The Off-Season

An incredibly under-rated part of the year! Your approach to the off-season is key for your athlete’s development. Long-term strides of improvement and achieving your goals are ultimately made during the off-season! Here are a few key points of emphasis to work through as you move into your off-season:

• Establish a break
  • No different than intermissions in the game. We need breaks! The worst thing you can do is let one season blend into the next. This is exactly how burnout happens. The mental break alone is HUGE. More times than not you’ll see your athlete return to the game refreshed and hungrier than ever!

• Develop your game plan
  • Extremely important!!! Devise a plan of attack in exactly how you’re going to help your athlete make the necessary gains during the off time. Raw skill development & improvement, off-ice performance training, NUTRITION habits, balancing other commitments. Many of these topics should be discussed and a plan needs be established.

• Commit to the “process”
  • Once you’ve built your game plan, commit to whatever it takes to achieving your goals! If it was easy, everyone would be playing in the NHL. Stay Determined. Stay Hungry. Stay Humble. Never lose sight of the fun!

“Without a plan, your dreams and goals are just wishes.” Here’s to a rewarding off-season of work and accomplishments!!!

What’s The Right Program For My Child?

As you’re navigating through the tryout process naturally you probably start to ask yourself; “What’s the right program for my child?” The perfect program or team is unique to each and every player. Try using some of these points as you work to find your perfect program/team.

Coaching

Is this coach honest? Does he/she make a positive impact on the athletes they work with? From a developmental perspective, what is the skill development and coaching philosophy? What are the coach’s goals and wants? Will this coach believe in my child? Their support and advocacy towards your child is everything! 

Environment

What is the culture and environment of this team/program? How has the feedback been from past players, families, and trusted sources? Will my athlete be challenged to improve their play at this level? 

Personal Fulfillment?

Will your child enjoy playing for this team? Remember; positive experiences and enjoyment is ultimately what will fuel your athlete to reach their greatest heights!

Best of luck to our entire OHP Family with their upcoming tryouts, showcases, and big decisions!

Navigating The Tryout Process

Lets talk about the elephant in the room, “tryouts”. First and foremost, embrace the process, and do your best to think big picture. No single season will ever dictate the trajectory of your child’s career. If your child makes the team, Great Job! If they fall short, encourage the principal that they’re fortunate to be learning such a quality lesson at a young age! Moving out of disappointment, set your goals – develop a game plan – and lets get to work! “Things will always turn out best for those who make the best out of the way things turn out.”

After a career of living in the land of uncertainty at the National and American Hockey League levels where literally everyday is a tryout. I believe the following qualities must be exemplified to ensure a positive tryout.

1. Compete Level

• Your child has to want it, and more importantly EARN it! With every opportunity they’re granted, their effort level has to be relentless.

2. Ability Level & Versatility

• No question supreme skill ability jumps off the page. However, every player in the world has deficiencies; and no player is great at everything. Players that are good at a lot of skills only help their overall odds. Be a Swiss Army knife of versatility. Every coach needs one of those.

3. Timing

• Unbelievably under-rated and under-appreciated. Do you ever wonder why or how “so and so made it…?” Timing. Being at the right opportunity and playing well at the right time, and finding the right team that needed what you offered.

Good luck to everyone in your upcoming tryouts!