ERRA Coaching Development

Tech Talk Issue 1 from Ringette Canada
(en Francais)


Tech Talk Issue 2 (English)
Tech Talk Issue 2 (en Francais)

Tech Talk Issue 3 (English)
Tech Talk Issue 3 (en Francais)

Welcome to "Tech Talk" for the Ringette Coach

Developed by the Ringette Canada Coaching and Player Development Committee. The Committee members are: Phyllis Sadoway (Chair), Jim Stansberry, Donnell Schoenhofen, Danielle Hobday (Athlete Representative - Technical), Richard Robert, Jean-Marc Cartier, Beth Vallis, Al Ternes (First Vice President Technical), Lyndsay Wheelans (Technical Director).

This "email" newsletter for the ringette coach will be sent out 3 times per year (December, February and April). It is copied here for those who have access to the Web, but don't have email.

The newsletter will include information for ringette coaches at all levels such as: philosophy, ethics, resources, growth and development, physical training, mental skills training, practice planning, program development and leadership development......

If you know of anyone who is interested in obtaining this "Tech Talk" email newsletter, please have them send an email to: lyndsay@ringette.ca with "Subscribe Tech Talk" in the subject line.


UNDER 7's AND UNDER 9's - FUN TIME, BALANCE AND DISCOVERY
(John Armstrong, Sports Coach, Vol. 23, No. 1 Autumn 2000, page 14-16)

Coaches and officials of kids in the under 9 category need to put as much time into the parents as the kids themselves. The bottom line is you won't have the kids there unless the parents bring them and register them. Parents have a huge influence on kids at this age. If mum and dad are keen and enthusiastic about a particular sport, so too are the kids. It is very important for coaches and officials to spend time catering for parents' needs and educating parents.

Anybody involved in skills acquisition will tell you that the earlier you can teach a skill, the easier it is for the participant to grasp those skills and enter the "automated" stage of the skill. What are some of the obvious attributes of 5-8 year olds and what attributes should a coach be aware of?

Attributes: So what should the coach focus on and how should development programs cater for this age group?


SECRETS OF POSITIVE COACHING
(Gary Hicks, "The Ten Secrets of Positive Coaching", Texas Coach, Vol.. 44, No.4)

Tough Love

You will never know when you are destroying your team with favoritism. The "out" players, parents and coaches will never tell you because they are afraid they will fall further out of your favor and the "in" players don't wish to ruin a good thing. Tough love is when you have the courage to treat all your players and associates fairly even when you are truly attached to some. Don't become cold to your favorites but rather become warm to the others. You have to be the judge of this one because no one will ever honestly tell you whether you are playing favorites or not.

Control Your Emotions

Bravery is no more than the ability to control the emotions. Someone who is a master of their emotions is a master of the game. Not only must you control your own emotions you must learn to control the emotions of those you are working with. Your team needs to begin the game emotionally "charged" but not to the point of uncontrollable. If they are losing momentum during the game and are arguing amongst themselves or playing the "blame game", you need to have the emotional fortitude to call time out and calm them down. Do not fan the fires with your own frustration and anger. Give your team some calm reassurance and lay out a play to regain control of the game. Make sure your plan has small goals the team can immediately attain to give them a foothold on a higher level of confidence. Once they taste a small success, cheer them on and move them to the next level. Control your emotions and you will control the situation.


RING HANDLING AND RING CONTROL

We all know how important skating is to the game of ringette but what about ring handling? Ring handling is the most underrated skill required in the game. Great ringette players are able to protect the ring from the opponent and create space for themselves so that they can create offensive opportunities such as a pass or a shot. They do this all while maintaining balance on their skates.

Drill and Practice Suggestions:

All players on the ice should have the confidence to carry the ring. Have all the players carrying a ring inside a space such as a circle or in the area between the goal line and the free play line. You can start with a larger space and get smaller. Have the players move the ring from side to side. Use fakes and change of direction in the small space.

Do short drills throughout your practice that gives all players an opportunity to "touch" and/or carry the ring and develop their ring control skills. Have the players use their feet to control the ring or have them practice controlling the ring without putting their stick inside the ring. Play one on one mini-games using the width of the ice. This forces all players to have to carry the ring. If your team has players with different skill levels, be discrete, but match the players in the one versus one mini game against players of similar caliber.

For more game like situations, progress in your drills by first having the players carry the ring without checking pressure, then add one checker who starts further away. As the players become more confident, allow the checker to start closer to the ring carrier to add more checking pressure. Emphasize "heads up" in all drills


NEXT ISSUE

The next issue of "Tech Talk" will include:


GENERAL INFORMATION and DATES TO REMEMBER

The Coaches Association of Canada (CAC) is asking all coaches to send their e-mail address directly to the 3M NCCP Database by going to http://www.coach.ca/new_e.htm and clicking on Access Coaching Information Online.

The CAC has launched the 3M NCCP Database Online, a service that allows coaches to check their certification status. Coaches can check their status by going to the Web interface at http://www.coach.ca/data/.

New Online Journal

The Women in Coaching program has launched the Canadian Journal for Women in Coaching. This online resource is designed to address key issues and challenges facing women coaches. Its purpose is to provide timely, accurate, targeted information in order to establish a healthier and more positive environment for women coaches at all levels in Canada and throughout the world.

View the Journal at http://www.coach.ca/women/e/journal/.

2001 Canadian Ringette Championships - April 2-7, 2001, Moncton, New Brunswick
2002 Canadian Ringette Championships - Regina, Saskatchewan
2003 Canada Winter Games - February , 2003, New Brunswick
2003 Canadian Ringette Championships - Waterloo, Ontario


Ringette Canada, Coaching and Player Development Committee
5510 Canotek Road, Suite 201
Gloucester ON K1J 9J4
Tel: (613) 748-5655
Fax: (613) 748-5860
Web Site: http://www.ringette.ca