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

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

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

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.

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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