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Ice sports are a popular form of exercise and a great way of getting fit – and they’re not just for winter. If you’re interested in giving ice sports a go, Dr Alasdair R Wright, GP and sports medicine doctor, has some tips.

Ice sports have a host of health and fitness benefits. Skating helps improve co-ordination and balance, burning 450-600 calories an hour – or 950 if you’re speed skating. Leg strength is helped by regular ice skating and, according to a study in the Journal

of Bone and Mineral Research, taking up regular ice hockey can increase bone density.

Which ice sport is right for you?

There are lots of different sports that involve ice, each with their own unique benefits. Some of the options include:

›› Ice skating – a form of skating exercise performed on ice.

›› Speed skating – a high-adrenaline, fast-paced sport involving skating at speed on ice.

›› Figure skating – similar to ballroom dancing but on ice.

Individuals or couples perform ice skating routines and moves to music.

›› Curling – similar to boules, curling involves skill and strategy, as two teams of four players slide heavy polished granite stones across the ice to a circular target.

›› Ice hockey – the game of hockey, but adapted for ice.

How to get started with ice sports

If you’re keen to take up an ice sport, it’s a good idea to find a reputable instructor or course to give you access to all the equ

ipment and training you need.

You can get a taster for ice skating at seasonal ice rinks but, to find permanent rinks or various types of ice skating lessons, the National Ice Skating Association is a good place to start.

To find an ice hockey team or club in your area, the English Ice Hockey Association Recreational Section can help.

If you’re tempted to try curling, the English Curling Association has information about curling lessons.

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A coach has many obligations and faces many challenges during the season. The teaching of skill, implementing systems and other technical aspects of the game are all both obligations and challenges. It is the coach’s responsibility to ensure that the technical function of coaching is implemented and is continually enhanced through the season. In addition, the coach is constantly faced with the challenge of getting the team and individual players to perform at their highest levels.

In other words, it is not enough to teach skills and systems. The coach also has to create an environment that allows the team and its players to perform at maximum capacity.

It is most important for coaches to build and nurture the confidence of their players. A lack of confidence is a serious problem for a player and will directly effect playing performance. Each player needs to feel good about what they can do, feel comfortable about their role on the team and know that they can make mista

kes as part of the learning process. The challenge we face as coaches is to create an environment that will nurture player confidence while maintaining competitiveness and discipline within the team concept. It is a difficult task, but one that is key for positive team dynamics.

›› It is very important for coaches to deal with each player on an individual basis. You need to understand what makes a player feel good and what makes the player feel bad. This can only be accomplished

with communication. Each player is different in their psychological makeup. Some players take criticism better than others, some have basic self confidence issues and some are over confident. Your players are also different in their motivation. Some players are satisfied being role players, while others are highly motivated and strive to reach higher levels. Getting to know your players will help you understand what makes them tick and to deal with them individually. A collection of individuals is what makes a team.

›› There will always be different roles based on player’s skill level, but each player must be given the opportunity to achieve a realistic role on the team. If not, the player will be deprived the opportunity to develop confidence and to find out their actual capacity. As a coach, you can’t put a player in a situation that the player cannot be successful in as that will negatively effect player confidence, but the player’s role has to be established based on performance. Give each player the chance to do as much as they are capable of doing.

›› Make sure that each player has a good understanding of their role and the importance of that role to the success of the team.

Often, your best players will have high self confidence levels and they won’t need a lot of nurturing. However, on every team there are players who you will never know how good they can be unless you work on building their confidence. Always be aware of situations and ways to give them good feelings about themselves. The confidence building process must go on all season.

The task of developing confidence is definitely a big one, but the rewards for both the individuals and the team are great. A team full of self confident players will play to their potential and will maximize their development over the course of the season.

More information for hockey coaches our our website Drillsetc.com