Newsletters
May 2010
Behind The Bench
Thoughts from the bench
Hal Tearse discusses post season evaluations and shares thoughts about past and current trends in player development... Read More
In the Crease
Off-Season for the Goaltender
Joe Bertagna gives good insight to what a goaltender can do in the off-season to prepare for the next season...Read More
Off Ice Athlete Development
Common Errors When Performing Lower-Body Free Weight Exercises
Jay Dawes and Keith Cinea discuss the proper way to execute lower body exercises, pointing out common errors made by athletes.... Read More
From USA Hockey
USA Hockey and flexxCOACH have teamed up to bring you the latest in on-line learning for Coaches and Players – the USA Hockey Learning Center! Access the “Learning Center” and learn from the best coaches in the game – NHL; Collegiate and International! View a full range of animated drills; articles; video “tips and lessons” that will help make you a better coach or player. You will be able to enjoy both FREE and Premium (PAID) Content all in one easy to navigate location.

Check out the Hockey Learning Center in order to learn the best Skills: Tactics; Drills; Rules; and Strategies of the Game!!

NEW CONTENT JUST ADDED FROM USA HOCKEY'S LEVEL 5 COACHING SYMPOSIUM
Checkout Don Lucia's Opening Comments... Watch Video
X's & O's
flexxCOACH is redefining Coaching through innovation and technology! flexxCOACH brings you unprecedented access to Drills & Animations and the “tools” to use them properly. Try the FREE flexxCOACH Practice Planner here:
Responsible Sports - Liberty Mutual
NHL Coach Tony Granato on Honoring Opponents
U.S. Olympian and NHL coach Tony Granato talks about one of his favorite NHL traditions – the time-honored handshake following every NHL playoff series.

ranato notes the importance of honoring opponents and the league, win or lose, and how the classy tradition earns the respect of opponents and fans alike... Watch Video
Winning isn't Everything
Hal Tearse discusses the value of recognizing effort as a principal tenet in youth coaching... Read More
April 2010
Behind The Bench
Understanding the Youth Hockey Player
In search of answers regarding the ability of youth hockey players to comprehend the complexities of the game, Hal Tearse shares his findings...Read More
In the Crease
The Importance of Timing to a Goaltender
Joe Bertagna talks about the key to success for goaltenders...Read More
Off Ice Athlete Development
Nutrition Tips for Post-Workout Recovery
Helpful nutrition tips for post-workout recovery to help maximize an athlete’s workout... Read More
From USA Hockey
Practice Efficiencies
Ken Martel shares his ideas on time management in practice... Read More
X's & O's
flexxCOACH is redefining Coaching through innovation and technology! flexxCOACH brings you unprecedented access to Drills & Animations and the “tools” to use them properly. Try the FREE flexxCOACH Practice Planner here:
Winning isn't Everything
Hal Tearse shares ideas about winning for youth coaches... “Redefine Winning and Losing”
March 2010
Behind The Bench
Hal Tearse shares some tips on effective communication strategies for coaches. Read More
In the Crease
In this month’s article Joe Bertagna addresses the often overlooked importance of stick discipline. Read More
Off Ice Athlete Development
Bob Mancini shares a letter from a Mite Hockey Coach that he recently received that stresses the advantages of practice planning and station work for young players ... Read More
Skills & Tactics
Guy Gosselin discusses the importance of practice planning and ice utilization in creating an effective practice environment and the positive impact it will have on athlete development. Read More
From USA Hockey
Jay Dawes discusses how “Manual Resistance” exercises can be easily incorporated into your Off Ice training program in a small area with little equipment and just a few players ... Read More
X's & O's
flexxCOACH is redefining Coaching through innovation and technology! flexxCOACH brings you unprecedented access to Drills & Animations and the “tools” to use them properly. Try the FREE flexxCOACH Practice Planner here:
Winning isn't Everything
Larry Lauer discusses the importance of keeping winning in perspective and how to ... “Redefine Winning and Losing”
Janurary 2010
Behind The Bench
There are seven areas of coach competency to be a successful coach. Hal Tearse, Minnesota Hockey Coach in Chief, discusses each area in "How to Be A Successful Coach"
In the Crease
In this month’s article Joe Bertagna provides his insights for goalies as they start the season. Whether you are a returning starter; a back-up fighting for a starting job; or the new kid at school, here are some suggestions to start your season. Read More
Off Ice Athlete Development
Many coaches, parents and athletes believe that the secret to becoming an elite or professional hockey player is early specialization. However, according to the USA Hockey American Development Model (ADM). Read More
Skills & Tactics
Guy Gosselin discusses the importance of practice planning and ice utilization in creating an effective practice environment and the positive impact it will have on athlete development. Read More
From USA Hockey
USA Hockey and flexxCOACH have teamed up to bring you the latest in on-line learning for Coaches and Players — the USA Hockey Learning Center. Access the "Learning Center" and learn from the best coaches in the game — NHL; Collegiate and Amateur! View a full range of animated drills; articles; video “tips and lessons” that will help make you a better coach or player. You will be able to enjoy both FREE and Premium (Paid) Content all in one easy to navigate location.

Check out the Hockey Learning Center in order to learn the best Skills; Tactics; Drills; Rules and Strategies of the Game!!
X's & O's
flexxCOACH is redefining Coaching through innovation and technology! flexxCOACH brings you unprecedented access to Drills & Animations and the “tools” to use them properly. Try the FREE flexxCOACH Practice Planner here:
Winning isn't Everything
Learning to be a great coach takes time and hard work. Peter Davis, Ph.D discusses this in his article "Be the Coach You Want to Be."
November 2009
I hope you enjoy this first installment of the USA Hockey / Flexxcoach online newsletter "Inside the Game." It is our goal to publish topics applicable to coaching players and teams of all ages and classifications. The CEP ACE Clip Board will be merged into the Note Book publications. Newsletter topics will vary and cover a broad range of coaching competencies. We will draw on the expertise of a number of contributing writers from various backgrounds. Topics will cover on-ice as well as off-ice concepts. We will address team management, coaching philosophy, technical coaching skills, communication, goaltending and many other topics.

As we continue to develop this online information center – look for a Coaching Learning Center in the future. USA Hockey Inc., in partnership with Flexxcoach Inc., will strive to keep the Note Book interesting, pertinent and current. Our goal is excellence in coaching utilizing this venue to expose our coaches to broad based information and experiences.

To paraphrase Scotty Bowman who spoke at the 2005 USA Hockey Level 5 Masters Symposium: "When a coach ceases to learn and develop their coaching skills, they will be surpassed by those that continue learning and improving everyday"

Al Bloomer
National Coach
in Chief USA Hockey
Behind The Bench
Coaching is an art that needs to be developed over time and with some serious thought. Successful coaches all seem to have common view points understanding about teaching the game and development processes. Coaching is Teaching discusses the teaching aspects of coaching. Coaching to Develop Players takes the idea a bit further and discusses the concepts of individual player development. Youth coaches should develop a point of view in regards to their roles as coaches. USA Hockey recommends a skills development and positive environment so players may enjoy their hockey experience as they move down the road to skill mastery.
In the Crease
Renowned Goalie Coach Joe Bertagna and Director of Bertagna Goaltending Schools brings you his insights on “When and Why” Goaltenders should drop in responding to a shot.
Read more
Off Ice Athlete Development
Jay Dawes, the Director of Education for the National Strength and Conditioning Association has authored this informative article on "Balance Beam Drills for Mites and Squirts." Read more
Skills & Tactics
Ken Martel, the Director of USA Hockey’s American Development Model talks about the importance of developing good Passing and Receiving Skills in your players. Read more
From USA Hockey
USA Hockey and flexxCOACH have teamed up to bring you the latest in on-line learning for Coaches and Players — the USA Hockey Learning Center. Access the “Learning Center” and learn from the best coaches in the game — NHL; Collegiate and Amateur! View a full range of animated drills; articles; video “tips and lessons” that will help make you a better coach or player. You will be able to enjoy both FREE and Premium (Paid) Content all in one easy to navigate location.

Check out the Hockey Learning Center in order to learn the best Skills; Tactics; Drills; Rules and Strategies of the Game!!
X's & O's
flexxCOACH is redefining Coaching through innovation and technology! flexxCOACH brings you unprecedented access to Drills & Animations and the “tools” to use them properly. Try the FREE flexxCOACH Practice Planner here:
Winning isn't Everything
Winning is certainly an important part of any athletic contest and it certainly should be one of the objectives. However with you hockey there is many other aspects and benefits to playing the game. Mike Sullivan shares his perspectives on winning in his article. "The Youth Hockey Experience"