An investigation of what SSGs/SAGs are, what they're supposed to do and are they being done effectively. Host Richard discusses with guest host Dean Holden and Brian Gillam who explains how he's used these with his own U16 team.

In the podcast, reference is made to Tom Mollloy's website: hockeycoachingabcs.com.

Beginning with a nostalgic opening from the original Ottawa radio podcast, host Richard Bercuson gives his views that help explain Canada's Bronze medal performance at the recent world juniors. He divides his explanation into five topics to describe Canada's standing in the hockey world.

Hockey population by country 

This is the first of five episodes of content from the May 30-June 2 Hockey Research Conference at Laval University in Quebec City.

Please be advised that, because the discussions were held in public spaces, the sound quality and background noise are inconsistent. Also, all five episodes are with individuals whose first language is not English.

Here is the link to the conference's proceedings:

https://grassrootsminorhockey.com/links/

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

Nearly 20% of the world's female hockey players are in Ontario, governed by the OWHA whose head is Fran Rider. How does she see the current state of female hockey and where it's going? What about the open boundaries that exist only in the women's game? A discussion with a woman who has been honoured in Canada and internationally for her contributions to women's hockey.

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

Over 20 years as an elementary school phys. ed. teacher and coach, dealing with hundreds of kids each day, have taught Jonathan Lloyd a few things about coaching. He takes those tools straight into the rink in the evenings as a competitive level minor hockey coach. What has he learned and how does he apply it to coaching hockey?

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

A mantra taken up by USA Hockey leaders some years ago in its new development program was "No laps - No lines - No lectures!" What exactly does it mean and what should coaches do instead? A discussion with Gregg Kennedy.

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

There's no evidence that the late American psychologist Abraham Maslow played hockey, let alone coached it. Yet his Hammer Law regarding cognitive bias seems well suited to an examination of how minor hockey coaches rely on so very few tools. Dean Holden is again the guest and he looks at this in more depth.

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

Can we make a distinction between coaches who are motivated by the process as opposed to the outcomes, like wins and losses? Dean Holden, who is completing his PhD in coaching, holds true to his mantra of "Fun-Learn-Return" as he discusses the issue.

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

Dave Leger was a Level VI referee in Ottawa and officiated professionally in Europe. Then he got the coaching bug, beginning with a stint as a high school assistant with Richard Bercuson and moving into junior then college hockey. It is now 22 years later and he has been a professional coach on three continents and in five countries. With a suitcase full of fascinating experiences, he has learned much about the game's culture in these places and what he needs to do to continue to grow as a coach.

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

Let's have a sneak "peek" at what's coming on August 6. Three great shows with Dave Leger, who is now coaching in Hungary, and Dean Holden who is completing his PhD in coaching.

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

According to journalist David Epstein's research in his landmark book "The Sports Gene," there are people pre-disposed to certain types of activities based on genetics. However, does a pre-disposition to coaching exist in minor hockey? A conversation with Gregg Kennedy, whose movie night gets interrupted to examine the topic. (Note: Grassroots will take a short break, resuming on Aug. 6 with more great discussions.)

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

A conversation with Mark Elsenaar, president of Whitby Minor Hockey. What got him involved and what's it like overseeing one of Ontario's largest minor hockey associations

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

In the final part of 3, Rick Ladouceur and Richard dissect how to properly teaching individuals defensive play, employing the right combined technical skills.

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

Jim Haverstrom is USA Hockey's Coach-in-chief for Florida. Over 25 years as a coach and now coach developer, he's become an ardent advocate for the Constraints Led and an Ecological Dynamics approaches which he's successfully applied in his own coaching.

The soccer study he refers to in the podcast is: 

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

How to apply technical skills to the teaching of individual offensive tactics, the ones Rick Ladouceur says are the "sexy" ones and which the kids all are ready to learn. Part 2 of 3.

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

Teaching skills is tough enough without knowing how to effectively combine them to achieve a proper result. In this mini-clinic, Rick Ladouceur, who's taught skills and coached for years, explains the nuts and bolts of this challenging component of coaching minor hockey.

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

For ten years, Rob Mann’s hockey journey has been on the upswing to where now he’s a bonafide pro. What got him there? How did minor, junior, and college hockey prepare him? What must he do to improve his game? Here’s a candid reflection on a young man’s route to professional sport.

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

How does a 12-year old cope with his coach telling him he'll never achieve his dream of being a professional soccer player? Matt Caldaroni struggled with that issue for years and eventually did achieve his goal, though briefly. But the event led to him teaming with his brother Chris to create "Mind-Body Fusion," a company that helps young athletes develop the resiliency tools they need. 

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

Corey Lucas discovered that his experiences in junior, college and minor pro hockey actually shone a spotlight on his inability to cope with certain situations. Now a teacher and coach, he turned those experiences into a way to help other young players with their own challenges through his company "Mentally Charged."

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

What do Vivaldi and the teaching of checking have in common? Nothing at all. Still, a primer on how and when to properly teach checking skills is always a good idea. When accompanied by Signore Vivaldi's classic concertos, even better.

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

You've got a team. Now you need a staff: assistant coaches, trainer, manager. Who do you get, why, and what are their roles in games and practices?

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

What’s it like being a goalie parent? One former (the host!) and two current goalie Dads chime in.

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

One of the biggest complaints we hear in the game regards ice time, and this is not at the elite levels. It’s a pervasive problem. Richard discusses this with Gregg Kennedy.

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

What coach hasn’t had a group that was, at best, forgettable. Here’s the story of one , from former AAA and junior A coach Rick Ladouceur.

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

As minor hockey associations prepare for their AGMs, one key position needs consideration: someone to take charge of coach development. Richard and Dean discuss why this role is crucial, what this person should or should not be responsible for and where to find them.

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

"I was skeptical at first," says former pro Corey Lucas, a teacher and coach in the new program. "But it works. It really does."

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

Steve Millar has been teaching hockey for a long time. He gladly changed his approach when the new program came about.

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

Rick Ladouceur, a former junior A and AAA coach, has run hockey schools for ages and ages and…well, let’s hear what he has to say about them.

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

Richard invites his former TSN co-host Gregg Kennedy to discuss what goes on, or should go on, in the coach selection process.

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

This first episode reminisces about one of Canada’s greatest hockey teachers and previews the show’s future content.

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

Some years ago, Brian Gillam began to adopt an ecological approach to coaching and teaching the game. Today he is immersed in it as a coach but especially as a "skills instructor." In this episode, he discusses what he does in special sessions, how he does it and why. Brian is the coaching development director for Hockey Eastern Ontario.

His website: briangillamhockey.com

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

Access to rinks, ice time , and cost may be impediments to growing a program in a small hockey market. But not to Chris Benson who helps direct the fortunes of the Bristol youth program in England. Speaking from Riga, Latvia, where his son is attending a hockey camp, Chris passionately describes the challenges and the steps being taken to programming, one of which includes the "management" of parents.

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

"We do not learn from experience. We learn from reflecting on experience."

Host Richard Bercuson spends this episode providing an overview of his season coaching 10 year olds in a unique house league-type environment. Dean Holden poses some pointed questions that has Richard using the "wayback machine" to reflect on the approaches he's used and why.

--------------------------------------------

In the introduction, Richard refers to his co-authored novel that was published last year through Amazon: The Burden of Guilt.

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

How to get out of the "tick box" practice scenario. Richard and Dean discuss why coaches need to learn that players have to experience skill and tactical content in ways that are closer to competitive situations. This means moving away from the age-old and time worn approaches we've long accepted.

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

Special guest Dr. Stephen Norris and Dean Holden discuss their recent trip to Kazakhstan as part of an IIHF initiative to grow the game in other parts of the world. What is the impact of this initiative on our own game's leadership? Where are we going? Is it the right direction? An in-depth look at those and other questions. https://www.iihf.com/en/news/64332/first_asian_general_secretary_summit

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

The modern lexicon of coaching includes terms like transformational and transactional to describe the approaches coaches use. What are their characteristics? In minor hockey, can someone be both?  Dean Holden delves into this topic, aided and abetted by host Richard Bercuson who tosses out questions and examples to investigate. Toward Understanding Youth Athletes’ Fun Priorities: An Investigation of Sex, Age, and Levels of Play: Amanda Visek, Heather Mannix et al https://activeforlife.com/why-every-coach-needs-a-coaching-philosophy/

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

Greg Revak, an Ohio-based coach and USA Hockey coach developer, has unique and progressive ideas on coaching the game. His podcast and newsletter hit on various topics which are pertinent to coaches at every level. In this episode, he shares with Richard his personal bugaboos and annoyances about practice design and what we can do better. His website: https://hockeysarsenal.substack.com/ The HockeyIQ Podcast: https://hockeysarsenal.com/podcast

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

From IQ to Hockey Sense to Hockey IQ, and now to DMIQ: The Decision-Making Intelligent Quotient. Richard and Dean discuss its importance, when we should introduce it and how to go about it. Naturally, it involves using appropriate spaces in order to enhance children's and teens' decision-making skills.

Listeners are encouraged to read this research document related to the topic. It can be found online by copying and pasting the title into a search engine.

"How Small-Sided and Conditioned Games Enhance Acquisition of Movement and Decision-Making Skills" 

However you define "new," Richard and Dean discuss what coaches need to consider at the start of a new adventure and the resources they should access. Books: How we learn to move by Rob Gray The Coach's Guide to Teaching by Doug Lemov Transforming Basketball by Alex Sarama The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever by Michael Bungay Stanier

Podcasts: This one, of course! The Talent Equation - Stuart Armstrong The Perception-Action Podcast - Rob Gray HEO Youtube channel - Brian Gillam (Hockey Eastern Ontario Web sites: hockeycoachingabcs.com - Tom Molloy admkids.com - USA Hockey

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

Season 5 begins with an important pre-season look at how contact and checking need to be taught to take it beyond the confines of the current checking clinic module. Richard and Dean examine an approach using spectrums of skill for different ages and levels of play, built within the current four-stage checking progression espoused by Hockey Canada. Those who'd like a copy of the spectrums diagram should email Richard: Richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

This episode is a unique collaboration with Stuart Armstrong whose podcast is The Talent Equation. His May 28, 2024, show was called "Coach Education is  broken." It struck a chord with Grassroots host Richard Bercuson who felt it reminded him of the famous Monty Python Dead Parrot sketch. He connected with Stuart and here's the result: a tripartite discussion with Stuart, Richard, and Dean Holden about coach education's demise. Stuart will simulcast the show on his own podcast soon, once he completes his multi-part analysis of the subject. Listener Advisory: Stuart's script read of the Dead Parrot sketch, portraying Michael Palin, is much better than Richard's feeble attempt with the John Cleese character. Dean plays the dead parrot.

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

Modern coaching approaches include a litany of expressions, phrases, words and acronyms that are sometimes baffling in what they mean. In this episode, Richard and Dean delve into some of the more common ones and relate them to coaches need to understand about them and how to apply them in minor hockey.

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

Brian Gillam, HEO's Coaching Coordinator and Gold Medal Pathways mentor, delves into the myriad of ways in which small or reduced space practice activities are central to how children will develop both their skills and ability to play games on similar sized areas. Gillam is a longtime proponent of ecological dynamics and constraints led approaches. He explains how important it is for children and teens to be trained in space consistent with their developmental stages and what they can learn from the approach.

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

Matt Dumouchelle is a writer for The Coaches Site and assistant GM for a junior A team near Windsor. But he also authored a revelatory five-part series, "Hockey Factories" published last year on thecoachessite.com. A second series focusing on five different hockey organizations in Europe and North America will be out shortly. In this episode Matt shares what can be learned from these clubs, their programs and approaches. He also discusses his own journey in sports, with keen observations about our sporting culture, including now being a dad to a hockey-loving six year old. To get a copy of his series, visit: https://join.thecoachessite.com/hockey-factories-ebook

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

One of the more important publications in recent years is The Tyranny of Talent by Prof. Joe Baker. Baker is a professor of kinesiology and physical education at the University of Toronto and inaugural holder of the endowed Tanenbaum chair in sport science, data modelling and sport analytics at U of T’s Tanenbaum Institute for Science in Sport (TISS). In this episode, he discusses some of the key points of this seminal work and how they relate to hockey and talent identification. The Tyranny of Talent  is available through Amazon.

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

This first episode of 2024 features a discussion about the science that should inform  current coaching approaches and how coaches need to now examine the effects on their coaching art. Host Richard Bercuson discusses with Dean Holden and John "the Colombian" Castrillon who has spent decades using game-based approaches in soccer and hockey, even before he was aware of what the science showed.

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

It didn't look like fun. So Kevin, dad of a little girl new to hockey, decided to "go his own way" by leaving the local "Timbits" program and adopting an ecological dynamics approach. He rented a small patch of ice, invited others to join in, and used play activities to turn the kids on to the game. Now he is on his own discovery path of how to properly introduce and teach the game to children. Kevin's Instagram: AthleticDevelopmentGames Kevin's web site: hockey training.com Dropbox video link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/fswu6nzyqadr6q8iyjnph/Games-Based-Learning-8-weeks.MOV?rlkey=xypju1vdd810rnjs6f23dtrt3&dl=0

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

Kealy Lambert is a former college hockey player, now a mom, a coach, a lawyer and the president of Bow River Minor Hockey in Calgary. She's seen the game from just about every angle and now, as the head of an organization, she suspects Canadian minor hockey is heading...well...listen to find out where.

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com

TOP ("The Other Path") Sports aims to provide families with alternatives to both traditional sport experiences and the private ones, though this, too, is privately owned. Kevin Shier, executive director and co-founder with two other men, discusses what's so different, especially since its approach to hockey, lacrosse and soccer employs what is widely known as the Constraints Based/Led Approach to teaching, something that is mostly non-existent in Canada's minor hockey landscape. Club Technical Director for soccer Tom Waud further describes the approach as it's presented to their paid coaches and why it is foundational to the club's coaching.

TOP Sports: https://www.toronto.topsports.ca/

Stephen Norris delves deeper into Canada's minor hockey world, finishing with the challenge: What would you do if declared King of Hockey Canada?

Contact: richard(at)grassrootsminorhockey.com X (Twitter): Richard - @berky544 Dean Holden: funlearnreturn@gmail.com