By Jeff Serowik PRO AMBITIONS HOCKEY, INC. -
January 2003 Newsletter
Dear Parents and Players:
It's that time of year again, - time to decide on try-outs for next year.
Here's a little advice that might be helpful in making that very important
decision for your hockey player in the upcoming season.
Coaching, Coaching, Coaching! Obviously the most important factor,
since you’re entrusting your son/ daughter in this person’s
care for an entire season. Make sure you know who the coach is and
what his / her credentials are. Have they coached before? Have they
worked with kids before? Do they have a son / daughter on the team?
What is their history with winning / losing and with allocating playing
time for each kid? [As you know, many coaches’ kids get the benefit
of the doubt]. How do they communicate with the kids / parents / other
coaches? Is he a positive or negative person? A screamer? Will he instill
confidence in your athlete? These are very important years in your
kid’s life, and I strongly believe that confidence and feeling
good about yourself are most important. Do the kids have fun in practice?
Do they respect the coach?
Do your homework: This will require both checking out a practice this
year [before try outs] to see what your are getting yourself into,
and using the hockey contacts you have to learn what kind of person
this coach is. Ask questions of current teammates, and other hockey
families.
Don't be afraid to call a coach and ask as many questions as necessary
to get a good feel for his style and coaching techniques. A coach who
is a caring, legitimate person will take time to talk with you and
share perspectives.
Selecting a league: Will it be too challenging or not challenging
enough? What is the general consensus of how the league is run? Is
it well organized? Is ice available on a routine basis? Do games
get cancelled because of scheduling snafus? Can we afford it? How
far will we have to travel?
Development: Absolutely a necessity with the kids. How many practices
and skill sessions will the kids receive? Are they full ice, half
ice, or shared practices?
Skill sessions: This is a great time for the kids to work on individual
areas to improve their game. Whether it be the skating stride, quickness,
passing, shooting, or conditioning. Does the program offer this? I
believe kids should have 3 practices to every 2 games.
Practices: If run properly are the most important tool to get your player to
the next level. In a game kids touch the puck maybe 2 minutes total. [As a
point of reference, Jaromir Jagr of the Washington Capitols, touches the puck
an average of just 1.5 minutes per game].
Does the organization offer a curriculum for the coaches to follow? Is it overseen by anyone? Are the officers listed and available? Do
coaches have to answer to anyone? It's nice to have an independent
person to give perspective once in a while.
Cost: What is the cost and what am I getting for my money? Many
organizations have hidden costs. How many games, practices, skill
sessions, accessories (bags, sweats, jerseys), tournaments, and summer
camps are included in the season fee? Will there be additional charges
for tournaments or playoffs? Are you expected or required to participate
in fund raising events? What will be the cost of travel?
Location: Where does your player want to play for the next 6-7
months. Have a thorough conversation with your player to see
if he / she
wants to make the hour commute 3 days/week; - or if he /
she wants to play on a friend’s team or with school buddies. Let them
express their feelings; because if they’re not committed
or happy, it's a waste of time, money, and precious opportunity.
Must you sign a contract? Many organizations [especially Metro]
make you sign a commitment letter. This is fine; - but
make sure you have an ‘out clause’ in case things that are promised
do not become reality. Often, if you sign a contract and then don't
adhere to it, - you jeopardize your child’s future
eligibility with that league. You can ask your director
these questions.
Set your player up for success! Last but not least, what is
it about a particular program which will have your hockey player
smiling every
day as they tug off their skates. This is most important.
They need to have fun and feel good about themselves. Be careful
not to subconsciously
push your player too hard. A few parents don’t
get it; - they live through their kids, sadly putting
them into more demanding situations
than they can handle.
All kids just aren’t Metro level
players; they don't yet have that level of maturity, skill, desire, or work
ethic. As a kid I played for the Manchester Flames, a town team in NH. I
never played Metro, and I made it into the NHL! And I had fun every day because
I had total positive support from my parents. All they ever asked was that
I give it everything I had when I stepped out onto the ice. . If your player
is good enough, the cream will rise to the top.
Best of luck,
Jeff Serowik, President
Pro Ambitions Hockey, Inc.
PO Box 565 Dover, MA 02030
508 497-1089 www.proambitions.com
PS: Please check out our summer camp schedule at www.proambitions.com
We have added many new and exciting programs and are really excited about
summer 2003. Also, check out information on our new Select Program out
of Nashua, NH next year. Try-outs in March! All info on Select Program
will be added to my website by the end of the week. If you want info
now, please check out the Nashua Panthers website at www.NashuaPanthers.org
.
AND: Pro Ambitions has been chosen by Platinum Television to be the feature
on their "Building a Solid Foundation" program airing in February
2003 on ESPN, ESPN 2, TSN(Canada), Fox Sports, and 55 other channels
in front of 70 million viewers worldwide! Our camps had the criteria
and reputation they were looking for. Don't be surprised if you see the
camera crews this summer at camp. Remember smile, you might be the next
Brad Pitt or Julia Roberts.
