Much like Keith Allain, head coach of the U.S. National Junior Team, utilized cross-ice drills during the National Junior Evaluation Camp, the coaches at the Women’s National Festival have been integrating cross-ice drills into their practices as well.
Click below for a brief video of Team Blue (U.S. Women’s Under-18 Select Team) and Team Red playing cross-ice during practice.
To All Who Love Hockey,
I grew up in the far “East Coast” & was very fortunate to have “Top Experienced” coaching at all levels of my development. Some of the older coaches have pasted away & many of the younger coaches are now running Division 1 (UNH-Brian M.) & Top High School Hockey Programs all over the country. I had many options by time I was a junior in high school to which direction I wanted to go with my hockey vocation. I had elite proven coaches that wanted me at the “Junior A level” & had a “Minnesota School” that I ended up taking a scholarship with. As time has gone by one thing has not changed in my mentality towards my hockey skills; which is as follows,: “I always try to improve myself each time out on the ice”. Hard Conditioning programs mixed in with a variety of different quality drills were demanded of me to execute properly to bring the true hockey talent out. It took hard work & dedication which has lasted a lifetime as I can still school younger guys in the teens & early 20′s. The point is “Skill Is Skill “& “Talent Is Talent.” Everyone matures differently. The right drills like the Cross-Ice Drills; which I saw in the video, are essential to building a great hockey player. “Ice Hockey” is a combination of all the sports played by man. The drills & the degree of work required to complete them should always reflect in variety or your players will be standing still in the fast pace game ahead. The “Cross-Ice Drills” develope quick feet & 2-3 second explosive movement that is needed in the offensive,neutral zone & defensive parts of the game of hockey. Cross-Ice & Cross-Training have very similar concepts in the game of hockey. To make the muscle stronger & increase the stamina of the muscle takes alot of hard work on & off the ice. Do not forget that proper rest is a very important final step along with good eating habits that will conclude a hockey players optimal performance level. Well, I truely hope people read this follow up & the selection crew considers me for the (ADMKids.com) LTAD Symposium Nov. 11th – 14th at the Seven Bridges Rink in Woodridge,IL. Please remember we all learn from each other & bring it into our game to keep the opposition guessing. Sincerely, Tim Berry E-Mail TimothyBerry@comcast.net 1-847-219-3468 if you have any questions.