I am often asked, "What is special about your teaching?" when it comes to ice hockey training. I see parents hand big bucks to coaches who are qualified only by virtue of where they have played without any regard for whether these coaches can TEACH and so impart their knowledge to their students, your children. Fact is, good players are not always good coaches. Some are, most are not.
Just as with playing hockey, COACHING and TEACHING require practice, training and lots of preparation. Some people are born to be teachers. I'm one of those people.
I am a good teacher and I have a lot of patience with my students. I am new enough at this game of hockey that I can remember what it feels like to not be able to do a particular drill or move and struggle with it. I know how to break moves down into parts to help identify weaknesses and strengths, and then help my students put the moves together, incorporate tempo and rhythm and finally speed.
I come well prepared and my lessons are well thought out. I study the work of other skilled coaches and base everything I teach on sound hockey principles. I particularly enjoy the European teaching influence which fosters the development of body and mind and helps to create a hyper-agile, thinking athlete.
I am a certified strength and conditioning specialist and fitness trainer and a registered nurse. I am a USA Hockey Level 5 certified coach, the highest level attainable. Much of what I do on the ice incorporates my health and wellness training to so that my students strengthen their bodies, develop core strength, and also improve on quickness, agility and explosiveness as they learn to negotiate any posture or weather any battle they find themselves in during a hockey game.
I believe that it takes a long time to get good at something… many hours of practice. I practicing coaching every day.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Monday, September 7, 2009
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Face- Offs at Fenway- Not You’re Average Double-Header- 01/08/2010
Historic Fenway Park will play host to the first outdoor hockey double-header in the modern era. Hockey East perennial powerhouses will meet in the shadows of the Green Monster for a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Game 1 features Northeastern and UNH (women) for a 4:30 pm showdown. The BC and BU (men) square-off under the lights at 7:30 pm. The January double-header will feature a number of record setting events.
The showdown between Northeastern and UNH will feature the first outdoor women’s game in the modern hockey era. Attendance, for the two games, will be record breaking with stadium capacities exceeding 35,000. This is one Friday double-header you’ll certainly regret missing.
Game 1 features Northeastern and UNH (women) for a 4:30 pm showdown. The BC and BU (men) square-off under the lights at 7:30 pm. The January double-header will feature a number of record setting events.
The showdown between Northeastern and UNH will feature the first outdoor women’s game in the modern hockey era. Attendance, for the two games, will be record breaking with stadium capacities exceeding 35,000. This is one Friday double-header you’ll certainly regret missing.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
Hockey Camp Too Expensive? Think Again!
Youth Hockey Camp Openings Conway Arena, Nashua June 26-July 1
24 Hours, 6 Days, 4 Hours/Day... The Good Get Better!
Strong Dynamics Hockey Summer Brochure
We understand that the kids love to play in summer league games but consider the cost-benefit and value of these from a training perspective compared to our Strong Dynamics Hockey Camp. In a league with games for 10 weeks the family still has to drive to a rink 10 times and wait for the hour. The player will touch the ice for about 12 minutes each game, so over the course of the 10 weeks the player is skating about 120 minutes or 2 hours, and touching the puck a small fraction of this time. If you paid $150 for a 10-week game schedule, YOU JUST PAID $75 PER HOUR for your child to skate in games with no training.
Compare this to our camp which costs $550 for 24 hours of ice or $22.92/hour, over 6 days. You will make only 6 trips to the rink (with a 5-hour layover so you can go off to work or home while your child trains) and your child will train with coaches for 24 hours on ice. Really, there is no comparison.
Ask yourself which player will improve the most, the one training for 24 hours on ice with individual attention from professional coaches, or the one skating, without instruction, for 2 hours? Which program do you think is the better value? Which program will have the least wear-and-tear on your family schedule? Which program will truly jump start your player's summer training and fast-track him or her to a higher level of play? As the parent of five hockey players I know the answer... and I am sorry to say I learned it the hard way! I'd love to have all the money back that I wasted on ineffective hockey programs. It would come in handy today in this economy. I probably wouldn't have a mortgage! No one told me, back then, and so I had to learn for myself, through trial and error, where to find value for my hockey dollar.
Yes, games are important but hockey is much more fun when you know how to play and know how to skate well. THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS. Savvy hockey parents understand the value of an undiluted program with progressive hockey training where your player will get the most out of his or her time spent training, and you, the hard-working parents, will truly get the most bang for your hockey buck!
We agree, spend what you can afford for hockey, and when you do spend money for hockey, make sure you are getting good value for your dollar and not just the lowest price. Choose the program that will cost the least in the long haul... and it is a long, very long haul!
24 Hours, 6 Days, 4 Hours/Day... The Good Get Better!
Strong Dynamics Hockey Summer Brochure
We understand that the kids love to play in summer league games but consider the cost-benefit and value of these from a training perspective compared to our Strong Dynamics Hockey Camp. In a league with games for 10 weeks the family still has to drive to a rink 10 times and wait for the hour. The player will touch the ice for about 12 minutes each game, so over the course of the 10 weeks the player is skating about 120 minutes or 2 hours, and touching the puck a small fraction of this time. If you paid $150 for a 10-week game schedule, YOU JUST PAID $75 PER HOUR for your child to skate in games with no training.
Compare this to our camp which costs $550 for 24 hours of ice or $22.92/hour, over 6 days. You will make only 6 trips to the rink (with a 5-hour layover so you can go off to work or home while your child trains) and your child will train with coaches for 24 hours on ice. Really, there is no comparison.
Ask yourself which player will improve the most, the one training for 24 hours on ice with individual attention from professional coaches, or the one skating, without instruction, for 2 hours? Which program do you think is the better value? Which program will have the least wear-and-tear on your family schedule? Which program will truly jump start your player's summer training and fast-track him or her to a higher level of play? As the parent of five hockey players I know the answer... and I am sorry to say I learned it the hard way! I'd love to have all the money back that I wasted on ineffective hockey programs. It would come in handy today in this economy. I probably wouldn't have a mortgage! No one told me, back then, and so I had to learn for myself, through trial and error, where to find value for my hockey dollar.
Yes, games are important but hockey is much more fun when you know how to play and know how to skate well. THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS. Savvy hockey parents understand the value of an undiluted program with progressive hockey training where your player will get the most out of his or her time spent training, and you, the hard-working parents, will truly get the most bang for your hockey buck!
We agree, spend what you can afford for hockey, and when you do spend money for hockey, make sure you are getting good value for your dollar and not just the lowest price. Choose the program that will cost the least in the long haul... and it is a long, very long haul!
Adult Hockey Skating, Skills & Agility Clinic Starts June 25 (Conway Arena, Nashua, NH)
Adult Hockey Skating, Skills & Agility Clinic Starts June 25 (Conway Arena, Nashua, NH)
Are you looking to get into shape, gain flexibility, learn a new sport or just improve your current game?
Are you looking to get into shape, gain flexibility, learn a new sport or just improve your current game?
Strong Dynamics is introducing their Adult Summer Hockey Clinic, 8 Week Get into Shape Training Program. Starting on June 25th and running through August 27th this camp is going to be very exciting and fun for all. At only $175, this 8 week camp provides the opportunity for new players and returning players to develop stronger muscles, work on endurance and their enhance their hockey skills. The camp will focus on fundamental skills like skating, shooting, passing, and overall athleticism. We are looking to create a fun and educational environment for adults to develop their hockey skills and exercise at the same time. At under $22/hour, this is a great value for any adult looking to get back into shape and create or expand a love for hockey.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Mapping Out Your Game Plan for Summer Hockey Training
A message from Coach Kasie Strong-
Mapping out your game plan for summer training- How to rapidly improve and still enjoy summer. Balance is the key!
In terms of your child’s on ice training routine, have you spoken to him or her lately about upcoming plans for this summer? With summer almost here, it’s important to have a plan of attack that fits your child’s needs, your schedule and the family budget.
Today’s options for on-ice summer training seem to come in all different forms such as camps, clinics and skill sessions, summer league teams, showcase tournaments and pick-up hockey to name a few. All of these choices can be somewhat overwhelming and it’s hard to always know what activity will benefit your child the most. From my own personal experience as a player and as a coach, I have found that the best plan of attack for summer training is to have balance in your routine.
Too often I see players who take all summer off then cram in some rigorous camps right before the season starts. This procrastination approach as I call it does not allow your player to develop and perfect his or her skills over a period of time. In the end your player will demonstrate the concepts learned for the week they are at camp and then forget everything once they jump into regular season practices and games. We all know this cram model from back in our school days when we would cram for a test, get an “A”, but then can’t remember any of the material we learned a week later. The same thing will happen in hockey if you don’t continue your practice throughout the season.
On the other extreme are the players who are skating all summer and do not have proper balance between being a player and being a kid. They aren’t spending enough time with their friends and enjoying their summer vacation and in the end, suffer from burnout and are dragging come the beginning of September. Like the procrastination approach, both of these extremes should be avoided if possible.
Here is a brief outline of what I mean by balance in your schedule. Remember, you, the parents, are the best judge of what your children’s needs are and what they can mentally and physically undertake. I encourage you to sit down with your children and hear them out. Ultimately it will make for the best family decision where everyone’s needs are considered.
Example of Balanced Hockey Schedule:
March/April- Hockey Season Ends.
TAKE A BREAK and has hard as it may be, limit your time at the rink. I promise, this will help rejuvenate your young players.
May- Spring Sports Start.
I encourage all of my players to play other sports in the off season to help create more dynamic and well rounded athletes. Some of the best NHL players played at least two sports into their high school or college years before opting to specialize in hockey. Example: Bobby Allen- graduated from BC and headed for the NHL, but did you know he was a four-year All-Independent School League baseball selection as a catcher at Cushing Academy? Chris Drury- excelled at both baseball and hockey as a child and in 1989 had the privilege of winning both a PeeWee National Hockey Championship in the same year as he won the Little League World Series. Tom Glavine- drafted by LA Kings and Atlanta Braves in 1984. He elected to play baseball.
June- Schools Out/ Summer Begins J
You’ve had a nice little break from hockey but right about now you’re probably starting to get the itch to jump back onto the ice. Remember to do this gradually and not jump back into anything too quickly. Private and semi-private lesson or some once a week pick- up hockey is a great way to incorporate both fun and hockey to help you get back into the swing of things this summer!
*Late June/Early July- Time to Get Serious. Strong Dynamics Summer Camp June 26 to July 3.
About this time is when I would suggest a week long camp that offers continuous days of training. This kind of camp format provides an opportunity for rapid development because of back to back training days where each day you can build off the previous day without having to spend too much time reviewing the last lesson as it’s still fresh in your players’ heads. A good camp model should also offer ample rest and recovery time between days so that our players can actually make it through the week without getting bored or feeling like they are missing out on summer fun with their friends. A week long, continuous day camp is a great way to build a strong base of core skills that you can build on throughout the summer months.
July- Sustain and Perfect. Weekly Clinics at Strong Dynamics
Take those skills you learned from your week long camp and perfect them throughout the month of July. This can easily be done with private or semi-private lessons or perhaps a once a week skills clinic where your child is able to get specialized and individualized attention without spending too much time at the rink. Don’t forget to keep the balance in your routine and find time for that vacation you were thinking about or the music camp your child mentioned back at the end of spring.
August- Hockey Season is Right around the Corner.
With hockey season only a month away, it might be time (towards the middle/end of the month) to do another week long camp, showcase tournament, some high tempo scrimmages or anything that involves a good amount of actual game play. At this point, you’ve done a good amount of skill development work and now have to incorporate what you’ve learned into a real live game environment. Don’t forget, we always want to sustain what we’ve learned throughout the season and this requires practice, practice, practice. Even though we are incorporating some games into our routine, it’s essential to balance that with adequate skill development time, i.e. practice!
September- It’s Time and You’re Ready!
The hockey season is now here and hopefully you’ve had a fun filled summer where you were able to balance summer fun with on-ice development. This balance is what will keep your athlete in top shape physically and mentally so that he or she will be able to compete with the best this season. Congratulations on a successful summer and here’s to an even more successful season!
Mapping out your game plan for summer training- How to rapidly improve and still enjoy summer. Balance is the key!
In terms of your child’s on ice training routine, have you spoken to him or her lately about upcoming plans for this summer? With summer almost here, it’s important to have a plan of attack that fits your child’s needs, your schedule and the family budget.
Today’s options for on-ice summer training seem to come in all different forms such as camps, clinics and skill sessions, summer league teams, showcase tournaments and pick-up hockey to name a few. All of these choices can be somewhat overwhelming and it’s hard to always know what activity will benefit your child the most. From my own personal experience as a player and as a coach, I have found that the best plan of attack for summer training is to have balance in your routine.
Too often I see players who take all summer off then cram in some rigorous camps right before the season starts. This procrastination approach as I call it does not allow your player to develop and perfect his or her skills over a period of time. In the end your player will demonstrate the concepts learned for the week they are at camp and then forget everything once they jump into regular season practices and games. We all know this cram model from back in our school days when we would cram for a test, get an “A”, but then can’t remember any of the material we learned a week later. The same thing will happen in hockey if you don’t continue your practice throughout the season.
On the other extreme are the players who are skating all summer and do not have proper balance between being a player and being a kid. They aren’t spending enough time with their friends and enjoying their summer vacation and in the end, suffer from burnout and are dragging come the beginning of September. Like the procrastination approach, both of these extremes should be avoided if possible.
Here is a brief outline of what I mean by balance in your schedule. Remember, you, the parents, are the best judge of what your children’s needs are and what they can mentally and physically undertake. I encourage you to sit down with your children and hear them out. Ultimately it will make for the best family decision where everyone’s needs are considered.
Example of Balanced Hockey Schedule:
March/April- Hockey Season Ends.
TAKE A BREAK and has hard as it may be, limit your time at the rink. I promise, this will help rejuvenate your young players.
May- Spring Sports Start.
I encourage all of my players to play other sports in the off season to help create more dynamic and well rounded athletes. Some of the best NHL players played at least two sports into their high school or college years before opting to specialize in hockey. Example: Bobby Allen- graduated from BC and headed for the NHL, but did you know he was a four-year All-Independent School League baseball selection as a catcher at Cushing Academy? Chris Drury- excelled at both baseball and hockey as a child and in 1989 had the privilege of winning both a PeeWee National Hockey Championship in the same year as he won the Little League World Series. Tom Glavine- drafted by LA Kings and Atlanta Braves in 1984. He elected to play baseball.
June- Schools Out/ Summer Begins J
You’ve had a nice little break from hockey but right about now you’re probably starting to get the itch to jump back onto the ice. Remember to do this gradually and not jump back into anything too quickly. Private and semi-private lesson or some once a week pick- up hockey is a great way to incorporate both fun and hockey to help you get back into the swing of things this summer!
*Late June/Early July- Time to Get Serious. Strong Dynamics Summer Camp June 26 to July 3.
About this time is when I would suggest a week long camp that offers continuous days of training. This kind of camp format provides an opportunity for rapid development because of back to back training days where each day you can build off the previous day without having to spend too much time reviewing the last lesson as it’s still fresh in your players’ heads. A good camp model should also offer ample rest and recovery time between days so that our players can actually make it through the week without getting bored or feeling like they are missing out on summer fun with their friends. A week long, continuous day camp is a great way to build a strong base of core skills that you can build on throughout the summer months.
July- Sustain and Perfect. Weekly Clinics at Strong Dynamics
Take those skills you learned from your week long camp and perfect them throughout the month of July. This can easily be done with private or semi-private lessons or perhaps a once a week skills clinic where your child is able to get specialized and individualized attention without spending too much time at the rink. Don’t forget to keep the balance in your routine and find time for that vacation you were thinking about or the music camp your child mentioned back at the end of spring.
August- Hockey Season is Right around the Corner.
With hockey season only a month away, it might be time (towards the middle/end of the month) to do another week long camp, showcase tournament, some high tempo scrimmages or anything that involves a good amount of actual game play. At this point, you’ve done a good amount of skill development work and now have to incorporate what you’ve learned into a real live game environment. Don’t forget, we always want to sustain what we’ve learned throughout the season and this requires practice, practice, practice. Even though we are incorporating some games into our routine, it’s essential to balance that with adequate skill development time, i.e. practice!
September- It’s Time and You’re Ready!
The hockey season is now here and hopefully you’ve had a fun filled summer where you were able to balance summer fun with on-ice development. This balance is what will keep your athlete in top shape physically and mentally so that he or she will be able to compete with the best this season. Congratulations on a successful summer and here’s to an even more successful season!
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