Summer Camp and Super Goalies

Summer time is usually camp time for us. After spring hockey and spring lacrosse it’s still time to continue working on improving those individual and team skills. Camps and clinics offer a change of pace from the regular season. I’m taking a few weeks off between hockey clinics and games to sit back and watch someone else coach. It’s hard to step away from the rink for a while, and I’m not sure what fall will bring other than a commitment I made to help coach at a local hockey clinic. As far as lacrosse is concerned, I’m not sure either. I’ll wait and see what comes up. Now on the other hand my sons and their teammates have been going to a lacrosse clinic run by the CNS Varsity head coach. This is an excellent program and is run by a very good coach Bill Aldrich. They take a week off and head to Lemoyne College Lacrosse camp, which is run by Head, coach Dan Sheehan. This is another great camp for lacrosse and has been a great learning experience for my sons. There are a lot of quality sport camps run all over the country, and a good coach should be able to recommend a few to their players. The hockey and sometimes lacrosse clinics I get involved with are usually skill development, and I only get involved with well run local programs. We’ve run a few small ones here and there over the years with coaches I know from local associations. There are other larger summer programs out there, and they are usually tied into solid college programs. Here on the east coast you have many fine programs to choose from. There is quality coaching, and lots of fun for the players attending these camps. Ontario and Quebec have excellent hockey programs as well and are quite an experience in and of them selves. This also gives the players a chance to experience how other coaches work and teach the game. Like I’ve said before I try and pick up a few things from each coach to add to my bag of tricks. Just standing back and watching how other talented coaches work is a learning experience for me too. I got to go now; I’m going to head up north for a wedding party and will get to see one of my old players back from Michigan. He was our fantastic Bantam goalie a few years back who helped us become one of the outstanding teams up north, and it will be nice to see him and his family. I’m sure he can tell you, you’ll never know where you might end up playing – so be prepared. These camps and clinics are just another vehicle to get you ready for what may be coming your way. Oh ya, and his little brother’s a pretty cool little hockey player too!