Winter leagues are winding down…Summer leagues are starting up and the NHL play-offs are just around the corner…That can only mean one thing…Weekend Warriors Camp season is about to start!!
In order to get ready, we thought we would send out a little note to help you get prepared for camp. It may not seem like there is a lot to prepare for but there are little things you can do to help get you ready. Here it goes;
1) Be Physically Ready
I know what you are thinking…”but coach, this is what I do to stay in shape.” I am with you, but if your league has ended try to stay on the ice…if you do not have access to ice try to exercise 3 times a week for 30 mins. The more you can do to stay active it will help you at camp. Doesn’t matter if you are a new player or someone that has been at it a while, 12 hours of ice over the course of 3 days is a lot. To put that into perspective…if you go to a beer league tournament you are usually playing 3 games…maybe 4 if you get to the final over the course of the weekend. That’s 3 or 4 hours of game time and getting breaks every now and then. At camp we have six 2 hour on-ice sessions with a few breaks here and there. Get the picture…try to be ready.
2) Equipment
Prior to arriving to camp make sure all your equipment is in working order. In past camps we have had some equipment failures. This results in the camper trying to replace the equipment…which can be difficult to do if there is not a dedicated pro shop or even if there is, are they going to have your size? The second part of that is it can also result in injury which could ruin the rest of your camp experience.
If you do need new equipment prior to camp, try to wear it a few times before coming. Especially skates…we highly discourage wearing a brand new pair of skates for camp. Breaking in skates is tough in general. Trying to do it while developing new skills is a difficult task and it could take away from having a great weekend.
3) Attitude
Come to camp with an open mind and a readiness to try new things…after all that is why you are here. Our job as coaches is to develop your skills, increase your confidence and make sure you have fun. Sometimes you have been a taught a skill a certain way at your rink and it works for you. Maybe we will teach you the same skill but in a different way. As a camper, be open to that. We are not saying what you have learned is wrong, we just might have a different perspective.
In learning new skills, it is important that you do not get frustrated. Remember it takes a lot of repetition to learn one skill and feel confident enough to apply to your game. Having said that, how many times do we ever use one skill in a game? Be patient with yourself. Do not measure your progress with someone else’s. We all learn at different speeds.
We are looking forward to this season. We hope you are too. See ya soon!
Coach Rob