillow, played a while and then moved down to the end of the bed. This was a ritual for many years. She always finished the moment with a kiss for each of us before moving to the end of the bed.
She would always let me know when she wanted to go to bed and I most always accommodated her; especially in her later years when I felt guilty being away all the time.
Then there was Chippy the little Chipmunk that liked to hang around our deck @ home. Chippy was always bugging Biscuit showing up chirping her fm most anywhere close to the deck. Biscuit would take after her and she would duck in a hole. All you had to do was say, “Where’s Chippy and Biscuit ears popped up and she was looking.
She could always tell when we were going church on Sunday. She acted different than when we put our coats on to go out. Once the coats were on she would go over by the treats and just sit there waiting until we got some for her.
She went to Clairene’s workouts up in the garage every morning that Claire went. She would lay there and listen for the Stairmaster to signal the end and then she would goof around on the floor with Claire while she was doing her exercises.
She knew she could wake you up by shaking her collar so she simply got up and then proceeding to wake us up to start the day. It didn’t matter when, she got your attention and I don’t ever remember anyone being mad.
We have two sunning chairs in Florida. She would come out with us. She would wait until one of us got up and she would be in your chair when you came back. It was usually my chair because she was used to sunning with Claire when I was gone. She wasn’t about to move, either.
When camp starts, it will be interesting to see what Luke and Pepper think. Who will finally take her spot under Claire’s desk in the office? The three of them found a way to hang around every day during the summer.
I will always remember our days in the boat together and how she would sense we were coming back home and go to the front of the boat. She did something similar each time we turned on to Birchwood Hills Drive. She could be sleeping and she would get up as we turned and start looking for deer in the road.
We are going to miss walking the grounds with her down in Florida. It is a twenty (20) minute walk around the property. She always hated to go because the little prickly plants were hard on her feet, but she came and all was fine once she got going.
Biscuit was a unique Lab, one who very carefully picked her friends. She was very difficult to get to know and we believe it stems fm how she was treated when born in Kentucky.
Biscuit was one you could never figure out. She reminded me of all the great coaches in the game. They are firm, fair, and loyal to their players and you cannot figure them out; they always keep you guessing. I liked her name because I’ve been shooting a “biscuit” since I was three (3)nyears old on ice rinks. She had the name before she came to us.
Dogs are an unbelievable prototype for all that unconditional love and respect stand for. They stand by you in all situations. They are there wagging their tail no matter what is going on in your mind or life. They epitomize the ability to get out of themselves and bring others in to their life. They literally force you to love them. What a unique skill; something any human being is capable of acquiring and a skill much needed in any locker room setting.
Can you imagine a sports locker room filled with the personality of a dog? There would be more love and respect in that room than anyone could imagine. Dogs unconditionally accept you for who you are and what you bring to the mix. They seem to recognize the unique skills you have and they respect you for it. They respond to any indication of love immediately and they have your back when you develop loyalty, trust and respect in your relationship. While not automatic, it is all there when you work @ it.
We loved her so much that we purchased a small RV called Born Free, Built for Two and Biscuit, to travel back and forth to Florida each year. November 16 to 19 was her final trip and she made the trip like a warrior, even though she was in great pain and struggled to get down the ramp we built for her to get in and out of the RV. She rarely came up between the seats this trip like she did so many times in the past. There were moments, though, when she thought we had some food to give her. She didn’t ask to get up in one of our beds like she had in the past. Something told us this would be her last trip.
I have to mention Clairene’s caring for Biscuit when it came to lotions on her body and cleaning her ears. She was diligent about it and Biscuit had an appreciation for it once the application was over. She treated her no different than she would a child or grandchild and Biscuit never left her side in all of their time together.
Biscuit is one who has taught me a lot about how life should really work. You had to be real honest to earn her love, respect and loyalty. While gone too much in my job, we had our moments where I knew she loved me; especially when she got up in the living room between 2100 and 2200 hours to remind me she would like to go to bed. I loved this yellow Lab. She will always have her place in my life. I will always treasure our relationship and life with her and Clairene.
We left Nisswa on November 16, 2010 in a Born Free Built for Two and Biscuit. We arrived in Florida on November 18, 2010. We are now down to a Born Free Built for Two without Biscuit, but Biscuit will always be remembered for the valued role she played in our lives. There will never a day when I will say, “She was just a Dog.”
Two great side stories involving two of our dogs, Buffy and Biscuit are:
More than once I came home, gone to sleep that night, woke up with my leg hangin off the bed during the night, and asked Claire if the dog could move over so I could have room. Her reply was, “What for, she is here more than you are.”
Another time I overheard her say, “Don’t worry Buffy, he will be gone in a couple of days and we’ll have more room.”
Claire sent the following fm her sister, Carol:
If it should be that I grow frail and weak and pain should keep me from my sleep.
Then you must do what must be done for this the last battle can’t be won.
Don’t let grief stay your hand.
For this day more than the rest your love and friendship stand the test.
We had so many happy years.
What is to come can hold no fear your want of me not to suffer..
So when the time has come to let me go.
I know you will see it is the kindness you do for me.
Although my tail it is the last wave from pain and suffering.
I have been saved.
Don’t let your heart hold any tears.
Our memories I will cherish for all the years.
I will rest in Peace, my friend.
Love you always,
Biscuit
To: Biscuit
While sorry to hear about the passing of our beloved dog, we can sit and go back over the great memories. Our thoughts and prayers are with all who go through this type of traumatic time. No one can ever prepare us for the day we lose anyone in our life. The only thing that gets us through the moment is all the love and caring that comes from those around us; plus the fact we know she knows we loved her during her time on earth.
She passed away realizing we raised a great dog; one who was detailed in everything she did and one who cared about others before anything personal. This is the highest honor any dog owner can receive.
Our love will forever live with our dog, 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
May 24, 1996 – November 29, 2010
Courage – Fortitude – Caring - Special
When Herb Brooks was killed in a tragic car accident, I took time to document everything I could remember about our relationship. I spent about three weeks typing what I could remember. The writing went over 8,000 words.
Biscuit passed quietly away on November 29, 2010. I’ve asked Clairene to type up some memories and I will do my best to recount our life together and its meaning. I will always remember I was sitting in a Springhill Suites @ 0910 in Renton, WA when I received the text message fm Clairene that this precious dog quietly passed away. The text read, “I gave our girl many hugs and kisses fm both of us. She has gone to doggy heaven. I just got home. She relaxed and everything went well. No more pain.”
When I think of different people in my life, I have to include the dogs we’ve had over the years. You get this numbing feeling and then the emotions start to flow. I left the room, went down to the elliptical machine in the exercise room and called Clairene to talk about Biscuit’s last living moments.
I wanted to know about her body, eyes and demeanor. She had to have lived in a lot of pain these past few years without complaining one time; falling down and unable to get up @ times.
Biscuit spent her last moments on a blanket in Milton, FL @ the vet. She has been in arthritic pain for a number of years now and spent the last summer unable to go to the Camp because she was unable to walk up the steps. This alone was a sad moment because she has been a part of MHC for fourteen (14) years. She went every day for seventy straight days as well as days before and after. Her favorite spot was under Clairene’s desk away fm everyone but there was the odd camper she would gravitate to; especially around lunch and dinner.
She could always tell when it was Gringo burger day. She could smell the grill fm her place in the office and she got out of the office as soon as she could because she knew the cook would look after her. Many times that cook was me.
She would wander over to my desk when Clairene left the office or she heard the treats rattle in a plastic bottle. When she came to work each morning, the first thing she did was come and lay under my desk until I pulled out a treat. Once finished, she got up and moved to her favorite spot with the woman she loved as her keeper in the office next door.
She knew we were ready to go when the computer signaled that Microsoft Office was shutting down. She got up to go as soon as she heard the music. She could also tell when the phones were being call-forwarded and got up to leave then, also.
She had inner ear problems and always came up to see if you would rub her ears. She made you do this until you got tired.
I will never forget how scared she was when she was shipped fm Kentucky by our son, Dino. She came by plane and she had her dog cage that we had bought for the trip. Once out of that cage, she refused to ever get in that cage again. It still sits in our garage; brand new, one trip. Dino wanted us to have this dog and I was the one who pushed it. She was taken off the plane, put in our 94 Ford truck and she crawled in to a corner scared stiff. When we arrived @ our home in Lakeshore fm Minneapolis airport, she got out of the car, ran and hid under our neighbor’s car in the mud. I had to crawl under the car to get her out.
It took a while for her to get used to us but it wasn’t long and she was sleeping in a King sized bed every night of her life with us. She came up every night by our pillow, played a while and then moved down to the end of the bed. This was a ritual for many years. She always finished the moment with a kiss for each of us before moving to the end of the bed.
She would always let me know when she wanted to go to bed and I most always accommodated her; especially in her later years when I felt guilty being away all the time.
Then there was Chippy the little Chipmunk that liked to hang around our deck @ home. Chippy was always bugging Biscuit showing up chirping her fm most anywhere close to the deck. Biscuit would take after her and she would duck in a hole. All you had to do was say, “Where’s Chippy and Biscuit ears popped up and she was looking.
She could always tell when we were going church on Sunday. She acted different than when we put our coats on to go out. Once the coats were on she would go over by the treats and just sit there waiting until we got some for her.
She went to Clairene’s workouts up in the garage every morning that Claire went. She would lay there and listen for the Stairmaster to signal the end and then she would goof around on the floor with Claire while she was doing her exercises.
She knew she could wake you up by shaking her collar so she simply got up and then proceeding to wake us up to start the day. It didn’t matter when, she got your attention and I don’t ever remember anyone being mad.
We have two sunning chairs in Florida. She would come out with us. She would wait until one of us got up and she would be in your chair when you came back. It was usually my chair because she was used to sunning with Claire when I was gone. She wasn’t about to move, either.
When camp starts, it will be interesting to see what Luke and Pepper think. Who will finally take her spot under Claire’s desk in the office? The three of them found a way to hang around every day during the summer.
I will always remember our days in the boat together and how she would sense we were coming back home and go to the front of the boat. She did something similar each time we turned on to Birchwood Hills Drive. She could be sleeping and she would get up as we turned and start looking for deer in the road.
We are going to miss walking the grounds with her down in Florida. It is a twenty (20) minute walk around the property. She always hated to go because the little prickly plants were hard on her feet, but she came and all was fine once she got going.
Biscuit was a unique Lab, one who very carefully picked her friends. She was very difficult to get to know and we believe it stems fm how she was treated when born in Kentucky.
Biscuit was one you could never figure out. She reminded me of all the great coaches in the game. They are firm, fair, and loyal to their players and you cannot figure them out; they always keep you guessing. I liked her name because I’ve been shooting a “biscuit” since I was three (3)nyears old on ice rinks. She had the name before she came to us.
Dogs are an unbelievable prototype for all that unconditional love and respect stand for. They stand by you in all situations. They are there wagging their tail no matter what is going on in your mind or life. They epitomize the ability to get out of themselves and bring others in to their life. They literally force you to love them. What a unique skill; something any human being is capable of acquiring and a skill much needed in any locker room setting.
Can you imagine a sports locker room filled with the personality of a dog? There would be more love and respect in that room than anyone could imagine. Dogs unconditionally accept you for who you are and what you bring to the mix. They seem to recognize the unique skills you have and they respect you for it. They respond to any indication of love immediately and they have your back when you develop loyalty, trust and respect in your relationship. While not automatic, it is all there when you work @ it.
We loved her so much that we purchased a small RV called Born Free, Built for Two and Biscuit, to travel back and forth to Florida each year. November 16 to 19 was her final trip and she made the trip like a warrior, even though she was in great pain and struggled to get down the ramp we built for her to get in and out of the RV. She rarely came up between the seats this trip like she did so many times in the past. There were moments, though, when she thought we had some food to give her. She didn’t ask to get up in one of our beds like she had in the past. Something told us this would be her last trip.
I have to mention Clairene’s caring for Biscuit when it came to lotions on her body and cleaning her ears. She was diligent about it and Biscuit had an appreciation for it once the application was over. She treated her no different than she would a child or grandchild and Biscuit never left her side in all of their time together.
Biscuit is one who has taught me a lot about how life should really work. You had to be real honest to earn her love, respect and loyalty. While gone too much in my job, we had our moments where I knew she loved me; especially when she got up in the living room between 2100 and 2200 hours to remind me she would like to go to bed. I loved this yellow Lab. She will always have her place in my life. I will always treasure our relationship and life with her and Clairene.
We left Nisswa on November 16, 2010 in a Born Free Built for Two and Biscuit. We arrived in Florida on November 18, 2010. We are now down to a Born Free Built for Two without Biscuit, but Biscuit will always be remembered for the valued role she played in our lives. There will never a day when I will say, “She was just a Dog.”
Two great side stories involving two of our dogs, Buffy and Biscuit are:
More than once I came home, gone to sleep that night, woke up with my leg hangin off the bed during the night, and asked Claire if the dog could move over so I could have room. Her reply was, “What for, she is here more than you are.”
Another time I overheard her say, “Don’t worry Buffy, he will be gone in a couple of days and we’ll have more room.”
Claire sent the following fm her sister, Carol:
If it should be that I grow frail and weak and pain should keep me from my sleep.
Then you must do what must be done for this the last battle can’t be won.
Don’t let grief stay your hand.
For this day more than the rest your love and friendship stand the test.
We had so many happy years.
What is to come can hold no fear your want of me not to suffer..
So when the time has come to let me go.
I know you will see it is the kindness you do for me.
Although my tail it is the last wave from pain and suffering.
I have been saved.
Don’t let your heart hold any tears.
Our memories I will cherish for all the years.
I will rest in Peace, my friend.
Love you always,
Biscuit
To: Biscuit
While sorry to hear about the passing of our beloved dog, we can sit and go back over the great memories. Our thoughts and prayers are with all who go through this type of traumatic time. No one can ever prepare us for the day we lose anyone in our life. The only thing that gets us through the moment is all the love and caring that comes from those around us; plus the fact we know she knows we loved her during her time on earth.
She passed away realizing we raised a great dog; one who was detailed in everything she did and one who cared about others before anything personal. This is the highest honor any dog owner can receive.
Our love will forever live with our dog, 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
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Garmin Theory of Recalculating
Garmin Theory of Recalculating
We’ve all heard of the Darwin Theory of Evolution. I, failing to reach this level of sophistication, have a new theory. I’ve had the benefit of discussions on long road trips with a couple of colleagues of mine who cause a person to think. We decided to create a new “theory of recalculating to prevent tragedy” and named it after the GPS in our rental car.
We believe in the Garmin Theory of Recalculating. We’ve all been there. Whether a case of getting old, not fitting in, going off course, philosophical differences, losing streaks or just maintaining, sustaining and building on a great experience (career), growing as a player, growing as a person, the Garmin Theory of Recalculating comes in to play.
Being a healthy scratch, or experiencing a prolonged slump, simply triggers the word “Recalculate”. The misfortune of being scratched in a game, or a prolonged slump, is not a whole lot different than going off course on a trip. Your mind should be saying, “Recalculating”.
The hardest part about getting old is watching your value decline as your skills erode. This doesn’t mean you quit trying to make an impact. Simply, “Recalculate”. Going off course as an organization sends a quick signal, “Recalculate”. The picture is clear. The Gamin Theory of Recalculating is the wave of the future and has the potential for helping any situation have a happy ending.
During the course of a few twenty-five hundred (2,500) mile road trips, and occasional twelve thousand (12,000) while looking for talent, one has a lot of time to think. There is plenty of opportunity to go off course. When you do, the Garmin is quick to say, “Recalculating”. One word, a few seconds of recalculating and you are back on course to your destination. Every person, unit, department, team, organization, city, state, nation and world is confronted with this problem many times over the course of a season, span of careers and life of a company.
Much of this has to do with acquiring the skill to navigate through unchartered waters. Once acquired, you basically have what it takes to conquer most any situation. Life, and the game, is a test of intangibles once you reach the skill level required for each level or task.
This is a perfect opportunity to pass the Fortitude Test and get back on course. Even the best are forced to recalculate if they are to maintain their number one position. The perfect example is Heinz Ketchup. How many times have they had to recalculate to maintain their lofty position in the Ketchup industry? They could be satisfied with their lofty position but their R & D department is always taking the time to assess, improve and recalculate.
We get ourselves in a position to pass the Fortitude Test more times than we would like to think over the course of a career and lifetime. When you get back in the lineup, or recalculate your life’s course, you will have added Fortitude to your long resume of assets. You will have the mental and emotional strength, as well as courage, to face difficulty, adversity and uncertainty. You will acquire the spirit to do well in spite of obstacles. You will have the patience to weather the storm.
You will get back on course as soon as your mind recognizes the situation and says, “Recalculating”.
This doesn’t eliminate the need for support people that every person needs but it does give you an inner strength and awareness as we recognize being forced to “recalculate” many times over the course of a career and lifetime. This extends beyond one person to units, teams, organizations, cities, states, nations and the world.
So the next time you, or something you are a part of, goes off course, simply think the Garmin way, “Recalculating”. Think it through, ask questions, seek support and encourage ideas. You will be back on the right course and arrive @ your destination with a happy ending.
If you see someone in need of recalculating, reach out and help them help themselves. If it involves your organization, reach out and make a statement that causes those in charge to think things through. People with high caring levels recognize the need, and value, of “recalculating” and the role it plays in preventing a tragedy; personal, organizational or beyond.
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
We’ve all heard of the Darwin Theory of Evolution. I, failing to reach this level of sophistication, have a new theory. I’ve had the benefit of discussions on long road trips with a couple of colleagues of mine who cause a person to think. We decided to create a new “theory of recalculating to prevent tragedy” and named it after the GPS in our rental car.
We believe in the Garmin Theory of Recalculating. We’ve all been there. Whether a case of getting old, not fitting in, going off course, philosophical differences, losing streaks or just maintaining, sustaining and building on a great experience (career), growing as a player, growing as a person, the Garmin Theory of Recalculating comes in to play.
Being a healthy scratch, or experiencing a prolonged slump, simply triggers the word “Recalculate”. The misfortune of being scratched in a game, or a prolonged slump, is not a whole lot different than going off course on a trip. Your mind should be saying, “Recalculating”.
The hardest part about getting old is watching your value decline as your skills erode. This doesn’t mean you quit trying to make an impact. Simply, “Recalculate”. Going off course as an organization sends a quick signal, “Recalculate”. The picture is clear. The Gamin Theory of Recalculating is the wave of the future and has the potential for helping any situation have a happy ending.
During the course of a few twenty-five hundred (2,500) mile road trips, and occasional twelve thousand (12,000) while looking for talent, one has a lot of time to think. There is plenty of opportunity to go off course. When you do, the Garmin is quick to say, “Recalculating”. One word, a few seconds of recalculating and you are back on course to your destination. Every person, unit, department, team, organization, city, state, nation and world is confronted with this problem many times over the course of a season, span of careers and life of a company.
Much of this has to do with acquiring the skill to navigate through unchartered waters. Once acquired, you basically have what it takes to conquer most any situation. Life, and the game, is a test of intangibles once you reach the skill level required for each level or task.
This is a perfect opportunity to pass the Fortitude Test and get back on course. Even the best are forced to recalculate if they are to maintain their number one position. The perfect example is Heinz Ketchup. How many times have they had to recalculate to maintain their lofty position in the Ketchup industry? They could be satisfied with their lofty position but their R & D department is always taking the time to assess, improve and recalculate.
We get ourselves in a position to pass the Fortitude Test more times than we would like to think over the course of a career and lifetime. When you get back in the lineup, or recalculate your life’s course, you will have added Fortitude to your long resume of assets. You will have the mental and emotional strength, as well as courage, to face difficulty, adversity and uncertainty. You will acquire the spirit to do well in spite of obstacles. You will have the patience to weather the storm.
You will get back on course as soon as your mind recognizes the situation and says, “Recalculating”.
This doesn’t eliminate the need for support people that every person needs but it does give you an inner strength and awareness as we recognize being forced to “recalculate” many times over the course of a career and lifetime. This extends beyond one person to units, teams, organizations, cities, states, nations and the world.
So the next time you, or something you are a part of, goes off course, simply think the Garmin way, “Recalculating”. Think it through, ask questions, seek support and encourage ideas. You will be back on the right course and arrive @ your destination with a happy ending.
If you see someone in need of recalculating, reach out and help them help themselves. If it involves your organization, reach out and make a statement that causes those in charge to think things through. People with high caring levels recognize the need, and value, of “recalculating” and the role it plays in preventing a tragedy; personal, organizational or beyond.
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
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Medal of Honor; It's Place In Society
Medal of Honor for Actions in Afghanistan
Honored Soldier “as humble as he is heroic”
The honor ceremony was both joyous and bittersweet. President Obama gave Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta the Medal of Honor while describing him “as humble as he is heroic”. This was the first time in forty (40) years that this honor has been given to a living service member.
The President went off script to say, “I really like this guy.” “When you meet Sal, and you meet his family, you are just absolutely convinced that this is what America is all about. It just makes you feel proud.” If this is what America is about, then this is front page news to me as a Marine and proud citizen of this country.
He saluted Giunta for “uncommon valor” and described in detail how he charged in to Taliban fire to assist a fallen soldier and to rescue another who had been captured during an ambush in Afghanistan on October 25, 2007.
Staff Sergeant Giunta gave a choked up response by saying, “I would give this back in a second to have my friends back with me right now.”
The President went on to say, “You may not believe that you deserve this honor, but it was your fellow soldiers who recommended you for this honor. By charging in to extreme enemy fire, you embody the warrior ethos that I will never leave a fallen comrade.”
Salvatore Giunta responded by saying, “Every single person I was with would have done what I did, possibly even better, but they were doing other things.”
Eleven of Giunta’s comrades fm the battle attended the ceremony in addition to Giunta’s family and parents of the two dead soldiers, one of whom Giunta had risked his life to save.
The Medal is for “unwavering courage” and “extraordinary heroism”.
He was then inducted in to the Pentagon’s Hall of Heroes. Giunta is just the eighth person to receive a medal for service in Iraq and Afghanistan. Three thousand four hundred (3,400) have been bestowed since 1861.
I am writing this to illustrate how far off track our country is fm the day our country was founded for all the right reasons. This ceremony was page 5A news in the USA Today while the paper awarded the front page to former sports icons, alcoholic energy drinks and former high ranking military officers who are overpaid shielded mentors.
We worry about the leadership, financial crisis and where this country is going. We can start by putting everything in to perspective and making the real heroes’ front page news. This is a good start and we can build on everything fm this point.
If you start with honor, integrity, unwavering courage and extraordinary heroism, it’s easier for the rest to come together; whether a country, corporation or team. It’s all about caring levels and helping people help themselves.
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
Honored Soldier “as humble as he is heroic”
The honor ceremony was both joyous and bittersweet. President Obama gave Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta the Medal of Honor while describing him “as humble as he is heroic”. This was the first time in forty (40) years that this honor has been given to a living service member.
The President went off script to say, “I really like this guy.” “When you meet Sal, and you meet his family, you are just absolutely convinced that this is what America is all about. It just makes you feel proud.” If this is what America is about, then this is front page news to me as a Marine and proud citizen of this country.
He saluted Giunta for “uncommon valor” and described in detail how he charged in to Taliban fire to assist a fallen soldier and to rescue another who had been captured during an ambush in Afghanistan on October 25, 2007.
Staff Sergeant Giunta gave a choked up response by saying, “I would give this back in a second to have my friends back with me right now.”
The President went on to say, “You may not believe that you deserve this honor, but it was your fellow soldiers who recommended you for this honor. By charging in to extreme enemy fire, you embody the warrior ethos that I will never leave a fallen comrade.”
Salvatore Giunta responded by saying, “Every single person I was with would have done what I did, possibly even better, but they were doing other things.”
Eleven of Giunta’s comrades fm the battle attended the ceremony in addition to Giunta’s family and parents of the two dead soldiers, one of whom Giunta had risked his life to save.
The Medal is for “unwavering courage” and “extraordinary heroism”.
He was then inducted in to the Pentagon’s Hall of Heroes. Giunta is just the eighth person to receive a medal for service in Iraq and Afghanistan. Three thousand four hundred (3,400) have been bestowed since 1861.
I am writing this to illustrate how far off track our country is fm the day our country was founded for all the right reasons. This ceremony was page 5A news in the USA Today while the paper awarded the front page to former sports icons, alcoholic energy drinks and former high ranking military officers who are overpaid shielded mentors.
We worry about the leadership, financial crisis and where this country is going. We can start by putting everything in to perspective and making the real heroes’ front page news. This is a good start and we can build on everything fm this point.
If you start with honor, integrity, unwavering courage and extraordinary heroism, it’s easier for the rest to come together; whether a country, corporation or team. It’s all about caring levels and helping people help themselves.
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
Monday, October 25, 2010
Hope, Help, Belief, Nurture
Hope, Belief, Nurture
The word Hope, like all players, needs support. Hope with the words critique, support, help, nurture, belief, opportunity, more nurturing, all sprinkled in, is one of the greatest words in sports.
Words, like people, need support to have meaning. Doses of reality are fine when applied properly.
Hope diminishes as staffs grow in numbers until a staff begins to operate like the great teams that grew because each person recognized the unique assets of their colleagues and it all comes together
Hope, like luck, isn't random. There are support words that enhance chances of Hope becoming aspirations and dreams come true.
Hope, Help, Belief & Love: Four (4) of the greatest words in sports and life. Intertwined they become the most powerful. Hope supported by helping others help themselves creates a synergy in an organization that you can feel and it runs right though you.
Hope is an important part of the equation when you recruit or draft a player. Hope is a big deal in sports. I met a guy in this business years ago that told me he was going to minimize the word Hope in the process of recruiting, scouting and drafting. I listened with an open mind and looked forward to the day we were going to revolutionize the world of recruiting and scouting. I’ve had others since, that I respect, come up with some practical predictability solutions that help minimize but we will never eliminate the word. Most important, let’s find a way to work with it.
Hope goes beyond Hoping the players make it. Hope starts with recruiters and scouts hoping people on the staff have the talent to teach, help, nurture and believe with an open mind, heart, and eyes. Hope is hoping there is a caring level beyond most. Hope is belief and knowing that the recruiting and scouting staff saw something in the player and person worth nurturing. Where would we be without Hope?
If Hope is Belief with a lot of Love and determination, I'm good with that. It will work.
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
The word Hope, like all players, needs support. Hope with the words critique, support, help, nurture, belief, opportunity, more nurturing, all sprinkled in, is one of the greatest words in sports.
Words, like people, need support to have meaning. Doses of reality are fine when applied properly.
Hope diminishes as staffs grow in numbers until a staff begins to operate like the great teams that grew because each person recognized the unique assets of their colleagues and it all comes together
Hope, like luck, isn't random. There are support words that enhance chances of Hope becoming aspirations and dreams come true.
Hope, Help, Belief & Love: Four (4) of the greatest words in sports and life. Intertwined they become the most powerful. Hope supported by helping others help themselves creates a synergy in an organization that you can feel and it runs right though you.
Hope is an important part of the equation when you recruit or draft a player. Hope is a big deal in sports. I met a guy in this business years ago that told me he was going to minimize the word Hope in the process of recruiting, scouting and drafting. I listened with an open mind and looked forward to the day we were going to revolutionize the world of recruiting and scouting. I’ve had others since, that I respect, come up with some practical predictability solutions that help minimize but we will never eliminate the word. Most important, let’s find a way to work with it.
Hope goes beyond Hoping the players make it. Hope starts with recruiters and scouts hoping people on the staff have the talent to teach, help, nurture and believe with an open mind, heart, and eyes. Hope is hoping there is a caring level beyond most. Hope is belief and knowing that the recruiting and scouting staff saw something in the player and person worth nurturing. Where would we be without Hope?
If Hope is Belief with a lot of Love and determination, I'm good with that. It will work.
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
Monday, October 11, 2010
AUTHENTICITY; Something Pure and Good
Authenticity; Something Pure and Good
Everyone likes something pure and good. This is where it starts. I’ve been witness to performances by athletes that I would like to remember for a long time. The one way to ensure this is to duplicate the moment with consistency realizing it just needs to represent all that was pure and good in the moment. This is an athlete that clearly understands the importance of separating themselves fm the group while still blending in to the team concept.
This is one important part of being a human being; making sure you keep the exciting parts of being human present in your life. If this isn’t incentive, nothing is.
There is nothing like an incorruptible athlete that represents an authentic heart, authentic passion and unwillingness to compromise. Hockey players are both strong and fragile when you weigh in what their body experiences during the course of a game. There is nothing like an athlete who loves to play, plays to win and has people responding to their performance. They are not in it for the money; they learned early on that money follows passion. These athletes and performances restore faith in humanity when the value of role models is being tested. There is nothing like a winner who is authentic, pure and good.
When you see it, you can feel it and it runs right through you. I have observed a number of awe-inspiring players when they are @ the top of their game and their performances appear magical.
The Authenticity of the athlete takes it to a level where it becomes as close to a religious experience as it can get. The Authentic athlete finds a way to duplicate with consistency. They are the type of people who feel they are missing something if they miss training for one day.
How many times have you been @ a game where some young athlete does something out of the ordinary that separates themselves fm the group? Are they aware that this needs to be duplicated? Are they aware of the importance of duplication and consistency in their game? Are they aware of what they did to create this magical moment in their life? Will they build on it? Do they have the support system and mentors in place to build on all the good they do? Is the moment incentive to take it to another level? These questions, and there are many more, need to be answered to enhance the process of taking an athlete to their maximum level.
AUTHENTICITY
People with a passion for life and the game are forever looking for something new or something to solve and represent all that is pure and good. They have an authentic heart, authentic passion and unwillingness to compromise. They are always looking for lessons in life and the game. They are the most curious people I know and they never arrive. This is a prerequisite for being a complete athlete and a good leader.
Can you pass the authenticity test?
The dictionary tells us authentic people have a particular way of dealing with the external world, being faithful to internal rather than external thoughts and ideas. This is a pure measurement for great leaders and great athletes.
“What you see is what you get.”
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
Everyone likes something pure and good. This is where it starts. I’ve been witness to performances by athletes that I would like to remember for a long time. The one way to ensure this is to duplicate the moment with consistency realizing it just needs to represent all that was pure and good in the moment. This is an athlete that clearly understands the importance of separating themselves fm the group while still blending in to the team concept.
This is one important part of being a human being; making sure you keep the exciting parts of being human present in your life. If this isn’t incentive, nothing is.
There is nothing like an incorruptible athlete that represents an authentic heart, authentic passion and unwillingness to compromise. Hockey players are both strong and fragile when you weigh in what their body experiences during the course of a game. There is nothing like an athlete who loves to play, plays to win and has people responding to their performance. They are not in it for the money; they learned early on that money follows passion. These athletes and performances restore faith in humanity when the value of role models is being tested. There is nothing like a winner who is authentic, pure and good.
When you see it, you can feel it and it runs right through you. I have observed a number of awe-inspiring players when they are @ the top of their game and their performances appear magical.
The Authenticity of the athlete takes it to a level where it becomes as close to a religious experience as it can get. The Authentic athlete finds a way to duplicate with consistency. They are the type of people who feel they are missing something if they miss training for one day.
How many times have you been @ a game where some young athlete does something out of the ordinary that separates themselves fm the group? Are they aware that this needs to be duplicated? Are they aware of the importance of duplication and consistency in their game? Are they aware of what they did to create this magical moment in their life? Will they build on it? Do they have the support system and mentors in place to build on all the good they do? Is the moment incentive to take it to another level? These questions, and there are many more, need to be answered to enhance the process of taking an athlete to their maximum level.
AUTHENTICITY
People with a passion for life and the game are forever looking for something new or something to solve and represent all that is pure and good. They have an authentic heart, authentic passion and unwillingness to compromise. They are always looking for lessons in life and the game. They are the most curious people I know and they never arrive. This is a prerequisite for being a complete athlete and a good leader.
Can you pass the authenticity test?
The dictionary tells us authentic people have a particular way of dealing with the external world, being faithful to internal rather than external thoughts and ideas. This is a pure measurement for great leaders and great athletes.
“What you see is what you get.”
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
Friday, September 3, 2010
Professions Greatly Pursued
Professions Greatly Pursued
They say, "Every profession is great that is greatly pursued". MHC has a purpose beyond the bottom line. We give young people with talent a purpose in life and we create a "passion" for the game; emptying the holsters and using all the passion and fire within you.
It has been proven that people who talk about their mission in life have higher productivity levels.
When you study the minds of the most successful people in the world, a number of things come to mind. These people are only interested in what it takes to succeed. They pay little or no attention to all those reasons why they are not going to succeed. They know how and why and that is all that matters when they chart the course. They become detail people capable of critiquing themselves on a daily basis and they show compassion for others as they move on and up in life. The live life with a purpose.
The high majority select a mate to enjoy life and share the great moments they work for. That mate plays a huge role by allowing them to live their dream or live their life. Successful teams execute their game plan. They tend to make the other team worry about them.
I was fortunate because my wife allowed me to "live my life". I found ways to thank her numerous times. Once I sent her a little talking bear on Valentines Day. The bear responded when squeezed by saying, "Happy Valentines Day. I Love You, Clairene. Thanks for allowing me to live my life." I also allowed her to live her life because she spent a high percentage of her time keeping up the house, raising the kids and running the hockey camp. She made more of a commitment than me to the real things in life. She is the underlying reason for the success of the camp and all the good you see in the kids is an extension of her beliefs and work.
Winning and doing things the right way raises the self esteem level of an entire community and proves one more time why athletics and all those hard fought battles for arenas stand for everything that is right in life. Hockey has been the beneficiary of adversity. Hockey has had to do most everything on its own.
Young people need balance in their lives. This is why we believe that "extra-curricular" should be called "co-curricular". I've always felt sorry for the "kid who went home at three o’clock". This means they are missing out on the most valuable growth experience in their formative years. We've always felt that the school shops should be open for people who are not interested in other activities. This informal type of education gives mentors an opportunity to build on the all-important intangibles in life.
Successful players, like successful people, take risk. There is a positive correlation between risk takers, winning and success in life. They live on the edge, but they know the consequences in every situation so their risk level is calculated. They know the consequences to the team and to their families and lives. Crunch time brings out the best in them. Offensive players become more focused defensively during the play offs. This is why teams that stress creativity on offense step up their game in the play offs. Very few defensive minded teams can step up their offense.
Team members on successful teams are not all intellects of your class, community or world. I taught school for sixteen years. Every student that possessed the foundation of a person, as described in our Template for Success Program, received a "C" or better in my classes. This means that they possessed the unique skills needed to cultivate their talents. Keep in mind that every person has some kind of talent. Test scores were only there to differentiate between "A" and "B" students, so we were striving for excellence in all areas.
Conversely, students testing out with "A" on my tests had to possess the foundation skills to get an "A" in my classroom. While this caused some problems between some parents and me, the student was the beneficiary because they were better prepared to function in their job once they were hired. Most success stories use their educational opportunities to develop skills far beyond tests and the academic classroom. Busy students with balance in their participation develop the skills of time management and judging people. There aren't too many who make it without the help of someone outside of their immediate family. They learn to judge with improvement being the main objective.
Your career and life is the bi-product of your character, class and charisma.
Attending class every day, interacting with your peers and forming adult relationship with your mentors has more to do with your ultimate success than any book. We need a test that tells us what a young person is made of versus what they know. I conducted "Independent studies during my lunch hour when I was teaching. I still have many of the paintings done by artistic kids during lunch hour. These are kids who failed Art because they were not "original" in the teacher's eyes. I was under the impression that doing a painting off a portrait was an unbelievable skill. This style of teaching is nothing more than recognizing creativity and unique skills. I only provided the nurturing that is so non-existent in these situations.
We can not form a set of beliefs about a player before we encounter them as a person. Knowing the person, and what they stand for, allows us to predict success with more accuracy. When we know the thought process and value system of the person we can make some kind of prediction or judgment on the future.
Successful people have the integrity to be honest with others, control their emotions, develop the social skills to get along with peers and adults, marry a person who will let them "live their lives", and they work beyond the 2,000 hours that the average person is asked to work. Is this normal? No! Did we want to be normal? No! Successful people are above what is normal, or average, in life; always seeking more and never arriving.
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
They say, "Every profession is great that is greatly pursued". MHC has a purpose beyond the bottom line. We give young people with talent a purpose in life and we create a "passion" for the game; emptying the holsters and using all the passion and fire within you.
It has been proven that people who talk about their mission in life have higher productivity levels.
When you study the minds of the most successful people in the world, a number of things come to mind. These people are only interested in what it takes to succeed. They pay little or no attention to all those reasons why they are not going to succeed. They know how and why and that is all that matters when they chart the course. They become detail people capable of critiquing themselves on a daily basis and they show compassion for others as they move on and up in life. The live life with a purpose.
The high majority select a mate to enjoy life and share the great moments they work for. That mate plays a huge role by allowing them to live their dream or live their life. Successful teams execute their game plan. They tend to make the other team worry about them.
I was fortunate because my wife allowed me to "live my life". I found ways to thank her numerous times. Once I sent her a little talking bear on Valentines Day. The bear responded when squeezed by saying, "Happy Valentines Day. I Love You, Clairene. Thanks for allowing me to live my life." I also allowed her to live her life because she spent a high percentage of her time keeping up the house, raising the kids and running the hockey camp. She made more of a commitment than me to the real things in life. She is the underlying reason for the success of the camp and all the good you see in the kids is an extension of her beliefs and work.
Winning and doing things the right way raises the self esteem level of an entire community and proves one more time why athletics and all those hard fought battles for arenas stand for everything that is right in life. Hockey has been the beneficiary of adversity. Hockey has had to do most everything on its own.
Young people need balance in their lives. This is why we believe that "extra-curricular" should be called "co-curricular". I've always felt sorry for the "kid who went home at three o’clock". This means they are missing out on the most valuable growth experience in their formative years. We've always felt that the school shops should be open for people who are not interested in other activities. This informal type of education gives mentors an opportunity to build on the all-important intangibles in life.
Successful players, like successful people, take risk. There is a positive correlation between risk takers, winning and success in life. They live on the edge, but they know the consequences in every situation so their risk level is calculated. They know the consequences to the team and to their families and lives. Crunch time brings out the best in them. Offensive players become more focused defensively during the play offs. This is why teams that stress creativity on offense step up their game in the play offs. Very few defensive minded teams can step up their offense.
Team members on successful teams are not all intellects of your class, community or world. I taught school for sixteen years. Every student that possessed the foundation of a person, as described in our Template for Success Program, received a "C" or better in my classes. This means that they possessed the unique skills needed to cultivate their talents. Keep in mind that every person has some kind of talent. Test scores were only there to differentiate between "A" and "B" students, so we were striving for excellence in all areas.
Conversely, students testing out with "A" on my tests had to possess the foundation skills to get an "A" in my classroom. While this caused some problems between some parents and me, the student was the beneficiary because they were better prepared to function in their job once they were hired. Most success stories use their educational opportunities to develop skills far beyond tests and the academic classroom. Busy students with balance in their participation develop the skills of time management and judging people. There aren't too many who make it without the help of someone outside of their immediate family. They learn to judge with improvement being the main objective.
Your career and life is the bi-product of your character, class and charisma.
Attending class every day, interacting with your peers and forming adult relationship with your mentors has more to do with your ultimate success than any book. We need a test that tells us what a young person is made of versus what they know. I conducted "Independent studies during my lunch hour when I was teaching. I still have many of the paintings done by artistic kids during lunch hour. These are kids who failed Art because they were not "original" in the teacher's eyes. I was under the impression that doing a painting off a portrait was an unbelievable skill. This style of teaching is nothing more than recognizing creativity and unique skills. I only provided the nurturing that is so non-existent in these situations.
We can not form a set of beliefs about a player before we encounter them as a person. Knowing the person, and what they stand for, allows us to predict success with more accuracy. When we know the thought process and value system of the person we can make some kind of prediction or judgment on the future.
Successful people have the integrity to be honest with others, control their emotions, develop the social skills to get along with peers and adults, marry a person who will let them "live their lives", and they work beyond the 2,000 hours that the average person is asked to work. Is this normal? No! Did we want to be normal? No! Successful people are above what is normal, or average, in life; always seeking more and never arriving.
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
Friday, August 20, 2010
World Junior Evaluation Camp
World Junior Evaluation Camp
I always find it interesting to listen to the beliefs and thoughts of others when I go to these camps. You have people promoting something that isn’t there and then you have those more than willing to “box in” a young athlete who is nowhere near what he has the potential to be.
The latter one concerns me most because I would never want my own children to “buy in” to those who “box in”. Mentors have the obligation to “nurture nature”. Think about it!
Athletes are beyond becoming what you believe they can be, but it’s difficult for them when you are the one telling them what they can be. I’ve always believed more for young athletes for one simple reason. I’m not going to be the one mentor in their life who stifled their potential as a person or athlete. That being said, I am more than willing to teach them a “back up game”, or “game within their game”, that will enable them to make the next level. Every player needs this and in many cases they end up playing this role @ the NHL level.
Suffice to say, “I know a lot of players who could play @ a higher level in the NHL but do not because of a number of reasons. One, someone “boxed them in” along the way and they “bought in”. Two, their lifestyle keeps them fm putting the finishing touches on their game and in many cases causes them to lose even the secondary role they play on the team. Three, having a “clear head” is imperative for your feet and hands to work @ full capacity. Living right, and being proud for doing it, is the sure way of having a “clear head”. Being able to look in that mirror and like the person you see is paramount to success in any endeavor.
Hockey is a physically and mentally demanding sport. Maximizing your strength is a given. Split second thinking @ the quickest level possible is something to work on and requires a high fitness level. Both require proper rest and nutrition. Living right keeps the mind clear and your mind is in command of your feet and hands.
I would want my child to “buy in” to a temporary role on a World Junior Team if the sole intent was him being able to play this role for the good of the team. I would want those in my care to overachieve in the role so others could emulate them. Learning that role will serve you well down the road because that may be the way you earn the respect @ a higher level that enables you to make it to each level. Making the team has to happen before any of us are able to show what we really can do when given an opportunity.
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
Monday, August 16, 2010
Living the Brand
Living the Brand
If your life is your business, and every business needs a brand, you better start living the brand! Your life becomes a business the moment you do something to gain notoriety; something out of the ordinary.
Remaining calm, emotional stability @ its finest during the storms, is all part of the internal strength you need while formulating the direction of your brand (life). One way to ensure your brand is going in the right direction is you developing a strictand disciplined routine. Most have no clue how strict and disciplined the routine has to be. Once the routine is in place, you need to find some kind of balance around that routine that includes faith, beliefs, friends and family. If part of the routine is laborious, or tedious, consider yourself lucky because the finished product is the result of all your experiences.
The best piece of advice beyond that is to trust and go with your instincts. This will serve you well in critical moments where split second thinking instincts get you through each situation. Critical moments and game sevens (7) have a way of breaking down basic skills, and simple tactical execution, that are givens. Everything comes down to trusting your game and your instincts.
Being in the public eye is part of being in your life’s business as a player so learn to live with it on a daily basis. The critics are always present. Learn to live with it by building up a resolve reservoir that never empties. Resiliency will become your partner in life.
Suffice to say that being well groomed is all part of living the brand. Once established you are able to create your own identity; what you see is what you get goes on display and it could be totally unique.
Money is secondary to passion because money is the byproduct of the passion you have in everything you do. Money follows passionate people with the ability to express their talent.
When you own a camp, you begin to realize how few realize what it takes to live a brand (your life and career). They have no clue and going on the defensive, when exposed, will only kill the process.
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
If your life is your business, and every business needs a brand, you better start living the brand! Your life becomes a business the moment you do something to gain notoriety; something out of the ordinary.
Remaining calm, emotional stability @ its finest during the storms, is all part of the internal strength you need while formulating the direction of your brand (life). One way to ensure your brand is going in the right direction is you developing a strictand disciplined routine. Most have no clue how strict and disciplined the routine has to be. Once the routine is in place, you need to find some kind of balance around that routine that includes faith, beliefs, friends and family. If part of the routine is laborious, or tedious, consider yourself lucky because the finished product is the result of all your experiences.
The best piece of advice beyond that is to trust and go with your instincts. This will serve you well in critical moments where split second thinking instincts get you through each situation. Critical moments and game sevens (7) have a way of breaking down basic skills, and simple tactical execution, that are givens. Everything comes down to trusting your game and your instincts.
Being in the public eye is part of being in your life’s business as a player so learn to live with it on a daily basis. The critics are always present. Learn to live with it by building up a resolve reservoir that never empties. Resiliency will become your partner in life.
Suffice to say that being well groomed is all part of living the brand. Once established you are able to create your own identity; what you see is what you get goes on display and it could be totally unique.
Money is secondary to passion because money is the byproduct of the passion you have in everything you do. Money follows passionate people with the ability to express their talent.
When you own a camp, you begin to realize how few realize what it takes to live a brand (your life and career). They have no clue and going on the defensive, when exposed, will only kill the process.
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
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
MHC Mission Statement and Purpose
MHC MISSION STATEMENT
To be the best provider of hockey training for athletes, coaches and trainers in the World
To operate the company on a sound financial basis of profitable growth
To reach out to players around the world; making the Camp the most respected in hockey
To reach out to other programs that complements our camp experience
To address the needs of the Brainerd Area community through involvement with youth programs and other worthy causes
To empower employees and athletes to “Be As Much As You Can Be” in a nurturing environment which recognizes unique talents of each individual, unconditional respect for the talents of others, and creativity.
We are in this business to create an awareness of training by exposing assets and liabilities. We are the type of people who force you to make a decision on us; force you to have an opinion on what we do. You will pick sides before you finish our program. We do things from the heart. Aside from the pleasure of owning the camp, if our athletes garner inspiration from their involvement, incentive, or find a way to love training and playing the game, if will be great. You will either love us or leave us. Either way; finish one week and you will be more proud than when you walked on to the grounds.
Image may be everything to the person who takes time to build his own, but substance is everything. You get more out of hockey when you use the game to learn more about life. You develop a love for the game where you can feel it. Only than can you act on your assets and liabilities.
If we don’t have an idea that materializes and changes a person’s life, then what have we got? We wouldn't really have much of anything. We can have talks, research, seminars and meetings. If we don’t have a change in the organization or team, we really have nothing. It’s not too often we get to do something for the first time as we get older. Young people give us an opportunity to create something new every day we work with them.
“Commitment to training the way we train prepares an ordinary person to do extra-ordinary things.”
We are a camp that refuses to follow America's trend. We are still attempting to create the drive and desire that used to exist in the majority of all athletes. It comes as no surprise that the sports world is deteriorating when you consider all the wealth and all that is out there for kids these days. They have a lot of choices outside of the playground setting. We are losing the "hungry" kid that used to be able to afford the game and the wealthy feel they can get by with the gimmicks.
Chris Chelios has a son that told the Gretzky boys that this camp is hard, and he is right. Well, the Gretzky boys took everything we had to offer in stride and hopefully they will return for the right reasons. They received no special treatment and they responded admirably. I have a great deal of respect for them and their upbringing after observing them for two weeks.
I saw something in Dean Chelios that made me want him here for 5 to 7 weeks a summer. I liked what I saw. He was a good kid and performed admirably out of his comfort zone. I know in my own heart we could help him because, like the Gretzky children, he has things you can't teach.
We are in an age where kids get too much too soon and we have too many who think they can "buy success". We have too little focus on consistency and continuity. The intangibles are secondary and kids are being misled as to what it takes to succeed in life and the game. We believe our passion, and love for the game and kids who play it, will rub off on the people who work and play here.
Baseball fields are filled with hungry and poor sand lot ball players, but those sand lots are in a different country. Outdoor rinks are a thing of the past in most areas. Structure and "buying" our way is the norm in AAA hockey.
We still maintain the hope that some hungry kid or some kid who has everything going in life but hockey, will catch and pass up the guy who gets all the breaks. We are an underdog camp with a few elite players to emulate. One of the easiest ways to develop a winner without cost is to elevate the charisma, class and character levels of every young person we meet. These are traits that bring more credibility to the game.
Our country is falling behind in most every sport and we haven't been able to figure out the reasons why. It comes as no surprise to me after traveling all over the world and being witness to the different ideas on training.
This camp has the answer, but few care to listen. There is no replacement for quality training time spent working hard. There is no replacement for the combined humor and sweating with your colleagues. Hard work is fun and will always be. Hard work puts you on a path to "Peace of Mind".
When our society begins to once again endorse that concept we will be on the road to recovery. If a player plays five (5) minutes in a sixty (60) minute game, they will play like it is the most important five (5) minutes of their life. We need to develop players capable of creating an atmosphere (attitude) conducive to success. Hockey players contribute in different ways. In doing so, they feel a sense of ownership and pride; all part of being on a winning team.
"Adults and management have a way of stripping young people of opportunity; if only by a rating system." For some, you may get that “one chance” and you better be ready to make the most of it. For others, they can do no wrong. Right or wrong, the pros have less of a support system for their players than the amateurs. This comes at a time when the support system could be the most important thing in your life.
None of us can say we’ve done it by ourselves, no matter what we accomplish in our lives. Supports systems are crucial to our success; whether amateur or pro. We’ve been witness to over twenty-five (25) training camps during our professional career. Sometimes it is the high risk chance we don’t take that gets the attention of management, then there are the times it is the expression of our unique talents.
Every athlete has to take the approach, "If it can happen, I am going to make it happen."
This was the concept our forefathers envisioned when they laid the foundation for this great country; a model for any team to follow. I would guess there are more than a few rolling around in their graves right now; not too happy with what’s happening in our society.
Team members provide an enormous lift to society and communities when they know they are doing something well. When their light shines, our light shines. It matters not who or what you are; you are no different than the next person.
Our camp changes young peoples’ lives for these very reasons.
The word "mission" is very evident at Minnesota Hockey Camps. We strive to have each person have a communicable, altruistic purpose for what they are doing, especially, for their vocation and profession. We consider our life in hockey an avocation. We are on a mission as mentors of sorts with hopes that the end results are Peace of Mind, Stanley Cup, and a legacy such as our camp in the Brainerd Lakes Area. We still have a chance to win another Cup and Ring. We can readily identify with our mission in life. The purpose is much larger than we are and we feel we can talk about our lives as having a meaningful and worthwhile direction.
Camps have been, are and always will be an important segment of American society. They are a place to let the imagination run. We have a plus having ours in a pristine setting. Young people need camp experiences to grow out and away from their comfort zones. A worthy camp will play a role in the psychological, sociological and physical growth of a child, and ultimately plays a role in their successes in life. The camp can play a similar role in any employee’s life. We embrace a family style setting in and amongst the birch, pines and pristine shores of beautiful Clark Lake. We have a rustic setting with the latest in training techniques.
We are aware of what our company can do to improve the quality of life for people like our players, coaches and support staff. We have a quality place to work and play. We can cite example upon example of how MHC’S service made a difference in individual lives. The self-esteem levels of the people involved are raised considerably, we are saving careers once doomed to fail, and we are improving people's life-styles by recognizing their unique skills.We are helping young people find purpose in their lives and careers and we are helping others discover what they have in common to work together. We've recruited people with the right values to carry out our mission. Per person productivity is up there with the best in the business. The employee's attitudes toward our company are at an all time high.
We know we’ve recruited the right people when they are people who take the time to make sure that some person they don’t know, and may never see again, has a great experience and leaves with something more than when they arrived. These are life changing experiences. The desire to want to be a part of this is a true measure of your worth to society and your profession. Our own aspirations become more defined.
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
To be the best provider of hockey training for athletes, coaches and trainers in the World
To operate the company on a sound financial basis of profitable growth
To reach out to players around the world; making the Camp the most respected in hockey
To reach out to other programs that complements our camp experience
To address the needs of the Brainerd Area community through involvement with youth programs and other worthy causes
To empower employees and athletes to “Be As Much As You Can Be” in a nurturing environment which recognizes unique talents of each individual, unconditional respect for the talents of others, and creativity.
We are in this business to create an awareness of training by exposing assets and liabilities. We are the type of people who force you to make a decision on us; force you to have an opinion on what we do. You will pick sides before you finish our program. We do things from the heart. Aside from the pleasure of owning the camp, if our athletes garner inspiration from their involvement, incentive, or find a way to love training and playing the game, if will be great. You will either love us or leave us. Either way; finish one week and you will be more proud than when you walked on to the grounds.
Image may be everything to the person who takes time to build his own, but substance is everything. You get more out of hockey when you use the game to learn more about life. You develop a love for the game where you can feel it. Only than can you act on your assets and liabilities.
If we don’t have an idea that materializes and changes a person’s life, then what have we got? We wouldn't really have much of anything. We can have talks, research, seminars and meetings. If we don’t have a change in the organization or team, we really have nothing. It’s not too often we get to do something for the first time as we get older. Young people give us an opportunity to create something new every day we work with them.
“Commitment to training the way we train prepares an ordinary person to do extra-ordinary things.”
We are a camp that refuses to follow America's trend. We are still attempting to create the drive and desire that used to exist in the majority of all athletes. It comes as no surprise that the sports world is deteriorating when you consider all the wealth and all that is out there for kids these days. They have a lot of choices outside of the playground setting. We are losing the "hungry" kid that used to be able to afford the game and the wealthy feel they can get by with the gimmicks.
Chris Chelios has a son that told the Gretzky boys that this camp is hard, and he is right. Well, the Gretzky boys took everything we had to offer in stride and hopefully they will return for the right reasons. They received no special treatment and they responded admirably. I have a great deal of respect for them and their upbringing after observing them for two weeks.
I saw something in Dean Chelios that made me want him here for 5 to 7 weeks a summer. I liked what I saw. He was a good kid and performed admirably out of his comfort zone. I know in my own heart we could help him because, like the Gretzky children, he has things you can't teach.
We are in an age where kids get too much too soon and we have too many who think they can "buy success". We have too little focus on consistency and continuity. The intangibles are secondary and kids are being misled as to what it takes to succeed in life and the game. We believe our passion, and love for the game and kids who play it, will rub off on the people who work and play here.
Baseball fields are filled with hungry and poor sand lot ball players, but those sand lots are in a different country. Outdoor rinks are a thing of the past in most areas. Structure and "buying" our way is the norm in AAA hockey.
We still maintain the hope that some hungry kid or some kid who has everything going in life but hockey, will catch and pass up the guy who gets all the breaks. We are an underdog camp with a few elite players to emulate. One of the easiest ways to develop a winner without cost is to elevate the charisma, class and character levels of every young person we meet. These are traits that bring more credibility to the game.
Our country is falling behind in most every sport and we haven't been able to figure out the reasons why. It comes as no surprise to me after traveling all over the world and being witness to the different ideas on training.
This camp has the answer, but few care to listen. There is no replacement for quality training time spent working hard. There is no replacement for the combined humor and sweating with your colleagues. Hard work is fun and will always be. Hard work puts you on a path to "Peace of Mind".
When our society begins to once again endorse that concept we will be on the road to recovery. If a player plays five (5) minutes in a sixty (60) minute game, they will play like it is the most important five (5) minutes of their life. We need to develop players capable of creating an atmosphere (attitude) conducive to success. Hockey players contribute in different ways. In doing so, they feel a sense of ownership and pride; all part of being on a winning team.
"Adults and management have a way of stripping young people of opportunity; if only by a rating system." For some, you may get that “one chance” and you better be ready to make the most of it. For others, they can do no wrong. Right or wrong, the pros have less of a support system for their players than the amateurs. This comes at a time when the support system could be the most important thing in your life.
None of us can say we’ve done it by ourselves, no matter what we accomplish in our lives. Supports systems are crucial to our success; whether amateur or pro. We’ve been witness to over twenty-five (25) training camps during our professional career. Sometimes it is the high risk chance we don’t take that gets the attention of management, then there are the times it is the expression of our unique talents.
Every athlete has to take the approach, "If it can happen, I am going to make it happen."
This was the concept our forefathers envisioned when they laid the foundation for this great country; a model for any team to follow. I would guess there are more than a few rolling around in their graves right now; not too happy with what’s happening in our society.
Team members provide an enormous lift to society and communities when they know they are doing something well. When their light shines, our light shines. It matters not who or what you are; you are no different than the next person.
Our camp changes young peoples’ lives for these very reasons.
The word "mission" is very evident at Minnesota Hockey Camps. We strive to have each person have a communicable, altruistic purpose for what they are doing, especially, for their vocation and profession. We consider our life in hockey an avocation. We are on a mission as mentors of sorts with hopes that the end results are Peace of Mind, Stanley Cup, and a legacy such as our camp in the Brainerd Lakes Area. We still have a chance to win another Cup and Ring. We can readily identify with our mission in life. The purpose is much larger than we are and we feel we can talk about our lives as having a meaningful and worthwhile direction.
Camps have been, are and always will be an important segment of American society. They are a place to let the imagination run. We have a plus having ours in a pristine setting. Young people need camp experiences to grow out and away from their comfort zones. A worthy camp will play a role in the psychological, sociological and physical growth of a child, and ultimately plays a role in their successes in life. The camp can play a similar role in any employee’s life. We embrace a family style setting in and amongst the birch, pines and pristine shores of beautiful Clark Lake. We have a rustic setting with the latest in training techniques.
We are aware of what our company can do to improve the quality of life for people like our players, coaches and support staff. We have a quality place to work and play. We can cite example upon example of how MHC’S service made a difference in individual lives. The self-esteem levels of the people involved are raised considerably, we are saving careers once doomed to fail, and we are improving people's life-styles by recognizing their unique skills.We are helping young people find purpose in their lives and careers and we are helping others discover what they have in common to work together. We've recruited people with the right values to carry out our mission. Per person productivity is up there with the best in the business. The employee's attitudes toward our company are at an all time high.
We know we’ve recruited the right people when they are people who take the time to make sure that some person they don’t know, and may never see again, has a great experience and leaves with something more than when they arrived. These are life changing experiences. The desire to want to be a part of this is a true measure of your worth to society and your profession. Our own aspirations become more defined.
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
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