Grassroots: The Minor Hockey Show

Minor hockey in both Canada and the U.S. is working hard both at trying to attract newcomers as well as retain youngsters playing the game. What then would it take to help ensure both objectives are achieved? Perhaps a simple idea - a rule - might do it.  Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

Since taking over the York University women's hockey program in 2004, Dan Church has established himself as one of the game's most complete and well respected coaches. His team has consistently been among the top ten in Canada and he's coached Canadian women's teams to golds at numerous international events, including the world championships. But it's his philosophy on coaching that both sets him...

University of Toronto women's coach Vicky Sunohara bridged two generations of national team successes as a player. She started with the likes of Angela James and France St. Louis and finished with players such as Jayna Hefford and Cassie Campbell Pascall. Along the way, in Olympic and world championships, she won 15 gold and three silver medals. Now in her tenth year as the head coach at U of T, s...

Nearly 20% of the world's female hockey players are in Ontario, governed by the OWHA whose head is Fran Rider. How does she see the current state of female hockey and where it's going? What about the open boundaries that exist only in the women's game? A discussion with a woman who has been honoured in Canada and internationally for her contributions to women's hockey. Contact: richard(at)grassroo...

Over 20 years as an elementary school phys. ed. teacher and coach, dealing with hundreds of kids each day, have taught Jonathan Lloyd a few things about coaching. He takes those tools straight into the rink in the evenings as a competitive level minor hockey coach. What has he learned and how does he apply it to coaching hockey? Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard -...

A mantra taken up by USA Hockey leaders some years ago in its new development program was "No laps - No lines - No lectures!" What exactly does it mean and what should coaches do instead? A discussion with Gregg Kennedy. Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

There's no evidence that the late American psychologist Abraham Maslow played hockey, let alone coached it. Yet his Hammer Law regarding cognitive bias seems well suited to an examination of how minor hockey coaches rely on so very few tools. Dean Holden is again the guest and he looks at this in more depth. Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden...

Can we make a distinction between coaches who are motivated by the process as opposed to the outcomes, like wins and losses? Dean Holden, who is completing his PhD in coaching, holds true to his mantra of "Fun-Learn-Return" as he discusses the issue. Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

Dave Leger was a Level VI referee in Ottawa and officiated professionally in Europe. Then he got the coaching bug, beginning with a stint as a high school assistant with Richard Bercuson and moving into junior then college hockey. It is now 22 years later and he has been a professional coach on three continents and in five countries. With a suitcase full of fascinating experiences, he has learned...

Let's have a sneak "peek" at what's coming on August 6. Three great shows with Dave Leger, who is now coaching in Hungary, and Dean Holden who is completing his PhD in coaching. Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

According to journalist David Epstein's research in his landmark book "The Sports Gene," there are people pre-disposed to certain types of activities based on genetics. However, does a pre-disposition to coaching exist in minor hockey? A conversation with Gregg Kennedy, whose movie night gets interrupted to examine the topic. (Note: Grassroots will take a short break, resuming on Aug. 6 with more...

A conversation with Mark Elsenaar, president of Whitby Minor Hockey. What got him involved and what's it like overseeing one of Ontario's largest minor hockey associations Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

In the final part of 3, Rick Ladouceur and Richard dissect how to properly teaching individuals defensive play, employing the right combined technical skills. Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

How to apply technical skills to the teaching of individual offensive tactics, the ones Rick Ladouceur says are the "sexy" ones and which the kids all are ready to learn. Part 2 of 3. Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

Teaching skills is tough enough without knowing how to effectively combine them to achieve a proper result. In this mini-clinic, Rick Ladouceur, who's taught skills and coached for years, explains the nuts and bolts of this challenging component of coaching minor hockey. Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

For ten years, Rob Mann’s hockey journey has been on the upswing to where now he’s a bonafide pro. What got him there? How did minor, junior, and college hockey prepare him? What must he do to improve his game? Here’s a candid reflection on a young man’s route to professional sport. Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

How does a 12-year old cope with his coach telling him he'll never achieve his dream of being a professional soccer player? Matt Caldaroni struggled with that issue for years and eventually did achieve his goal, though briefly. But the event led to him teaming with his brother Chris to create "Mind-Body Fusion," a company that helps young athletes develop the resiliency tools they need.  Contact:...

Corey Lucas discovered that his experiences in junior, college and minor pro hockey actually shone a spotlight on his inability to cope with certain situations. Now a teacher and coach, he turned those experiences into a way to help other young players with their own challenges through his company "Mentally Charged." Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 De...

What do Vivaldi and the teaching of checking have in common? Nothing at all. Still, a primer on how and when to properly teach checking skills is always a good idea. When accompanied by Signore Vivaldi's classic concertos, even better. Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

You've got a team. Now you need a staff: assistant coaches, trainer, manager. Who do you get, why, and what are their roles in games and practices? Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

What’s it like being a goalie parent? One former (the host!) and two current goalie Dads chime in. Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

One of the biggest complaints we hear in the game regards ice time, and this is not at the elite levels. It’s a pervasive problem. Richard discusses this with Gregg Kennedy. Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

What coach hasn’t had a group that was, at best, forgettable. Here’s the story of one , from former AAA and junior A coach Rick Ladouceur. Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

"I was skeptical at first," says former pro Corey Lucas, a teacher and coach in the new program. "But it works. It really does." Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

Steve Millar has been teaching hockey for a long time. He gladly changed his approach when the new program came about. Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com