I am often asked, "What is special about your teaching?" when it comes to ice hockey training. I see parents hand big bucks to coaches who are qualified only by virtue of where they have played without any regard for whether these coaches can TEACH and so impart their knowledge to their students, your children. Fact is, good players are not always good coaches. Some are, most are not.
Just as with playing hockey, COACHING and TEACHING require practice, training and lots of preparation. Some people are born to be teachers. I'm one of those people.
I am a good teacher and I have a lot of patience with my students. I am new enough at this game of hockey that I can remember what it feels like to not be able to do a particular drill or move and struggle with it. I know how to break moves down into parts to help identify weaknesses and strengths, and then help my students put the moves together, incorporate tempo and rhythm and finally speed.
I come well prepared and my lessons are well thought out. I study the work of other skilled coaches and base everything I teach on sound hockey principles. I particularly enjoy the European teaching influence which fosters the development of body and mind and helps to create a hyper-agile, thinking athlete.
I am a certified strength and conditioning specialist and fitness trainer and a registered nurse. I am a USA Hockey Level 5 certified coach, the highest level attainable. Much of what I do on the ice incorporates my health and wellness training to so that my students strengthen their bodies, develop core strength, and also improve on quickness, agility and explosiveness as they learn to negotiate any posture or weather any battle they find themselves in during a hockey game.
I believe that it takes a long time to get good at something… many hours of practice. I practicing coaching every day.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Fall Hockey Tourney
We are in New Hampshire. It's a beautiful autumn day. I'm sitting in the sun outside the rink waiting for game time. My son is 12. He doesn't need my help today. That's cool. I have a time and space to take the action in from a wide angle.I am in a whirlpool of hockey bags, sticks, matching warmup suits, mostly red, white and blue and parents.
"I want two from you today, Austin," said the mom. That's why we have kids, right? To score goals for us.
"How'd you guys team do today?" asked one red-white-and-blue warmup-suit of another. Even their speech has acne.
An athletic middle-aged guy walks by with a smile and a white board. "Hello" he says. He'd slug me if he knew I was thinking "middle age." He said hi to me because I'm dressed like a coach. Rule number one if you want to fit in wear the team colors.
The coach told the team if they won the game he'd take them to "Hootas." My son wasn't sure which was funnier, the coach taking a bunch of 12-13-year-old boys to Hooters or the fact that he pronounced it Hootas. The accent won out over the boobs.
"There's a picture of you pushing that kid in front of the net!" said a boy in the lobby at the Action Photo displlay. These kids act like this is all just fun and games.
The season is officially under way.
-- Posted from my iPhone
Monday, September 7, 2009
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Face- Offs at Fenway- Not You’re Average Double-Header- 01/08/2010
Historic Fenway Park will play host to the first outdoor hockey double-header in the modern era. Hockey East perennial powerhouses will meet in the shadows of the Green Monster for a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Game 1 features Northeastern and UNH (women) for a 4:30 pm showdown. The BC and BU (men) square-off under the lights at 7:30 pm. The January double-header will feature a number of record setting events.
The showdown between Northeastern and UNH will feature the first outdoor women’s game in the modern hockey era. Attendance, for the two games, will be record breaking with stadium capacities exceeding 35,000. This is one Friday double-header you’ll certainly regret missing.
Game 1 features Northeastern and UNH (women) for a 4:30 pm showdown. The BC and BU (men) square-off under the lights at 7:30 pm. The January double-header will feature a number of record setting events.
The showdown between Northeastern and UNH will feature the first outdoor women’s game in the modern hockey era. Attendance, for the two games, will be record breaking with stadium capacities exceeding 35,000. This is one Friday double-header you’ll certainly regret missing.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Fall Hockey Programs
Skills and Thrills Hockey Clinics start September 3rd at Conway Arena. Also Adult Scrimmage is Thursdays at 9:10 PM also at Conway in Nashua. More Skills and Thrills Clinics at Groton School on Tuesdays 10 AM. Register and get more info at www.strongdynamics.com.
-- Post From My iPhone
-- Post From My iPhone
Monday, July 20, 2009
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Extreme Stopping
Here's one of the stopping drills we worked on today, pressuring all edges of the blades.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Nashua Hockey Camp, Conway Arena with Strong Dynamics
Camp started on Friday afternoon with 9 skaters and a goalie. We have one exceptional mite, two PWs, two Bantams and five midgets.
Eight hours down, sixteen hours to go! Anyone who wants to jump on this train can still join us for an unbelievable 16 hours of training with a small group and a talented staff of hockey coaches, including Kasie Strong-Fairbarn, Ryan Fairbarn and Joyce Strong.
Four hours go by quickly when you are doing something you love to do!
After each session I better understand why there are so few great players with so many people playing hockey. Few train at hockey like it's their job. Guess that's why so few get to fill in that block on their tax return HOCKEY PLAYER.
This week TEN brave kids stepped up and decided to play hockey like it was their job. These ten may never get to play professional hockey, but guaranteed any hockey player who has ever played professionally has put in these hours of play, playing hockey like it was their job.
We gave away our first Strong Dynamics Hockey cap to Julian today, the MITE, who was able to name all nine fakes we taught them today, including one named after, you know, "that Canadian guy." I guess it's pretty hard to impress a hardworking mite like Julian!
See you in the morning for the next session!
Coach Joyce
Eight hours down, sixteen hours to go! Anyone who wants to jump on this train can still join us for an unbelievable 16 hours of training with a small group and a talented staff of hockey coaches, including Kasie Strong-Fairbarn, Ryan Fairbarn and Joyce Strong.
Four hours go by quickly when you are doing something you love to do!
After each session I better understand why there are so few great players with so many people playing hockey. Few train at hockey like it's their job. Guess that's why so few get to fill in that block on their tax return HOCKEY PLAYER.
This week TEN brave kids stepped up and decided to play hockey like it was their job. These ten may never get to play professional hockey, but guaranteed any hockey player who has ever played professionally has put in these hours of play, playing hockey like it was their job.
We gave away our first Strong Dynamics Hockey cap to Julian today, the MITE, who was able to name all nine fakes we taught them today, including one named after, you know, "that Canadian guy." I guess it's pretty hard to impress a hardworking mite like Julian!
See you in the morning for the next session!
Coach Joyce
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Strong Dynamics Adult Hockey Skills Clinic a Bargain at $175 for 8 HOURS ON ICE
Just received this... holy hockey pucks!
(Makes our Adult Hockey Clinic, 8 hours of ice over 8 weeks, Thursdays, 6:50 PM at Conway Arena, Nashua, NH sound like a steal at $175. www.strongdynamics.com for registration!)
Attention Adult Hockey Players,
USA Hockey and Labatt Blue will be conducting an adult skills clinic at the Northstar Youth Forum in Westborough, MA on August 7 – 9, 2009. This clinic is designed for men and women that are beginner to Novice level players 21 years of age and older.
The entry fee is $300, which includes eight hours of on ice instruction from high level USA Hockey coaches/instructors; an off ice “chalk talk” as well as gifts just for signing up, and other special events.
For further clinic details and registration information please visit our website at usahockey.com or contact the Adult Hockey Department at 800-566-3288.
You are never too old to improve your skills!
Monday, June 15, 2009
Hockey Camp Too Expensive? Think Again!
Youth Hockey Camp Openings Conway Arena, Nashua June 26-July 1
24 Hours, 6 Days, 4 Hours/Day... The Good Get Better!
Strong Dynamics Hockey Summer Brochure
We understand that the kids love to play in summer league games but consider the cost-benefit and value of these from a training perspective compared to our Strong Dynamics Hockey Camp. In a league with games for 10 weeks the family still has to drive to a rink 10 times and wait for the hour. The player will touch the ice for about 12 minutes each game, so over the course of the 10 weeks the player is skating about 120 minutes or 2 hours, and touching the puck a small fraction of this time. If you paid $150 for a 10-week game schedule, YOU JUST PAID $75 PER HOUR for your child to skate in games with no training.
Compare this to our camp which costs $550 for 24 hours of ice or $22.92/hour, over 6 days. You will make only 6 trips to the rink (with a 5-hour layover so you can go off to work or home while your child trains) and your child will train with coaches for 24 hours on ice. Really, there is no comparison.
Ask yourself which player will improve the most, the one training for 24 hours on ice with individual attention from professional coaches, or the one skating, without instruction, for 2 hours? Which program do you think is the better value? Which program will have the least wear-and-tear on your family schedule? Which program will truly jump start your player's summer training and fast-track him or her to a higher level of play? As the parent of five hockey players I know the answer... and I am sorry to say I learned it the hard way! I'd love to have all the money back that I wasted on ineffective hockey programs. It would come in handy today in this economy. I probably wouldn't have a mortgage! No one told me, back then, and so I had to learn for myself, through trial and error, where to find value for my hockey dollar.
Yes, games are important but hockey is much more fun when you know how to play and know how to skate well. THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS. Savvy hockey parents understand the value of an undiluted program with progressive hockey training where your player will get the most out of his or her time spent training, and you, the hard-working parents, will truly get the most bang for your hockey buck!
We agree, spend what you can afford for hockey, and when you do spend money for hockey, make sure you are getting good value for your dollar and not just the lowest price. Choose the program that will cost the least in the long haul... and it is a long, very long haul!
Ultimate Adult Hockey Weekend July 18 & 19 (Conway Arena, Nashua, NH)
Want to be a kid again? Please take a look at the Two-Day Ultimate Adult Hockey Weekend. Running July 18 & 19, this fun and intense training weekend will provide 6 hours of on-ice training. Players will learn many different aspects of hockey along with gaining flexibility and endurance while building muscle and burning fat! Running from 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm each day, it will create an environment for intense hockey skills training and a fast-track way to get into shape. Cost is just $99.
Register at www.strongdynamics.com
Adult Hockey Skating, Skills & Agility Clinic Starts June 25 (Conway Arena, Nashua, NH)
Adult Hockey Skating, Skills & Agility Clinic Starts June 25 (Conway Arena, Nashua, NH)
Are you looking to get into shape, gain flexibility, learn a new sport or just improve your current game?
Strong Dynamics is introducing their Adult Summer Hockey Clinic, 8 Week Get into Shape Training Program. Starting on June 25th and running through August 27th this camp is going to be very exciting and fun for all. At only $175, this 8 week camp provides the opportunity for new players and returning players to develop stronger muscles, work on endurance and their enhance their hockey skills. The camp will focus on fundamental skills like skating, shooting, passing, and overall athleticism. We are looking to create a fun and educational environment for adults to develop their hockey skills and exercise at the same time. At under $22/hour, this is a great value for any adult looking to get back into shape and create or expand a love for hockey.
Ryan Fairbarn
Head Instructor
Strong Dynamics Hockey Skating & Agility Training
www.strongdynamics.com
Are you looking to get into shape, gain flexibility, learn a new sport or just improve your current game?
Strong Dynamics is introducing their Adult Summer Hockey Clinic, 8 Week Get into Shape Training Program. Starting on June 25th and running through August 27th this camp is going to be very exciting and fun for all. At only $175, this 8 week camp provides the opportunity for new players and returning players to develop stronger muscles, work on endurance and their enhance their hockey skills. The camp will focus on fundamental skills like skating, shooting, passing, and overall athleticism. We are looking to create a fun and educational environment for adults to develop their hockey skills and exercise at the same time. At under $22/hour, this is a great value for any adult looking to get back into shape and create or expand a love for hockey.
Ryan Fairbarn
Head Instructor
Strong Dynamics Hockey Skating & Agility Training
www.strongdynamics.com
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Mapping Out Your Game Plan for Summer Hockey Training
A message from Coach Kasie Strong-
Mapping out your game plan for summer training- How to rapidly improve and still enjoy summer. Balance is the key!
In terms of your child’s on ice training routine, have you spoken to him or her lately about upcoming plans for this summer? With summer almost here, it’s important to have a plan of attack that fits your child’s needs, your schedule and the family budget.
Today’s options for on-ice summer training seem to come in all different forms such as camps, clinics and skill sessions, summer league teams, showcase tournaments and pick-up hockey to name a few. All of these choices can be somewhat overwhelming and it’s hard to always know what activity will benefit your child the most. From my own personal experience as a player and as a coach, I have found that the best plan of attack for summer training is to have balance in your routine.
Too often I see players who take all summer off then cram in some rigorous camps right before the season starts. This procrastination approach as I call it does not allow your player to develop and perfect his or her skills over a period of time. In the end your player will demonstrate the concepts learned for the week they are at camp and then forget everything once they jump into regular season practices and games. We all know this cram model from back in our school days when we would cram for a test, get an “A”, but then can’t remember any of the material we learned a week later. The same thing will happen in hockey if you don’t continue your practice throughout the season.
On the other extreme are the players who are skating all summer and do not have proper balance between being a player and being a kid. They aren’t spending enough time with their friends and enjoying their summer vacation and in the end, suffer from burnout and are dragging come the beginning of September. Like the procrastination approach, both of these extremes should be avoided if possible.
Here is a brief outline of what I mean by balance in your schedule. Remember, you, the parents, are the best judge of what your children’s needs are and what they can mentally and physically undertake. I encourage you to sit down with your children and hear them out. Ultimately it will make for the best family decision where everyone’s needs are considered.
Example of Balanced Hockey Schedule:
March/April- Hockey Season Ends.
TAKE A BREAK and has hard as it may be, limit your time at the rink. I promise, this will help rejuvenate your young players.
May- Spring Sports Start.
I encourage all of my players to play other sports in the off season to help create more dynamic and well rounded athletes. Some of the best NHL players played at least two sports into their high school or college years before opting to specialize in hockey. Example: Bobby Allen- graduated from BC and headed for the NHL, but did you know he was a four-year All-Independent School League baseball selection as a catcher at Cushing Academy? Chris Drury- excelled at both baseball and hockey as a child and in 1989 had the privilege of winning both a PeeWee National Hockey Championship in the same year as he won the Little League World Series. Tom Glavine- drafted by LA Kings and Atlanta Braves in 1984. He elected to play baseball.
June- Schools Out/ Summer Begins J
You’ve had a nice little break from hockey but right about now you’re probably starting to get the itch to jump back onto the ice. Remember to do this gradually and not jump back into anything too quickly. Private and semi-private lesson or some once a week pick- up hockey is a great way to incorporate both fun and hockey to help you get back into the swing of things this summer!
*Late June/Early July- Time to Get Serious. Strong Dynamics Summer Camp June 26 to July 3.
About this time is when I would suggest a week long camp that offers continuous days of training. This kind of camp format provides an opportunity for rapid development because of back to back training days where each day you can build off the previous day without having to spend too much time reviewing the last lesson as it’s still fresh in your players’ heads. A good camp model should also offer ample rest and recovery time between days so that our players can actually make it through the week without getting bored or feeling like they are missing out on summer fun with their friends. A week long, continuous day camp is a great way to build a strong base of core skills that you can build on throughout the summer months.
July- Sustain and Perfect. Weekly Clinics at Strong Dynamics
Take those skills you learned from your week long camp and perfect them throughout the month of July. This can easily be done with private or semi-private lessons or perhaps a once a week skills clinic where your child is able to get specialized and individualized attention without spending too much time at the rink. Don’t forget to keep the balance in your routine and find time for that vacation you were thinking about or the music camp your child mentioned back at the end of spring.
August- Hockey Season is Right around the Corner.
With hockey season only a month away, it might be time (towards the middle/end of the month) to do another week long camp, showcase tournament, some high tempo scrimmages or anything that involves a good amount of actual game play. At this point, you’ve done a good amount of skill development work and now have to incorporate what you’ve learned into a real live game environment. Don’t forget, we always want to sustain what we’ve learned throughout the season and this requires practice, practice, practice. Even though we are incorporating some games into our routine, it’s essential to balance that with adequate skill development time, i.e. practice!
September- It’s Time and You’re Ready!
The hockey season is now here and hopefully you’ve had a fun filled summer where you were able to balance summer fun with on-ice development. This balance is what will keep your athlete in top shape physically and mentally so that he or she will be able to compete with the best this season. Congratulations on a successful summer and here’s to an even more successful season!
Mapping out your game plan for summer training- How to rapidly improve and still enjoy summer. Balance is the key!
In terms of your child’s on ice training routine, have you spoken to him or her lately about upcoming plans for this summer? With summer almost here, it’s important to have a plan of attack that fits your child’s needs, your schedule and the family budget.
Today’s options for on-ice summer training seem to come in all different forms such as camps, clinics and skill sessions, summer league teams, showcase tournaments and pick-up hockey to name a few. All of these choices can be somewhat overwhelming and it’s hard to always know what activity will benefit your child the most. From my own personal experience as a player and as a coach, I have found that the best plan of attack for summer training is to have balance in your routine.
Too often I see players who take all summer off then cram in some rigorous camps right before the season starts. This procrastination approach as I call it does not allow your player to develop and perfect his or her skills over a period of time. In the end your player will demonstrate the concepts learned for the week they are at camp and then forget everything once they jump into regular season practices and games. We all know this cram model from back in our school days when we would cram for a test, get an “A”, but then can’t remember any of the material we learned a week later. The same thing will happen in hockey if you don’t continue your practice throughout the season.
On the other extreme are the players who are skating all summer and do not have proper balance between being a player and being a kid. They aren’t spending enough time with their friends and enjoying their summer vacation and in the end, suffer from burnout and are dragging come the beginning of September. Like the procrastination approach, both of these extremes should be avoided if possible.
Here is a brief outline of what I mean by balance in your schedule. Remember, you, the parents, are the best judge of what your children’s needs are and what they can mentally and physically undertake. I encourage you to sit down with your children and hear them out. Ultimately it will make for the best family decision where everyone’s needs are considered.
Example of Balanced Hockey Schedule:
March/April- Hockey Season Ends.
TAKE A BREAK and has hard as it may be, limit your time at the rink. I promise, this will help rejuvenate your young players.
May- Spring Sports Start.
I encourage all of my players to play other sports in the off season to help create more dynamic and well rounded athletes. Some of the best NHL players played at least two sports into their high school or college years before opting to specialize in hockey. Example: Bobby Allen- graduated from BC and headed for the NHL, but did you know he was a four-year All-Independent School League baseball selection as a catcher at Cushing Academy? Chris Drury- excelled at both baseball and hockey as a child and in 1989 had the privilege of winning both a PeeWee National Hockey Championship in the same year as he won the Little League World Series. Tom Glavine- drafted by LA Kings and Atlanta Braves in 1984. He elected to play baseball.
June- Schools Out/ Summer Begins J
You’ve had a nice little break from hockey but right about now you’re probably starting to get the itch to jump back onto the ice. Remember to do this gradually and not jump back into anything too quickly. Private and semi-private lesson or some once a week pick- up hockey is a great way to incorporate both fun and hockey to help you get back into the swing of things this summer!
*Late June/Early July- Time to Get Serious. Strong Dynamics Summer Camp June 26 to July 3.
About this time is when I would suggest a week long camp that offers continuous days of training. This kind of camp format provides an opportunity for rapid development because of back to back training days where each day you can build off the previous day without having to spend too much time reviewing the last lesson as it’s still fresh in your players’ heads. A good camp model should also offer ample rest and recovery time between days so that our players can actually make it through the week without getting bored or feeling like they are missing out on summer fun with their friends. A week long, continuous day camp is a great way to build a strong base of core skills that you can build on throughout the summer months.
July- Sustain and Perfect. Weekly Clinics at Strong Dynamics
Take those skills you learned from your week long camp and perfect them throughout the month of July. This can easily be done with private or semi-private lessons or perhaps a once a week skills clinic where your child is able to get specialized and individualized attention without spending too much time at the rink. Don’t forget to keep the balance in your routine and find time for that vacation you were thinking about or the music camp your child mentioned back at the end of spring.
August- Hockey Season is Right around the Corner.
With hockey season only a month away, it might be time (towards the middle/end of the month) to do another week long camp, showcase tournament, some high tempo scrimmages or anything that involves a good amount of actual game play. At this point, you’ve done a good amount of skill development work and now have to incorporate what you’ve learned into a real live game environment. Don’t forget, we always want to sustain what we’ve learned throughout the season and this requires practice, practice, practice. Even though we are incorporating some games into our routine, it’s essential to balance that with adequate skill development time, i.e. practice!
September- It’s Time and You’re Ready!
The hockey season is now here and hopefully you’ve had a fun filled summer where you were able to balance summer fun with on-ice development. This balance is what will keep your athlete in top shape physically and mentally so that he or she will be able to compete with the best this season. Congratulations on a successful summer and here’s to an even more successful season!
Strong Dynamics Hockey Camp June 26 in Nashua
Strong Dynamics Hockey Camp
Strong Dynamics is the proud sponsor of Hollis Youth Hockey Association in Hollis, NH. Members of Hollis Youth Hockey receive $25 off the cost off Summer Camp tuition with Strong Dynamics which starts June 26 in Conway, NH.
Strong Dynamics is the proud sponsor of Hollis Youth Hockey Association in Hollis, NH. Members of Hollis Youth Hockey receive $25 off the cost off Summer Camp tuition with Strong Dynamics which starts June 26 in Conway, NH.
Also, members of Lowell Junior Riverhawks receive $25 off tuition for the Strong Dynamics camp in June.
Strong Dynamics also offers a sibling discount.
Read more about the summer camp at http://www.strongdynamics.com/.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Summer Strength and Conditioning Training
Summer Strength and Conditioning Training... A MUST- so we all know how important it is to take some time away from the rink and to head straight to the gym during our off season summer months, right? But when it comes to the end of the summer and you and your friends are talking about how much stronger or faster you've gotten this past summer from off-ice training, ask yourself this- HOW MUCH STRONGER OR FASTER DID I ACTUALLY GET? Were you able to cut seconds off your sprint times or were you able to do 10 pushups at the beginning or the summer and now can do 25? It's always good to quantify your improvements and this is why I'd like to encourage you all, before the summer officially starts, to test your current level of fitness with these 4 quick exercises that Kim McCullough of Total Female Hockey is using to test elite level female hockey players across the country.
Please take 5 minutes to watch her video posted on youtube and then grab a friend and test each other. Then towards the end of the summer, before the season starts, test yourselves again and then you will know exactly how much improvement you made over the summer months. Also, on Sunday, June 7th at 9pm Eastern time, Kim is doing a coaching call that will go over the exercises as well as provide insight into where an elite level female athlete should be at in terms of testing results. Check that out too. http://totalfemalehockeyclub.com/blog/beat-119/
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
Friday, May 8, 2009
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Lowell Jr. River Hawks Looking for Bantam Players 95-96
The Lowell Jr. River Hawks are looking for Bantam Players for their Full Season Dual State Team(s) for the 2009-10 Season. In addition to league games, this team will also play independant supplemental games against some competitve programs in New England. Please contact Paul Cincotta for more information.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Jumping landing foward, midgets, PHD Training Center, Tyngsboro, MA
www.strongdynamics.com
Come Train With Us at the PHD Training Center. Small Ice, Big Results!
Plyometrics on Ice!
Open Hips, Forehand Puck Control, Midget Skater at PHD Training Center, Tyngsboro, MA
PHD Training Center, Tyngsboro, MA
Small Ice, Big Results
www.strongdynamics.com
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Open Hips, Forehand Puck Control
Open hip "spread eagle" skating edge drill with puck control on forehand only. Great for flexibility, agility, edge control, soft hands
Monday, April 20, 2009
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Midget Scrimmage at Conway Arena, Nashua, NH, Fridays @ 6:30 PM
There are 11 remaining dates for the Midget Scrimmage. The cost is $180 (which comes out to $15/scrimmage). If you pay each time (walk-on) it costs $20.
April 24
May 1
June 5, 12, 19
July 10, 17, 24
August 7, 14, 28
You can send payment ahead payable to Joyce Strong and mail to
Joyce Strong
PO Box 50
Groton, MA 01450
Download the spring and summer brochure from my website www.strongdynamics.com for the enrollment form and also to see the other camps and clinics we have going on this spring and summer!
Coach Joyce
April 24
May 1
June 5, 12, 19
July 10, 17, 24
August 7, 14, 28
You can send payment ahead payable to Joyce Strong and mail to
Joyce Strong
PO Box 50
Groton, MA 01450
Download the spring and summer brochure from my website www.strongdynamics.com for the enrollment form and also to see the other camps and clinics we have going on this spring and summer!
Coach Joyce
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Strong Hockey, Dynamic Coaching!
strong dynamics hockey skating & agility training
PO Box 50
Groton, MA 01450
Phone (978) 857-9016
Fax (978) 448-2145
http://www.strongdynamics.com/
Press Release
Contact: Joyce Strong
Phone: (978)857-9016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
9 A.M. EDT, April 16, 2009
STRONG HOCKEY, DYNAMIC COACHING!
Coach Joyce Strong
GROTON, MA, APRIL 16, 2009: Strong Dynamics Hockey Skating & Agility Training is kicking off the spring and summer Hockey Season with offerings for hockey players of all ages and abilities.
“Our coaches are hockey trainers,” says Coach Joyce Strong, the mother of five hockey players, a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (National Strength and Conditioning Association) and Registered Nurse. “We train players in ongoing programs to develop agility, speed, rhythm and skill, and help them to develop a full strong skating stride as well as fast feet and hands.”
Coach Strong decided to become a coach after two decades of involvement in the hockey world with her children who participated in all levels of hockey including youth town programs, select club programs, high school and college. “We even have a pro hockey player in our family now,” said Coach Strong, speaking of her son-in-law, Ryan Fairbarn of the Rosenheim Starbulls. “Hockey has always been the ‘glue’ for our family,” said Coach Strong. “It is the one thing we all love to do and can all do together.”
But it is not just about hockey. Coach Strong received her USA Hockey master’s level 5 certification in 2006, just two years after she learned she had breast cancer. “It became more than a battle for my life,” Strong explains. “It became my commitment to living fully, doing something I love, playing hockey, spending quality time with my family and helping others to enjoy health, fitness and friendship that comes with a life spent on the ice.”
Most recently Coach Strong was head coach of her son Kam’s Peewee 2 hockey team in Groton and assistant coach for her son Kip’s Bantam 1 hockey team, also in Groton. This spring Coach Strong will head up a Peewee 3 v 3 team that will participate in the Conway Arena Spring League in Nashua, NH.
Strong began her own skating career just nine years ago when she purchased her first pair of hockey skates. “They stayed in the closet for a year until I could build up the courage to use them!” she exclaimed. “After that I got busy learning and taking lessons. I started out along side of the mites.” Strong says, “I finally realized I’d been living life on the wrong side of the glass. Once I stepped onto the ice my life changed forever. It is amazing what you can accomplish when you set your mind to it! I never dreamed I’d be able to do play hockey, teach skating and coach hockey. And here I am doing just that!”
Coach Strong has it covered for any person who wants to lace up a pair of skates for fun, recreation, fitness or more serious training with a wide variety of hockey programs. You can check out the hockey training and playing options below or get in touch with Strong Dynamics (www.strongdynamics.com) to customize your own training program.
SCRIMMAGE! High School and Midget players can get together on Fridays at 6:30 PM at Conway Arena in Nashua for a friendly scrimmage.
ADULT SCRIMMAGE! Adults will also scrimmage in a friendly pickup on Friday evenings at 7:40 PM, at Conway Arena.
ADULTS PRACTICE their skating & agility skills on Wednesday mornings at 10 AM at Conway Arena in Nashua, NH,
TEAM TRAINING will take place at Conway Arena in Nashua starting on May 7 and continue every Thursday, with peewees training at 8 PM and Midgets training at 9:10 PM.
WEEKLY CLINICS for youth and adults will be held on Thursdays at Conway Arena in Nashua starting June 25.
WEEKEND ADULT HOCKEY CAMP will take place at Conway Arena this summer and includes 6 hours of on-ice training on June 27 and 28 (3 hours each day).
Two full-week camps are planned this summer for youth hockey players of all ages.
COACHING DREAM TEAM! The first camp (24 hours total) starts June 26 at Conway Arena and will feature a Coaching Dream Team including German League Defenseman of the Year, pro hockey player Ryan Fairbarn (Rosenheim Starbulls, www.starbulls.de) and Kasie Strong-Fairbarn. Both Kasie and Ryan had successful college hockey careers and captained their squads at Rochester Institute of Technology. Ryan also played for several years in the Central Hockey League, most recently for Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs. Kasie Strong played this season with the Memmingen Indians, a women’s team in Germany and also coached boys youth hockey skating and skills in Germany. Last year Kasie coached in Dallas, Texas for the girls Texas Attack (Dallas Stars Girls)team. In addition to Strong and Fairbarn, Coach Joyce Strong will be on the ice instructing and managing the programming.
Other Dream Team coaches who will participate in the camp include Dan Fontas, Cushing Academy Captain ’98, UMass-Lowell Hockey East ’98-’02, Acton-Boxboro Boys Varsity Head Coach ’03-’09 and is currently the New England Stars Junior A Head Coach.
Jon Fontas will also be joining the Coaching Dream Team for several hours of the Strong Dynamics training week. Jon played college hockey at the University of New Hampshire. He was the IHL American Rookie of the Year in 1978-79. He played professionally for the Minnesota North Stars and in Finland's Elite Division from 1981-85. Jon is a member of the UNH Hall of Fame. Jon is Vice President and Co-Founder of The Hockey Academy.
The second full-week camp will feature hockey skating and agility trainer Coach Chris Cowans at Skate 3 in Tyngsboro and starts July 27. Coaches Joyce Strong, Kasie Strong-Fairbarn and Ryan Fairbarn will also be on the ice for this challenging and fun hockey camp for all ages.
Throughout the year players, youth and adult, can book private and semiprivate training programs on the small ice surface in the PHD Training Center at Skate 3, Tyngsboro with Coaches Joyce Strong, Kasie Strong-Fairbarn and Ryan Fairbarn.
All program details and registration information can be found at http://www.strongdynamics.com/.
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PO Box 50
Groton, MA 01450
Phone (978) 857-9016
Fax (978) 448-2145
http://www.strongdynamics.com/
Press Release
Contact: Joyce Strong
Phone: (978)857-9016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
9 A.M. EDT, April 16, 2009
STRONG HOCKEY, DYNAMIC COACHING!
Coach Joyce Strong
GROTON, MA, APRIL 16, 2009: Strong Dynamics Hockey Skating & Agility Training is kicking off the spring and summer Hockey Season with offerings for hockey players of all ages and abilities.
“Our coaches are hockey trainers,” says Coach Joyce Strong, the mother of five hockey players, a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (National Strength and Conditioning Association) and Registered Nurse. “We train players in ongoing programs to develop agility, speed, rhythm and skill, and help them to develop a full strong skating stride as well as fast feet and hands.”
Coach Strong decided to become a coach after two decades of involvement in the hockey world with her children who participated in all levels of hockey including youth town programs, select club programs, high school and college. “We even have a pro hockey player in our family now,” said Coach Strong, speaking of her son-in-law, Ryan Fairbarn of the Rosenheim Starbulls. “Hockey has always been the ‘glue’ for our family,” said Coach Strong. “It is the one thing we all love to do and can all do together.”
But it is not just about hockey. Coach Strong received her USA Hockey master’s level 5 certification in 2006, just two years after she learned she had breast cancer. “It became more than a battle for my life,” Strong explains. “It became my commitment to living fully, doing something I love, playing hockey, spending quality time with my family and helping others to enjoy health, fitness and friendship that comes with a life spent on the ice.”
Most recently Coach Strong was head coach of her son Kam’s Peewee 2 hockey team in Groton and assistant coach for her son Kip’s Bantam 1 hockey team, also in Groton. This spring Coach Strong will head up a Peewee 3 v 3 team that will participate in the Conway Arena Spring League in Nashua, NH.
Strong began her own skating career just nine years ago when she purchased her first pair of hockey skates. “They stayed in the closet for a year until I could build up the courage to use them!” she exclaimed. “After that I got busy learning and taking lessons. I started out along side of the mites.” Strong says, “I finally realized I’d been living life on the wrong side of the glass. Once I stepped onto the ice my life changed forever. It is amazing what you can accomplish when you set your mind to it! I never dreamed I’d be able to do play hockey, teach skating and coach hockey. And here I am doing just that!”
Coach Strong has it covered for any person who wants to lace up a pair of skates for fun, recreation, fitness or more serious training with a wide variety of hockey programs. You can check out the hockey training and playing options below or get in touch with Strong Dynamics (www.strongdynamics.com) to customize your own training program.
SCRIMMAGE! High School and Midget players can get together on Fridays at 6:30 PM at Conway Arena in Nashua for a friendly scrimmage.
ADULT SCRIMMAGE! Adults will also scrimmage in a friendly pickup on Friday evenings at 7:40 PM, at Conway Arena.
ADULTS PRACTICE their skating & agility skills on Wednesday mornings at 10 AM at Conway Arena in Nashua, NH,
TEAM TRAINING will take place at Conway Arena in Nashua starting on May 7 and continue every Thursday, with peewees training at 8 PM and Midgets training at 9:10 PM.
WEEKLY CLINICS for youth and adults will be held on Thursdays at Conway Arena in Nashua starting June 25.
WEEKEND ADULT HOCKEY CAMP will take place at Conway Arena this summer and includes 6 hours of on-ice training on June 27 and 28 (3 hours each day).
Two full-week camps are planned this summer for youth hockey players of all ages.
COACHING DREAM TEAM! The first camp (24 hours total) starts June 26 at Conway Arena and will feature a Coaching Dream Team including German League Defenseman of the Year, pro hockey player Ryan Fairbarn (Rosenheim Starbulls, www.starbulls.de) and Kasie Strong-Fairbarn. Both Kasie and Ryan had successful college hockey careers and captained their squads at Rochester Institute of Technology. Ryan also played for several years in the Central Hockey League, most recently for Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs. Kasie Strong played this season with the Memmingen Indians, a women’s team in Germany and also coached boys youth hockey skating and skills in Germany. Last year Kasie coached in Dallas, Texas for the girls Texas Attack (Dallas Stars Girls)team. In addition to Strong and Fairbarn, Coach Joyce Strong will be on the ice instructing and managing the programming.
Other Dream Team coaches who will participate in the camp include Dan Fontas, Cushing Academy Captain ’98, UMass-Lowell Hockey East ’98-’02, Acton-Boxboro Boys Varsity Head Coach ’03-’09 and is currently the New England Stars Junior A Head Coach.
Jon Fontas will also be joining the Coaching Dream Team for several hours of the Strong Dynamics training week. Jon played college hockey at the University of New Hampshire. He was the IHL American Rookie of the Year in 1978-79. He played professionally for the Minnesota North Stars and in Finland's Elite Division from 1981-85. Jon is a member of the UNH Hall of Fame. Jon is Vice President and Co-Founder of The Hockey Academy.
The second full-week camp will feature hockey skating and agility trainer Coach Chris Cowans at Skate 3 in Tyngsboro and starts July 27. Coaches Joyce Strong, Kasie Strong-Fairbarn and Ryan Fairbarn will also be on the ice for this challenging and fun hockey camp for all ages.
Throughout the year players, youth and adult, can book private and semiprivate training programs on the small ice surface in the PHD Training Center at Skate 3, Tyngsboro with Coaches Joyce Strong, Kasie Strong-Fairbarn and Ryan Fairbarn.
All program details and registration information can be found at http://www.strongdynamics.com/.
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Wednesday, April 1, 2009
ADULT HOCKEY SCRIMMAGE AT CONWAY ARENA, NASHUA, NH
Adult Ice Hockey Scrimmage (COED) starts Friday, April 17 through August 28.
Scrimmage every Friday from now throughout the summer at 7:40 PM at beautiful Conway Arena, Nashua, NH for just $180, for 18 weeks (no scrimmage on 7/31 or 8/21).
Low-key, no check hockey. Have fun with friends and family on the ice! THIS WILL FILL UP FAST SO DON'T MISS OUT! SIGN UP TODAY!
First 20 skaters! Walk-ons, space permitting, $15.
Contact Joyce Strong, 978-857-9016 or joycestrong@charter.net
www.strongdynamics.com
Scrimmage every Friday from now throughout the summer at 7:40 PM at beautiful Conway Arena, Nashua, NH for just $180, for 18 weeks (no scrimmage on 7/31 or 8/21).
Low-key, no check hockey. Have fun with friends and family on the ice! THIS WILL FILL UP FAST SO DON'T MISS OUT! SIGN UP TODAY!
First 20 skaters! Walk-ons, space permitting, $15.
Contact Joyce Strong, 978-857-9016 or joycestrong@charter.net
www.strongdynamics.com
Monday, March 16, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Hockey Training Drill - Edge Control - Skating Drill
Skating on one edge, inside or outside, around stick to gain excellent control of your edges.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Milwaukee Women's Hockey Tourney in May 2009
Seeking female hockey players/teams for Milwaukee women's tournament May 16 - 17th, 2009.
Milwaukee will be hosting its first women's hockey tournament. 3 Levels of Great Women’s Hockey• Women’s B• Women’s C• Women’s Novice3 Game Guarantee, Hospitality Room, Raffles, LOTS OF FUN!Registration Fee:$400 per teamRegistration Deadline:April 1st, 2009www.milwaukeewomenshockey.org > Contact me for registration form and additional details.
Milwaukee will be hosting its first women's hockey tournament. 3 Levels of Great Women’s Hockey• Women’s B• Women’s C• Women’s Novice3 Game Guarantee, Hospitality Room, Raffles, LOTS OF FUN!Registration Fee:$400 per teamRegistration Deadline:April 1st, 2009www.milwaukeewomenshockey.org > Contact me for registration form and additional details.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Adult Hockey Skating & Skills, Groton, MA and Nashua, NH
Adult Hockey Skating and Skills at Conway Arena, Nashua, NH--REGISTER HERE
Dates: March 4 to June 24, 17 weeks
Day and Time: Wednesdays 10 AM
Location: Conway Arena, Nashua, NH
Fee: $300 paid before March 4.
Walk on fee: $25
Enrollment limited to 20 skaters
Develop power, speed, agility, athleticism, edges, stickhandling and shooting.
Adult Hockey Skating and Skills at Groton School, Groton, MA--REGISTER HERE
Tuesdays 10 AM, Through March 2, 2009!
Improve your skating and skills and stay in shape.
Focus on agility, athleticism, strength, speed, skating and skills
Walk-ons $25
Dates: March 4 to June 24, 17 weeks
Day and Time: Wednesdays 10 AM
Location: Conway Arena, Nashua, NH
Fee: $300 paid before March 4.
Walk on fee: $25
Enrollment limited to 20 skaters
Develop power, speed, agility, athleticism, edges, stickhandling and shooting.
Adult Hockey Skating and Skills at Groton School, Groton, MA--REGISTER HERE
Tuesdays 10 AM, Through March 2, 2009!
Improve your skating and skills and stay in shape.
Focus on agility, athleticism, strength, speed, skating and skills
Walk-ons $25
Monday, January 5, 2009
Adult Hockey Lessons near Boston, Massachusetts
Learning how to skate better will help make the game of hockey more fun for you. Sign up today for a semiprivate lesson or a clinic where you can learn to use your edges, work on your crossovers and develop proper hockey posture. Contact Strong Dynamics for a hockey lesson!
The Next Step for Learning Hockey
The next step for a child to learn is for HIM to realize that he needs to take in more information in order to execute correctly... and he will. He wants to improve and that motivation will drive him to develop cognitively and help him learn how to attend to key elements of the instruction and help him in his attempts to imitate complex maneuvers. Also, he will soon begin to see that he can perform maneuvers that many of his peers continue to struggle with. That will motivate him.
I have the picture in my mind of a boy who came to our clinic who plays prep school hockey at a very high level. He is a very accomplished skater. We demonstrated some maneuvers that even he, at his level, could not do. His face lit up with a big grin as if to say, "Cool, something new and challenging!" Without prompting he became the coach's "shadow" as he followed awkwardly behind, attempting to copy every move and establish in his head the key features that he needed to attend to in order to master the complex maneuvers. He didn't wait for someone to yell at him and correct him. He jumped into the lesson like a hungry wolf thirsty for the knowledge. And in very short order he mastered a complex maneuver he had never done before.
I have the picture in my mind of a boy who came to our clinic who plays prep school hockey at a very high level. He is a very accomplished skater. We demonstrated some maneuvers that even he, at his level, could not do. His face lit up with a big grin as if to say, "Cool, something new and challenging!" Without prompting he became the coach's "shadow" as he followed awkwardly behind, attempting to copy every move and establish in his head the key features that he needed to attend to in order to master the complex maneuvers. He didn't wait for someone to yell at him and correct him. He jumped into the lesson like a hungry wolf thirsty for the knowledge. And in very short order he mastered a complex maneuver he had never done before.
Learning How to Learn, Coaching Children in Ice Hockey
I worry that some parents may feel frustrated to see the children struggle with learning. I feel frustrated too. It is hard for me to hold back from jumping in to rescue the students and correct every little movement. I purposely watch, give very few corrections and spend some of my time on the ice studying the children to understand more about how they learn. This is great information for me to carry forward to private lessons.
I want the children to be challenged and develop cognitively in the clinics. A huge part of that is for the children to learn to attend to the coaches in a way that they learn to see for themselves what they have to do and to take the responsibility of being independent learners. I feel in our culture we love our kids so much and do so much for that that we inadvertently sabotage their learning by doing their homework for them. Watching our children struggle requires a ton of patience on the part of the coaches and parents but I am 100% convinced that this educational learning model is better for the children than the "professional hockey coaching" model that attempts to cram skills into kids who are not quite ready or not receptive to the learning at a particular moment.
When the student is ready, the teacher appears. It is interesting to see how the children of various developmental levels interpret our instruction as they take their first stabs at trying something they have never done before. I set the bar high but I don't expect perfection, ever... only effort and moving in the right direction. It is critical for parents to understand that these very fundamental first awkward steps, done on their own, are the building blocks to creating a strong, reliable student of hockey who will later reach a much higher level for having worked through the struggle at the start.
Once they have learned to learn, learned to deal with frustration, learned to be brave and attempt new things and learned that failure is not a dirty word, they will learn to skate well and play hockey.
My family used to take karate lessons and one instructor told us that it was when we were struggling and feeling the most frustrated and could see the least gain, that we were actually learning the most. I learned I had to persevere through those frustrating times to come out the other side and be able to appreciate the gains.
I hope you will come to see that your child is learning when he struggles with drills that challenge his body and his mind. All of the homework is of his own creation. All of the work is his. He can and should feel very proud of that.
I want the children to be challenged and develop cognitively in the clinics. A huge part of that is for the children to learn to attend to the coaches in a way that they learn to see for themselves what they have to do and to take the responsibility of being independent learners. I feel in our culture we love our kids so much and do so much for that that we inadvertently sabotage their learning by doing their homework for them. Watching our children struggle requires a ton of patience on the part of the coaches and parents but I am 100% convinced that this educational learning model is better for the children than the "professional hockey coaching" model that attempts to cram skills into kids who are not quite ready or not receptive to the learning at a particular moment.
When the student is ready, the teacher appears. It is interesting to see how the children of various developmental levels interpret our instruction as they take their first stabs at trying something they have never done before. I set the bar high but I don't expect perfection, ever... only effort and moving in the right direction. It is critical for parents to understand that these very fundamental first awkward steps, done on their own, are the building blocks to creating a strong, reliable student of hockey who will later reach a much higher level for having worked through the struggle at the start.
Once they have learned to learn, learned to deal with frustration, learned to be brave and attempt new things and learned that failure is not a dirty word, they will learn to skate well and play hockey.
My family used to take karate lessons and one instructor told us that it was when we were struggling and feeling the most frustrated and could see the least gain, that we were actually learning the most. I learned I had to persevere through those frustrating times to come out the other side and be able to appreciate the gains.
I hope you will come to see that your child is learning when he struggles with drills that challenge his body and his mind. All of the homework is of his own creation. All of the work is his. He can and should feel very proud of that.
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