Reply To: Developing a Season Plan

[Tom Molloy]

I think this comment suits this topic.

I played hockey tonight and then we went to our regular spot for a few pops after.

One of the guys who played and is a former university player asked me if we sold very many of the ABC coaching manuals. I told him we did at the start but then Johnny Misley took over from Tom Renney at Hockey Canada and didn't put the book in their catalogue anymore and never in their online one. He told me they considered it a competitor to their Nike Skills Program and wouldn't support it.

I asked him why they couldn't consider it a complimentary program that was written by a IIHF Hall of Fame International coach and a Canadian. He didn't respond. The philosophy is the same as the Finnish development program which is looked at as the best development program anywhere.

Anyway that is the way it is.

Back to the story.

Jim told him that when started coaching Terry Johnson suggested the ABC book and he got it and says it became his "Hockey Bible" because it was so easy to understand and follow. His boy's are now adults and they and their friends are using the manual to plan their practices.

So it was a nice story to hear.

They don't know about this site which is here to continually update the material in the manual. I gave him a card with a link to this site and am interested in hearing their comments.

So I have a suggestion when you are starting your season plan for next year.

First you have to decided 'Do I want to teach How to Do Drills or Do I want to teach HOCKEY.

'The Game is the Greatest Coach'
'Enjoy the Game'