Dreyer Family
Welcome to the NorthAxis Newsletter.
The goal of this publication is to
provide much needed college hockey recruiting
information to today's players and
families. We will focus on helpful
hints and tips to help you successfully maneuver
through this complex process.
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College Hockey
Reaching
Your
Goals |
What
Coaches Look For
College coaches are in a great position and
each passing year, things get better. The
competition in women's hockey today is not yet
where the guys are but you can certainly see the
gap closing. I like to say that roughly 95%
of all hockey players who
can play college hockey are in the
"good" category. This means that while
recruiting potential players, college coaches
could be looking at 5-10 players for each position
in need. It really is a flip of the coin as
any of these 5-10 players can step in and perform
the duties required. When I talk with
coaches, much of our talks have nothing to do with
on-ice performance.
College coaches look for the complete
package. "Will this player go to and pass
her classes?" "What is she like in the
dressingroom?" What are her parents
like?" "Has she been in any trouble with
school or the law?" These are just some of
the questions I get but it does make sense.
They want someone who will step into their program
and make the recruiter and the school look
good. Most colleges and universities put a
lot of pressure on the coaching staff to ensure
this happens. The goal is to sift through
the potential recruits list and find those who
will strengthen the graduation rate; limit the
number of black eyes on a school; and be a
positive contributor in all aspects.
Other areas focussed on that will help
distinguish you are outside
interests/activities. Examples include;
volunteer work, other sports, instruments you
play, singing, dancing, judo, politics, etc.
In short; how else can you benefit the school
aside from hockey?
Strengths & Weaknesses
Understanding your strengths &
weaknesses is a key part of the recruiting
process and can also help you distinguish yourself
from a competitive crowd. The first step is
taking a realistic look at yourself through your
own eyes. First answer the question; what
type of a player am I? There are many
different types of players as you know (goal
scorer, defensive forward, offensive d, stay at
home d, checker, grinder, set-up man, stand-up
goalie, flopper, etc.) and understanding your
role is a good first step. It's a good idea
to ask other people who you respect in hockey
including your current coach.
The second step is to understand the key
elements of your role as well as to determine
what makes you excel in that area. It's a
lot easier to get when you see them on paper so
write it down. Jot down the main attributes
of your role in hockey and beside each attribute,
circle where you see yourself on a scale of
1-10. Once you do this, ask your coach to do
the same (but don't show him/her your scores until
he/she is done). Improving as a hockey
player is so much easier when you fully understand
where you need to improve. This is also a
good opportunity to maintain the lines of
communication with your coach (or someone you
respect in the hockey world).
Remember, every college hockey program looks
for specific players to fill specific roles at
different times. A teams top scorer is not
necessarily the best prospect.
COLLEGE
CONTACT
College coaches want as
much information as you can provide them.
They need to know, in detail, how you can
help their program over the next 4 years.
Along with this are the question marks; the areas
of your game in question. It helps your
cause considerably to be up front about the areas
you need to improve on. The key to this part
is outlining exactly how you plan
to improve.
Hesitation in the
recruiting process (by coaches) revolves around
the question marks because coaches sit around and
contemplate the pros and cons about each potential
recruit. The more unknown about any one
player, the tougher it becomes to select
her.
EXAMPLE
"I would say the area i
need to improve on the most is my first 3
steps (quick feet). Currently I
am working with 'Joe Smith' who specializes
in this area and has me doing (these specific)
exercises both in the gym and on the ice to
improve this area. Feel free to contact Joe
with any update requests..."
| --- Tips
--- |
Talk to people. I always say
information is the key; whether you're talking
to a college coach, current coach, previous
coach, ask questions.
- What level do you see me playing my
college career?
- What do you think are my biggest
attributes?
- Where do you think I need to
improve?
- How do I
improve? | |
Featured
Colleges
University of North
Dakota
|
This
university is characterized by a solid foundation
of the liberal arts, a manageable size,
high-quality students and faculty, a comprehensive
curriculum, a widely recognized program of
graduate education and research, law and medical
schools praised for quality and innovation, rich
cultural resources, and an outstanding record of
alumni support.
Grand Forks, North Dakota
SUNY
Plattsburgh
Here, you are never far
from mountains, rivers, and lakes. The College is
also just an hour's drive from exciting
destinations such as the cosmopolitan city of
Montreal, Canada, the Olympic Village of Lake
Placid, and Burlington, Vermont.
Plattsburgh, New
York
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NorthAxis has been
helping families with the recruiting process for 4
years now and we understand that information is
the key. We are here to help you find the
answers to all your questions and allow you to be
in control of your college hockey destiny.
Suggestions for potential topics are encouraged
and please feel free to contact me at any
time.
Sincerely,
Matt
Swain
NorthAxis
617-312-6538
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| Featured
Sponsor
Beantown Classic
Hockey Tournament
The Beantown Classic will be
hosting the fourth annual invitation only showcase
tournament August 15-17 in Boston, MA. For
details, please visit
beantownclassic.com. |
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