Issues & Advice

Team Sportswoman of the Year was the latest honor for U.S. backstop Maddie Rooney admits her life has most certainly changed after backstopping the U.S. Olympic Women’s Hockey Team to a gold medal during the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea. Being named the Team Sportswoman of the Year on Oct. 17 at the Women’s Sports Foundation’s […]

But really, the only tangible advantage of having a taller setter is having a bigger block, and I should point out that a bigger block doesn’t necessarily mean a better block. Many coaches seem to continually be searching for a setter with the “so called” prototypical volleyball body and height. Here’s my question for them: […]

“There’s no correlation between playing games and development, especially at that age. Those kids need to be on the ice (for practice) at least two to three times for every game.” To maximize the “Golden Age of Skill Development,” Minnesota Hockey has made a rule change to ensure players are getting the proper ratio of […]

Why does everyone place their cell phones next to their spoon like it’s an additional piece of silverware? Few players can reign in the urge to use the phone at team meals. Each person on the bus had received the same letter from the head coach. It said: “If you are going to travel as […]

“So, we’ve spent a lot of time the last eight years developing those resources in conjunction with the other professionals to provide the best platform possible.” Strike up a conversation about hockey with Mike MacMillan and you instantly can hear the passion in his voice about the sport.  As the USA Hockey national coach-in-chief, MacMillan […]

Another important step in creating a team culture focused on development is ensuring everyone understands the role of mistakes and how players learn from them. The first few weeks of the season are always an exciting time of the year. Every team has a blank slate, and players of all ages are energized about the […]

“I want to grow the game, and I want to get people involved. Getting down there and working with these brand new players, it takes a lot of time to make sure they’re properly equipped. It takes an army of people.” Coaching and refereeing keeps Purcell busy, and that’s the way he likes it It […]

Making mistakes is critical to the kind of growth that ultimately wins games – especially those in tense situations – as well as championships. First of all, for those of you who are wondering, yes. This is my dog Swayze. (I didn’t name him; he was a rescue and that was already his name.) He’s […]

“There are going to be collisions. There are going to be accidental hits. What we focus on is taking away the purposeful checking and the purposeful hits that can lead to something more.” When Eric Hedblom first heard about the Minnesota Hockey Recreation League (“Rec League”), it couldn’t have come at a better time. His […]

Studies show that being physically active through football lowers body fat, strengthens muscles and increases the likelihood of continuing good health habits later in life. Football is blue-collar America. It’s working class, working together. In this game – America’s favorite game – there are no isolation plays that cast a team aside. Nor are there […]