HighSchoolHockeyForums.com

I have recently launched a group to help players in Minnesota. I am curious if there are areas/skills that you would like to see me devote my energy to.

What are some areas/skills I should devote energy to for our developing players?


Thanks,

David Tanabe

tanabehockey.com

After watching super defensemen in comparison to average ones I always think they've received some special defense specific coaching. Often associations have a roving goalie instructor but I feel a roving defensive specialist would be every bit as valuable. Different drills for today's defensive specialists. Some associations develop some excellent defensemen and I presume they're getting good defense specific instruction and drills.

Dave you came out and helped with my sons BAA practice[FL] last season. The work you put in w/our D showed in the kids right away.

Something that you probably can't help with, increasing participant numbers. Hockey is becoming a game for the rich, and pretty soon it will be nothing but them playing each other.

Polo, anyone?

There's no training for defensemen in association hockey, are you kidding? They learn it in the summer. The associations also need to get serious about stick handling at a younger age.

Plenty of options out there already for skating and stickhandling.

Far fewer options for defensemen.

My experience is that associations focus on forwards and scoring rather than the backend (or when they do it's typically limited to goalies). There may be some associations that do a good job of teaching D, but that's likely limited to a few who have specific D coaches devoted to the cause.

I think that there's a lot of room for small group and one-on-one coaching of defensive skills and positioning.

I'd be interested for my kids, and I've heard others share the same thought.

Think of it this way. When people talk about skating skills, names like Ness, Stevens, and Yuro pop up. Stickhandling = sweet hands and breakfast club. Shooting = Bjugstad.

Who instantly comes to mind for coaching D skills? And I don't mean who can do it or has done some occassional D coaching if asked, or a one week camp -- but who is specifically known as a go-to for defensive training?

Anyone?

Stromboli- very good point.

stromboli wrote:Plenty of options out there already for skating and stickhandling.

Far fewer options for defensemen.

My experience is that associations focus on forwards and scoring rather than the backend (or when they do it's typically limited to goalies). There may be some associations that do a good job of teaching D, but that's likely limited to a few who have specific D coaches devoted to the cause.

I think that there's a lot of room for small group and one-on-one coaching of defensive skills and positioning.

I'd be interested for my kids, and I've heard others share the same thought.

Think of it this way. When people talk about skating skills, names like Ness, Stevens, and Yuro pop up. Stickhandling = sweet hands and breakfast club. Shooting = Bjugstad.

Who instantly comes to mind for coaching D skills? And I don't mean who can do it or has done some occassional D coaching if asked, or a one week camp -- but who is specifically known as a go-to for defensive training?

Anyone?

PJ Atherton with FHIT runs D core session thru ID Hockey, short of that can't think of any other...

Anyone ever heard of these folks having camps in MN?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SHCRXl1PP0

To everyone who posted, I appreciate your input!

Defense Clinic dates will be announced in the next week.

I would also like to thank Mite-dad and Stromboli. You both are thinking right in line with the progress of Tanabe Hockey.

There will be a player development program coming soon for levels from the NHL to youth!




Tanabe Hockey

Would love to see some defense camps in northern Minnesota (Duluth, Iron Range, etc.). The only one we've had up here was Mitch Korn Camp (goalie & defensemen camp). It was good but would like to see a d-camp with a little more one on one instruction and a little more individualized evalutation/instruction for the kids to take home and improve on post camp.