Captain's practices

hockeyheaven · Post by **hockeyheaven** » Wed Oct 13, 2010 10:44 am

Welcome to the new millennium…there hasn’t been “Captain’s Practices” for quite awhile now. These past gatherings have morphed into more of a training (conditioning) session geared more for those players who haven’t’ put on the blades since the end of last season. Most teams have less then a week from the beginning of tryouts to their first game or scrimmage. These 10 -20 practices help shake off the rust so the team can hit the ground…err… ice running…and yes good coaches keep tabs on the progress of their vets and find any potential from the newbie’s. Agree with it or not as long as the parents are whiling to pay…it’s her to stay.

inthestands · Post by **inthestands** » Wed Oct 13, 2010 10:51 am

hockeyheaven wrote:Welcome to the new millennium…there hasn’t been “Captain’s Practices” for quite awhile now. These past gatherings have morphed into more of a training (conditioning) session geared more for those players who haven’t’ put on the blades since the end of last season. Most teams have less then a week from the beginning of tryouts to their first game or scrimmage. These 10 -20 practices help shake off the rust so the team can hit the ground…err… ice running…and yes good coaches keep tabs on the progress of their vets and find any potential from the newbie’s. Agree with it or not as long as the parents are whiling to pay…it’s her to stay.

Really? Thanks, I will be sure to mention that to our team captains next time I see them..

10 to 20 sessions, wow that isn't the case for our players.

Most of the players today have been training, skating, and playing all summer anyway. The good coaches have been keeping up on that, as well as their local summer programs.

Agreed there is little time to get the things in order before the games start. I don't see anything wrong with a coach "spectating" at these practices to check out possible changes and progressions.. MSHSL is always looking over their shoulder if they get too involved before they should...

GoFalcons · Post by **GoFalcons** » Wed Oct 13, 2010 11:23 am

inthestands wrote:
hockeyheaven wrote:Welcome to the new millennium…there hasn’t been “Captain’s Practices” for quite awhile now. These past gatherings have morphed into more of a training (conditioning) session geared more for those players who haven’t’ put on the blades since the end of last season. Most teams have less then a week from the beginning of tryouts to their first game or scrimmage. These 10 -20 practices help shake off the rust so the team can hit the ground…err… ice running…and yes good coaches keep tabs on the progress of their vets and find any potential from the newbie’s. Agree with it or not as long as the parents are whiling to pay…it’s her to stay.
That is false. Not all teams do it the same way. Sure the teams in the metro most likely do it that way. But at least we didn't. It was "captains practice". Girls were already skating on 4 on 4 leagues and stuff together anyway. The coaches need to be restricted on how early they can coach. and to have 10 to 20 sessions before actual practice, thats ridiculous. Your going to burn those girls out before practice actually starts. Be realistic this is high school not college. These kids have other sports and other things in their lives besides hockey before the season even starts. No reason to have that many sessions.

Really? Thanks, I will be sure to mention that to our team captains next time I see them.. 10 to 20 sessions, wow that isn't the case for our players.

Most of the players today have been training, skating, and playing all summer anyway. The good coaches have been keeping up on that, as well as their local summer programs.

Agreed there is little time to get the things in order before the games start. I don't see anything wrong with a coach "spectating" at these practices to check out possible changes and progressions.. MSHSL is always looking over their shoulder if they get too involved before they should...

Bill Coleman · Post by **Bill Coleman** » Wed Oct 13, 2010 9:49 pm

I believe Hockeyheaven has nailed it. Thanks

hockeyfan21 · Post by **hockeyfan21** » Thu Oct 14, 2010 1:48 pm

Welcome to the new millennium…there hasn’t been “Captain’s Practices” for quite awhile now.

This is not the universal norm. The program my daughter is in has in fact relegated more and more responsibilities onto the captains; including leading offseason training programs like weight lifting, stickhandling, shooting, summer teams etc.

The coaches see the girls less than 3 weeks between March and November and the team is a state ranked team year in and year out. More and more kids participate now that it is the girls leading it. They work harder and get more out of it. In fact we have 9th and 10th grade girls who are better leaders today than the seniors were before the coaches did this.

If you teach kids how to lead, and give them the opportunity to do it, they will.

capitalist · Post by **capitalist** » Thu Oct 14, 2010 3:55 pm

Bill Coleman wrote:I believe Hockeyheaven has nailed it. Thanks

Actually, no he hasn't and he's wrong. It sounds like he, and you, know about 2 or 3 programs and broadcast that to include everybody. When at least with the one that I'm familiar, things run exactly how 'Captain's practice' is designed. The Captain's organize the drills on the ice, and stand in line and skate them too and run things generally. The drills are not of the intense variety by the way, more on the fun side, and there is some scrimmaging. The ice time was dirt cheap (exactly $5/hour). It's more about getting to know each other than anything, hanging out together a couple times a week. Anyone looking to get in game shape needs to go somewhere else. There hasn't been an adult in the arena since the first practice, and that was to collect money and waiver forms. They (the captains' parents) collected money and rented the ice time, and that was the last contact from any adults.

defensezone · Post by **defensezone** » Thu Oct 14, 2010 6:41 pm

hockeyfan21 wrote:
Welcome to the new millennium…there hasn’t been “Captain’s Practices” for quite awhile now.
This is not the universal norm. The program my daughter is in has in fact relegated more and more responsibilities onto the captains; including leading offseason training programs like weight lifting, stickhandling, shooting, summer teams etc.

The coaches see the girls less than 3 weeks between March and November and the team is a state ranked team year in and year out. More and more kids participate now that it is the girls leading it. They work harder and get more out of it. In fact we have 9th and 10th grade girls who are better leaders today than the seniors were before the coaches did this.

If you teach kids how to lead, and give them the opportunity to do it, they will.

Wow, you are rich. At $200 a pop, you are having high school player's coach high school/middle school players? Can you pay my ice bill also?

Tigers33 · Post by **Tigers33** » Thu Oct 14, 2010 6:58 pm

Capitalist...What team are you associated with? Cause I do not believe that is the norm.

Bill Coleman · Post by **Bill Coleman** » Thu Oct 14, 2010 7:53 pm

"How Captain's Practice was Designed." This is getting crazy now. Really? Captain's practice started as something kids did because they were antsy to hit the ice and get the rust off a little bit. You know, have a little extra fun before the season starts. But like the rest of the game, CP has morphed into another part of the beast known as year-around-hockey, created by obsessed parents and coaches to get little Sally and Johnny that big scholarship at the U. Parents did this. Parents should find hobbies other than the sports their kids play and when the game is over ask their kid if she had fun, because, really, that's all that matters. I'm involved in a program that is not very successful, not many players, and we have three girls on the team who are just learning to skate. They are having a blast. Are they or will they ever play varsity? Never. But we have room for them and they show up and work hard and have fun. Captain's practice run by kids ought to be about fun and fun only. Utopia ya know. But if the team is really trying to get a leg up on the competition then they're wasting their parents money and kidding themselves. They may as well cave in, have a paid adult run real practices, and join the rest of the twisted hockey world running breakouts, practicing their power play and conditioning. This is fun.

hockeywild7 · Post by **hockeywild7** » Thu Oct 14, 2010 8:30 pm

Well I am aware of one of the better teams in the state the past few years and their captains run the captains practices, not parents or other coaches. They run drills for part of the time and then scrimmage. Seems to be working just fine for them. Not every team is running them with a "professional coach" If you have good captains you don't need anyone to run them.

Bill Coleman · Post by **Bill Coleman** » Thu Oct 14, 2010 8:51 pm

That's great. I'm just saying it's all too much. Everything has to be just so. Fancy warm up suits, expensive jerseys, music between game stoppages. The team locker rooms for most HS teams look like NHL locker rooms. Teams fund-raise real hard for all this stuff. I don't see why? To me it's like the farmer who has to buy the top-of-the line tractor just because the neighbor has one. Keepin' up with the Jones'. Call it what you will. I just wish you could show up game day, skip the anthom, drop the puck and see which team is better. Captain's practice is just like the rest of the things I mentioned. Over kill. It's all taken way too seriously by parents and coaches alike. It's just a game people. Every high school team should take the time they attend cp and do dryland and have mandatory study time. Off season conditioning should consist of paddling a canoe and throwing fishing line.

old goalie85 · Post by **old goalie85** » Thu Oct 14, 2010 9:26 pm

"Edger the 111" you will not change some minds!!! [even though you forgot more about hockey than most know]

hockeyheaven · Post by **hockeyheaven** » Fri Oct 15, 2010 7:53 am

capitalist wrote:
Bill Coleman wrote:I believe Hockeyheaven has nailed it. Thanks
Actually, no he hasn't and he's wrong. It sounds like he, and you, know about 2 or 3 programs and broadcast that to include everybody. When at least with the one that I'm familiar, things run exactly how 'Captain's practice' is designed. The Captain's organize the drills on the ice, and stand in line and skate them too and run things generally. The drills are not of the intense variety by the way, more on the fun side, and there is some scrimmaging. The ice time was dirt cheap (exactly $5/hour). It's more about getting to know each other than anything, hanging out together a couple times a week. Anyone looking to get in game shape needs to go somewhere else. There hasn't been an adult in the arena since the first practice, and that was to collect money and waiver forms. They (the captains' parents) collected money and rented the ice time, and that was the last contact from any adults.

I did not mean every program adheres to this approach, but you can’t argue that it’s not becoming increasingly more popular…and I never stated that the captains were not a part of the process. Having a trainer just enhances the efforts by all. In fact I heard that a large western suburb team…odds on favorite to win it all…had former Gopher players show up to run the players through drills…cool! Hey it’s only smart….and if you want to call it keeping up with the Jones then yes…I agree that is what it is. It’s called being competitive...it’s called compensating for the ever so shrinking athletic budget. In my day we had weeks of practice before playing games. Today that’s just not the case. The biggest benefit that I see is that it helps prevents injury. More and more players are playing year round…wow alert the media…but the greater percentage doesn’t do anything…that who this is for. Why do you think the NFL now has mini camps and developmental sessions and rookie camps scattered throughout the off season? To keep their players focused and in shape. These are professional athletes that still need over site to help keep them on track.

Oh...and by the way…$5 an hour for Ice? Really?

Silent But Deadly · Post by **Silent But Deadly** » Tue Oct 04, 2011 8:59 am

This probably warrants a bump.

Captain's practices are likely in full swing at most high schools. We're 4 weeks away from the 2011-2012 high school season!

InigoMontoya · Post by **InigoMontoya** » Wed Oct 12, 2011 6:51 am

I'm involved in a program that is not very successful, not many players, and we have three girls on the team who are just learning to skate.

Off season conditioning should consist of paddling a canoe and throwing fishing line.

Stripes2011 · Post by **Stripes2011** » Fri Oct 21, 2011 2:00 pm

I agree with alot of these posts that this is just another area that has gone Over Board. When I played Captian practices never had a coach, parent or "volunteer" involved. Kids were Kids. Now programs name a coach in the summer, with a hand shake, then they do not put him on payroll or give him coaching status until we can "use" them to be on the ice. and some of these "volunteers" think their job is to get the kids in shape: all in one week, no thinking involved just skate till they drop. not so great for the kids who just finished a fall sport, or who are just hitting the ice after a long break. somethings, when you stop and really think about it don't make sense.

hockeya1a · Post by **hockeya1a** » Sat Oct 22, 2011 2:07 pm

Stripes2011 wrote:I agree with alot of these posts that this is just another area that has gone Over Board. When I played Captian practices never had a coach, parent or "volunteer" involved. Kids were Kids. Now programs name a coach in the summer, with a hand shake, then they do not put him on payroll or give him coaching status until we can "use" them to be on the ice. and some of these "volunteers" think their job is to get the kids in shape: all in one week, no thinking involved just skate till they drop. not so great for the kids who just finished a fall sport, or who are just hitting the ice after a long break. somethings, when you stop and really think about it don't make sense.

I could not agree more! the guy we have had, is a head case! Thinking that if the girls skate till they puke he is doing a good job! Hello!!! Part of the problem having to have an adult on ice might be because of liability issues.

allhoc11 · Post by **allhoc11** » Sat Oct 22, 2011 4:29 pm

hockeya1a wrote:
Stripes2011 wrote:I agree with alot of these posts that this is just another area that has gone Over Board. When I played Captian practices never had a coach, parent or "volunteer" involved. Kids were Kids. Now programs name a coach in the summer, with a hand shake, then they do not put him on payroll or give him coaching status until we can "use" them to be on the ice. and some of these "volunteers" think their job is to get the kids in shape: all in one week, no thinking involved just skate till they drop. not so great for the kids who just finished a fall sport, or who are just hitting the ice after a long break. somethings, when you stop and really think about it don't make sense.
I could not agree more! the guy we have had, is a head case! Thinking that if the girls skate till they puke he is doing a good job! Hello!!! Part of the problem having to have an adult on ice might be because of liability issues.

IMO there are several reasons to have someone in charge of these skates.

1. Unlike other sports there is a great cost to have the space for capt prac. - therefore parents and kids have some level of expectations what to get out of this time.

2. In female sports in particular I have seen some long stemming problems arise based on hurt feelings coming from conflict resolution in these practices when there is no adult.

3. Having an adult there also allows the capt to get in shape as well, rather than just be the one dealing with issues.

4. There is a liability part as well, especially in a high risk activity like hockey, if there were to be a sever injury because a capt was having kids do a drill they picked up at a high level clinic, but were teaching it improperly, and having kids who didn't have the skill to do what was being asked, they school may have a serious suit on their hands. I'm actually surprised schools are still allowed to have students run activities, especially with all the trainings they are requiring of coaches now.

I would think we may see this change in the near future.

I think the perfect situation is to have a quality adult there to help the capt plan, and oversee the and help trouble suit the drills the capt's come up with.

Tigers33 · Post by **Tigers33** » Sat Oct 22, 2011 5:35 pm

1. The ice is not paid for by the school. There would be no lawsuit, but with the booster club. Typically the booster clubs are the one that organizes the ice for captains practice.

2. Liability is a big thing these days. Everyone talks about back in "their" day. Liability wasnt an issue back than.

3. Captains practice should be alot of 4 on 4!

4. A captains practice at Richfield is going to be different than one at Edina. No offense Richfield. Kids at certain schools have goals in place and are all on the same page. Some places would be chaotic without adult supervision.

If you think not letting the captains run things will jeopardize their season than you are mistaken. Just my own opinion.

allhoc11 · Post by **allhoc11** » Sat Oct 22, 2011 6:39 pm

1. We live in a society that complains when the hot coffee we buy isn't hot enough, and then when it's hot and we spill it on ourself sue the company who made it for making it to hot, and now we have to have warnings on the cups that the liquid inside might be hot.......it doesn't matter who pays for the ice,they are practices getting kids ready for a school sport, and while not technically a school sanctioned event. It only takes one incident to someones little baby who was going to be the next Krissy W. to go off the deep end and start firing law suits at everyone. No one is safe these days, from the person who rented the ice, to the person running it, to the school who allowed it to go on in preparation for the season.

2. See #1

3. Everyone has their own idea of what's best that's what makes this country great.

4. Not saying letting the capt have complete control will jeopardize a season, I'm sure there are some who are very capable. I'll just say I've been around HS athletics for a lot of years. I've seen it turn out bad more than I've seen it turn out good, especially with female athletes, so if it were me I'd play the percentages, let the kid be a kid, and encourage them to have an adult help them with the planning.