The Disconnect of the Culture
This article first appeared in Breakout Magazine (December 2009- The Official magazine of the Greater Toronto Hockey League & its Member Organizations).
In the everyday operations at Mind to Muscle, we are in contact with coaches, general managers and player development personnel from teams in the OHL, AHL and NHL. Suffice to say many of these conversations reflect on the quality of players entering into the ranks of junior and professional hockey.
A common observation from these professional hockey personnel is there seems to be a huge disconnect between what hockey people know is necessary from a developmental standpoint and what players are really doing in the culture of minor hockey. The culture has an overemphasis of on-ice work and sport specific instruction for developing players and is robbing higher levels of the hockey industry of quality prospects, who offer a more complete physical and mental upside.
Specifically, junior and professional hockey needs quality players to build, develop and mold into professional athletes. They are not getting this quality from the one-sport participant in today's minor hockey culture. When asked to comment specifically on what he has experienced as a head coach at the OHL level, one such hockey person felt compelled to write a letter to explain his perspective on the matter. The following is that letter;
"Athletes" or Hockey Players?
We had a week off in September so we decided as a team building exercise to play a game of baseball with our players. The weather was nice and we needed a break from practice. The players had a draft to make the teams and they borrowed gloves from their billets. The game was fun, the energy was high but the level of athleticism was incredibly low with some of the players.
Our best players on the ice appeared to be the best athletes, including our two European born players. Although it took the two imports a couple of swings, they quickly picked up the art of hitting and were very quick runners. Like most European players, they are extremely fit and powerful.
I can remember playing baseball and soccer with our past teams and players such as Mike Richards (Philadelphia Flyers), Derek Roy (Buffalo Sabres), David Clarkson (New Jersey Devils) and Stephen Weiss (Florida Panthers) always stood out. They were also the hardest working players in the weight room. They, like John Moore and Jeff Skinner on our present Kitchener Rangers team, were constantly working hard off the ice on their foot speed and agility. They focus on core strength and quickness because it translates to power and quickness on the ice. They are all athletes, not just hockey players.
In my opinion, it is vital that coaches and parents today at the youth levels balance the amount of on-ice work outs with a quality off-ice training program. Simply put, kids get sick of practice. They want to be stimulated athletically. They want to be challenged. A quality training program off the ice will translate into added quickness and strength on the ice. Your players will become quicker, faster and mentally tougher.Knowing that you have an extra gear in the third period or in overtime allows players to be confident.
I have very fond memories of my playing days in the GTHL. I also know that the players that I played with and against such as Adam Graves, Bryan Marchment and Brendan Shanahan were elite athletes off the ice as well.
Do not get fooled into thinking that your son or daughter has to be on the ice 4-5 times a week or they will fall behind. Supplement some of their on-ice sessions with off-ice training. I can assure you that the better the athlete, the better the player. I have seen it at my level in the Ontario Hockey league.
All the best,
Steve Spott
Head Coach & General Manager
Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club
