[Paul]

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Hello everyone,

I thought I would take a moment and tell those of you who are or thinking of attending one of my upcoming adult clinics what we went on last Saturday during the first one.

We had 6 adults (and one of my teenaged students) out for the session.
The age range was from early 20’s to early 50’s. Two of the adults had been playing for quite a while – while the other 4 were in their first or second year. .

We started at around 10:10 am (almost on time) and spent the first hour outside basking in a beautiful Pacific Northwest morning.

After a brief stretch and workout – I focused the group on the first of four main points that I had planned to get across in this – the first of 3 adult clinics:

1. Timing the body with the speed of a object.

This was accomplished by tossing a tennis ball back and forth and focusing the students on recognizing their arm movement with the tennis balls and if it was early, late, or just in time.

After starting the conversation on rhythm and timing, we did a brief, elementary ball toss – part of the same routine I have used for many years that improves timing, patience, concentration and eye hand coordination in players that make it a daily part of their training.

After a final stretch – it was off to the dressing room for the ice time.

During the hour, 15 min of ice time – I concentrated on (again) starting the conversation on the other three main points of focus

2. Being set, ready, and heavy in a stance BEFORE the puck is shot
3. Skating your shoulder line
4. Butterfly speed

All of these things were done WITHOUT shooters (although I used pucks as waypoints) so the students could concentrate on the HOW without the added complication of having to stop a shot. This teaching strategy I have used for many years and I found it to be very successful with all skills levels. Once the player has understood the WHY, and HOW and practices it enough with and without shots (both visually as well as on ice) then the skill set “bleeds in” to game play naturally and smoothly.

Finally – we finished up by starting to look at sliding the butterfly properly and along the shoulder line as well as a very preliminary introduction into set responses to situations that originate from passes behind the net.

All in all a good start and I think everyone had a good time and went away with plenty too practice as well as think about.

It is my intention to continue building these (and other) skill sets for both the June 7th, and 14th clinics.

Currently I have spots left for both days BUT both are also over half full.

If you are interested in signing up, or you want to know more specifics – I can be reached at one of the numbers below.

Take care,

Paul Fricker
604-351-0297
800-661-4855

The Dates, times, and costs are as follows:

Saturday, June 7th
Meet, chat, ball toss, stretch and warm-up: 9:45 to 11:15
Ice Time: 11:45 to 1:15pm

Saturday, June 14th
Meet, chat, ball toss, stretch and warm-up: 11:30 to 1:00 pm
Ice Time: 1:30 to 2:45 pm.

Cost will be 65.00 per person each session. (Plus G.S.T)