
MENTORS MEETING nb 3, Copenhagen, Danemark
SHORT REPORT – materials from the presentation
16 May – 18 May 2018
Hockey School for Adults (L. Rollins)
Strategy
- Recruit
- Develop
- Retain
- Evaluate
- Repeat
RECRUIT
- Define your product
- What are you offering?
- Identify the target group:
- Adults who have never played hockey/played as children
- Locate the target group:
- Parents in arena/parents of hockey kids
- Adults who want to be active (gyms, unemployment centers, medical clinics, etc)
- Advertise to target group:
- Social media, posters, face-to-face
- Encourage participants to bring friends
DEVELOP
- Product must be high quality:
- Find the right coaches
- Qualities: some hockey ability, positive, patient, confident, helpful, flexible, dedicated
- 1-3 coaches per ice. Young, former players who are responsible.
- Have a clear plan
- Give plan to participants
- Show development model
- Teach skating, skills, and hockey
- Do not simply play for 60 minutes. Adults want to learn and understand.
- Find the right coaches
RETAIN
- Greet each participant by name at each training
- Names on helmets
- On the ice, encourage and address people by name
- Ask for opinions after each training
- How do you feel? Did you have fun? Can we do better?
- End of season tournament
- 3v3 or full ice
- Trophy/medals
- Food, music, outside grill party?
- Photos/Video on social media every week
- Create a group/Facebook page (‘Public’)
EVALUATE
- End of season participant survey
- Create simple Google Doc
- Statistics: How many participants
- Began the program
- Joined during the program
- Dropped out
- Wish to continue
- Why did they participate/join/quit?
- What was good/could be better?
- Open suggestions
- Statistics: How many participants
- Debrief coaches
- What worked/could be better?
- You, as a coach: strengths, weaknesses, suggestions
- Create simple Google Doc
TIPS FOR ADULT HOCKEY SCHOOL
- Coaches
- Good with people, positive, ability to demonstrate/correct, will show up every week
- Equipment
- Minimum: Skates, helmets, sticks. Full gear recommended
- Tape, markers, cones, pucks, goals (small and large), jerseys, coffee machines, water bottles
- Advertising
- Advertise directly to women/mothers
- Make it clear that this is for beginners, not ‘future NHLers’
- ‘Fun, safe, learning environment’
- Develop skills
- 15 minutes of skating, 30 minutes of drills, 15 minutes of playing
TIPS, CONTINUED
- Coaches
- Good with people, positive, ability to demonstrate/correct, will show up every week
- Equipment
- Minimum: Skates, helmets, sticks. Full gear recommended
- Tape, markers, cones, pucks, goals (small and large), jerseys, coffee machines, water bottles
- Advertising
- Advertise directly to women/mothers
- Make it clear that this is for beginners, not ‘future NHLers’
- ‘Fun, safe, learning environment’
- Develop skills
- 15 minutes of skating, 30 minutes of drills, 15 minutes of playing
_____________________________________
Teenagers (former players, at-risk youth) (L. Rollins)
STRATEGY
- Recruit
- Develop
- Retain
- Evaluate
- Repeat
RECRUIT
- Define your product
- What are you offering?
- No pressure hockey. Fun. Safe environment.
- Identify the target group:
- At-risk teens/kids, who quit hockey/immigrants?
- Locate the target group:
- Social media
- Contact info from the club
- Other teen programs/immigrant programs/schools
- Advertise to target group:
- Social media, posters, face-to-face
- Encourage participants to bring friends
- What are you offering?
DEVELOP
- Product must be fun, no pressure:
- Find the right coaches
- Qualities: some hockey ability, positive, patient, confident, helpful, flexible, dedicated
- 1-3 coaches per ice. Young, former players who are responsible. Able to work with teens positively.
- Develop personal bonds
- ‘See’ everyone. Include and encourage.
- Reward effort and teamwork more than skills
- Teach skating, skills, and hockey
- Keep it fun. Races, competitions, shooting. Do things they enjoy
- Play 15-20 minutes at every training
- Find the right coaches
RETAIN
- Greet each participant by name at each training
- Names on helmets
- On the ice, encourage and address people by name
- Give players responsibility
- Ask for opinions after each training
- How do you feel? Did you have fun? Can we do better?
- End of season tournament
- 3v3 or full ice
- Trophy/medals
- Food, music, outside grill party? Invite families or friends?
- Photos/Video on social media every week
- Create a group/Facebook page (‘Public’)
- Snapchat/whatever cool teens are doing in 2018
EVALUATE
- End of season participant survey
- Create simple Google Doc
- Statistics: How many participants
- Began the program
- Joined during the program
- Dropped out
- Wish to continue
- Why did they participate/join/quit?
- What was good/could be better?
- Open suggestions
- Statistics: How many participants
- Debrief coaches
- What worked/could be better?
- You, as a coach: strengths, weaknesses, suggestions
- Create simple Google Doc
TIPS FOR TEENAGERS
- Coaches
- Good with people, positive, ability to demonstrate/correct, will show up every week, experience working with teens
- Equipment
- Minimum: Skates, helmets, sticks. Full gear recommended
- Tape, markers, cones, pucks, goals (small and large), jerseys, water bottles
- Advertising
- Advertise directly to girls/boys/immigrants
- Make it clear that this is for fun. No pressure to be the best. Safe, fun environment.
- Develop skills
- 15 minutes of skating, 30 minutes of drills, 15 minutes of playing
TIPS, CONTINUED
- Dressing room culture
- Encourage people to come early
- Have a coach in the dressing room to keep behaviour positive
- Same training time every week
- Best training time for teens in your country? Weekends?
- Use social media!
- Create a public Facebook group for info/photos
- Create a hashtag and encourage its use
- Contact players when they miss training
- ”Hey, buddy! We missed you today. Everything ok?”
- Make personal relationships and let people feel wanted
_____________________________________
Girls ( Just wanna…be treated like athletes) (L. Rollins)
RECRUIT
- Define your product
- What are you offering?
- Girls only zone. Safe. Fun. Exiting. New friends.
- Identify the target group:
- Female players age? 7-12? Older?
- Locate the target group:
- Social media
- Schools
- Other sports facilities
- Advertise to target group:
- Social media, posters, face-to-face
- Encourage participants to bring friends
- What are you offering?
DEVELOP
- Product must be fun, challenging, safe:
- Find the right coaches
- Qualities: some hockey ability, positive, patient, confident, helpful, flexible, dedicated
- 1-3 coaches per ice. Willing to explain, encourage
- Have a clear plan
- How many groups/levels on ice?
- What skills will you teach, and how?
- Teach skating, skills, and hockey
- Skating 15 minutes, skills 30 minutes, play 15 minutes
- Make it fun. Teach a skill, work on it, use it in a game or competition.
- Find the right coaches
RETAIN
- Greet each participant by name at each training
- Names on helmets
- On the ice, encourage and address people by name
- Explain the How and the Why of each drill/skill
- After each training:
- Did you have fun? What was the best? What did you learn?
- End of season tournament
- 3v3 or full ice
- Trophy/medals
- Food, music, outside grill party?
- Photos/Video on social media every week
- Create a group/Facebook page (‘Public’)
EVALUATE
- End of season participant survey
- Create simple Google Doc
- Statistics: How many participants
- Began the program
- Joined during the program
- Dropped out
- Wish to continue
- Why did they participate/join/quit?
- What was good/could be better?
- Open suggestions
- Statistics: How many participants
- Debrief coaches
- What worked/could be better?
- You, as a coach: strengths, weaknesses, suggestions
- Create simple Google Doc
TIPS FOR GIRLS HOCKEY PROGRAM
- Coaches
- Hockey coaching experience, willing to explain, positive, able to challenge athletes at age appropriate level
- Role models: women who are former players
- Equipment
- Minimum: Skates, helmets, sticks. Full gear recommended
- Tape, markers, cones, pucks, goals (small and large), jerseys, coffee machines, water bottles
- Advertising
- Advertise directly to girls/parents of girls
- Use pictures of girls/women in all of your advertisements
- Some ‘nice’ pics, some ‘competitive’ pics
- Develop skills
- 15 minutes of skating, 30 minutes of drills, 15 minutes of playing (girls are as athletic and capable as boys. Treat them like athletes).
TIPS, CONTINUED
- Dressing room culture
- Encourage kids to arrive early
- Coaches in rooms to help with equipment/answer questions
- Same training time every week
- Best training time for parents in your country?
- Use social media!
- Create a public Facebook group for info/photos
- Create a hashtag and encourage its use
- Use your national team athletes
- They can skate. They want to grow the sport.
- As coaches or as guests 1-2 times during the program
_____________________________________
Special needs hockey (L. Rollins)
RECRUIT
- Define your product
- What are you offering?
- New activity. Physical fitness. Meeting others. Fun.
- Identify the target group:
- Downs Syndrome? All intellectual disabilities?
- Locate the target group:
- Downs Syndrome societies (see outline)
- Schools
- Facebook groups
- Advertise to target group:
- Social media, posters, face-to-face
- Encourage participants to bring friends
- Encourage parents/caregivers to attend
- What are you offering?
DEVELOP
- Product must be fun, positive, safe:
- Find the right coaches
- 1-2 ‘real’ coaches
- 4-5 helpers (on skates or on shoes)
- Experience with DS or young children
- Have a clear plan
- How many groups/levels on ice? (see outline)
- What skills will you teach, and how?
- Teach skating, fun, teamwork, pride
- Find the right coaches
RETAIN
- Greet each participant by name at each training
- Names on helmets
- On the ice, encourage and address people by name
- Smile, be patient, get to know the players
- After each training:
- Did you have fun? What was the best? What did you learn?
- End of season match (against pros?)
- Create a partnership with the local club
- Club jerseys match against the ‘stars’
- Photos/Video on social media every week
- Create a group/Facebook page (‘Public’)
- Alert local media
- Create a meeting place for parents/caregivers
- Coffee, cake, warm place to sit?
EVALUATE
- End of season participant/parent survey
- Create simple Google Doc
- Statistics: How many participants
- Began the program
- Joined during the program
- Dropped out
- Wish to continue
- Why did they participate/join/quit?
- What was good/could be better?
- Open suggestions
- Statistics: How many participants
- Debrief coaches
- What worked/could be better?
- You, as a coach: strengths, weaknesses, suggestions
- Create simple Google Doc
TIPS FOR SPECIAL HOCKEY PROGRAM
- Coaches
- Experience with people more important than experience with hockey
- 5-6 on ice per training
- Equipment
- Minimum: Skates, helmets, sticks. Full gear recommended
- Tape, markers, cones, pucks, goals (small and large), jerseys, coffee machines, water bottles
- Advertising
- Advertise directly to parents of/societies for special kids
- Use pictures of special kids in all of your advertisements
- Emphasize social aspect for kids and parents
- Use many different games/activities
- People are ‘task-oriented’
- Instead of ”Skate to the goal line”, try ‘bring the pucks from here to the goal line as fast as you can’
TIPS, CONTINUED
- Dressing room culture
- Encourage kids to arrive 30-40 minutes before ice
- Coaches in rooms to help with equipment/answer questions
- Coffee/cake for parents
- Same training time every week
- Very important for special needs people
- Use social media!
- Create a public Facebook group for info/photos
- FB group for parents to talk to each other
- Get guidance from national DS society
_____________________________________
Primary school kids program (T. Psenka)
TARGET GROUP
- Characteristics of the group:
- Children – 4-10 years old
- Attending primary (secondary) school
- Playful age
- Fast learning kids, little scared at the beginning, later very fearless
- „They want to have fun!“
- The most important group, the biggest amount of the persons concerned
RECRUITING
- Recruiting
- How to get involved 5 years old kid in skating on the ice?
- How to contact the kids?
- Most of the kids would „love“ to skate and to have fun on the ice, but…
…decision makes parents, teachers, schools…
- 2 different ways to recruit kids for skating on ice:
- 1) Visiting kindergarten, schools, leisure centers… invite them to skate under professional supervision.
- 2) Through promotion…
- Efficiency, positives, negatives???
- Visiting kindergartens, schools, centers…
- Positives:
- Contact with teachers, lecturers, explaining entire process less work with parents
- The organization takes over by the school until the children arrive at the rink
- The exact number of the skaters on the ice, the similiar age of the skaters
- Easy to organize on the ice, to prepare the skating lesson
- In case of agreement with school, 100% efficiency
- Negatives:
- Ice time – usually during school time
- Kids are impatient – a requirement of the well-prepared dressing room (skates, helmets)
- Good organization of time (time schedule)
- Equipment requirements
Preparations – kindergarten school…
- Equipment requirements
- Labels on helmets with kids names
- Equipment requirements
- Locker room
- Tight the laces
- Coaches – organizations
- Tools
- Diplomas, rewards
- Medical staff (one person enough)
DEVELOPING
- 3-5 coaches + teachers
- 45-60 minutes on the ice
- Good organization – communication on ice (coaches – kids, kids – coaches)
- Coaches getting involved in exercises, games, playing with kids
- Focusing on kids needs
- Kids should have good experience from practice
- After the practice kids „sadness“
- Coaches are responsible for the happiness of the kids – good conditions for the kids, not for coaches
- After all evaluation of the kids – compliments, thanks, reward (diploma, juice, chocolate bar)
- Taking team photos
Example of the practice – 1st part (basic skills – up to 15 minutes)
- 5 coaches/ 5 groups
- Standing on the ice
- Standing on one skate
- Falling down and getting up
- Low jumping, high knees
- On the knee
- Walking around the circle…
Example of the practice – 2nd part (FUN – 30-45 minutes)
- 5 coaches/ 4-5 groups
- Small area game
- overcome obstacles ( crossing and graveling, falling down, getting up)
- „beginners“ – „walkers“
- competition
Example of the practice – Activity on the ice, sports (60 minutes)
- 5 coaches/ 4-5 groups
- Small area game – hockey
- Soccer
- Handball
- Chase
- Ringuette
- …
RETAINING
- Give the kids hockey stickers,
signature cards, photos
- Keep in touch with teachers and
get the feedback from parents
- The teachers should give more materials and information about the clubs activity to parents
- Invite the kids for the ice hockey practices with some leaflets
- Contact the school at least once a year, regularly
RECRUITING
- Through promotion…
- Positives:
- Targeting bigger group of kids and their parents
- Time efficiency
- Use of available ice time in the afternoons and weekends
- Promotions of clubs activities
- Negatives:
- Not targeting the exact group
- Kids of different age
- An unknown number of kids
- Organization difficulty
Forms of promoted activities
-
- Courses of skating (similar to skating primary school kids)
- Funny skating for kids
- Kids for hockey
- Kids for hockey (organization)
- Small area hockey
- Collecting lego pieces
- Game „mushrooms“
- Shooting drill
- „Monkey run“
- Main goal: „Having fun!!!“
_____________________________________
University students (High school students) program (J. Verlic)
GOOD TO KNOW
- Students want to have fun
- Students have time (late night hours)
- Students attend free events
- Students like to be challenged(Drills)
- Good chance they already skated
RECRUITMENT
- We offer fun and healthy exercise on ice
- Students can be found in universities, high schools, and dorms
- Students like to exercise & play different sports
ADVERTISING
- Posters and flyers (schools and dorms), social media, face-to-face
- Presentation on student events
- Partnership with student organizations
- Start at the beginning of the school year
- Offer free tickets to hockey games
- T-shirt at the end of the program
EVENT ORGANIZATION
- Dressing rooms
- 3 mentors (+ 1 supervisor*) for 20 participants
- 3 groups – 1mentor per group (beginners, intermidiate, advanced)
- Medical form before the start
EQUIPMENT
- Skates, hockey helmets, elbow & knee pads, gloves
- Full hockey gear if possible
ACCESSORIES
- Sticks, brooms
- Different balls(basket balls, foot balls, tennis balls)
- Obstacles
- Nets
- Basketball hoops
- Tennis rackets
PROGRAM
- Mentors need to recognize the skill level of participants
- 3 groups in 3 zones (beginners, intermediate, advanced)
- 4-5 h skating drills
- Teach them how to skate: skate forward, stopping, pivots and turns
- 5-6 h different games on the ice with or without skates
BASIC SKATING SKILLS
- Basic stance
- Falling correctly/safely
- Getting up from the ice
- Balance on 1 foot
- Jumping on 2 feet / 1 foot
- Gliding on 2 skates / 1 skate
- T-start
- V-start
- T-stop
- One-legged snowplow stop (One o’clock – eleven o’clock stops)
- Two-legged snowplow stop
- Hockey stop
- One-legged C-cuts
- Alternating C-cuts
- Two legs C-cuts
- Glide turns
- Inside edge glide turns
- Outside foot C-cuts around circle
- One-legged C-cuts backward
- Alternating C-cuts backward
- Two legs C-cuts backward
- Gliding on 2 skates backward
- Gliding on 1 skate backward
- Lateral crossovers
- Crossovers forward/backward
- Crossover star
POSSIBLE GAMES ON THE ICE
- 3 zones with different games
- Football on ice (shoes and full hockey gear)
- Broom or ring hockey
- Tennis on ice, basketball(advanced skill level)
- Aerobics, dancing (simple)
- Disco skating
IMPORTANT
- Have good and positive mentors(hockey coaches) with the ability to demonstrate
- Get feedback,create statistics and medical forms
- Try to retain students and bring them back to the ice rink( hockey games, night hockey)
- They can be future sponsors and parents
- EXERCISE AND FUN ON THE ICE!!!!
_____________________________________