Green Biscuit Training Puck Review

The Green Biscuit training puck is a special off ice puck specially made to feel and slide like a hockey puck does on the ice. We gave you an overview of the Green Biscuit, and now we are going to do a full Green Biscuit review. The first thing I did when I got the biscuit was slide it along the living room floor, it slid like a dream along the wood floor, but does it stand a chance on concrete and pavement?





The Green Biscuit is definitely slideable, I was pretty impressed with how well this little green puck slid on the pavement. I was practicing on a nice flat surface, but also tested the green biscuit on a much rougher surface and the results were both very good. I was on a nice flat piece of pavement with the biscuit and gave a nice hard pass. I was just waiting for it to flip flop all over the place...but nothing. Then I figured I would do a bit of heavy stickhandling, still nothing. It takes quite a bit to get this thing to flip over, sure it tilts from time to time, but it doesn't fully flip very often.

Read the full Green Biscuit review.

Editor’s Note: Thank you to HockeyReviewHQ.com for this review.

How to Help Your Player Set and Achieve Goals

Goal setting is one of many psychological strategies that can help athletes achieve peak performances. The process of setting goals not only influences athletes’ performances, but it is linked to positive changes in a variety of psychological states such as motivation and confidence. Additionally, goal setting is a tool that can be beneficial in all areas of life, including school. Because of this, parents should teach goal-setting techniques to their young athletes.



To be effective, goal setting must involve a collaborative effort between parents and their children. If parents set goals for their kids, they become the parent’s dreams, not the athletes’ objectives. In setting goals, parents and athletes should follow the ABCs of goal setting.

• A: Goals should be achievable. The best goals are challenging, yet within reasonable limits. If a goal is too difficult, athletes quickly lose interest and motivation. If a goal is too easy, athletes accomplish it with minimum effort.


• B: Goals should be believable. Athletes need to understand how each goal will help improve athletic performance. Goal setting helps teach athletes that continued improvement is the result of dedication and effort in practice.


• C: Athletes should be committed to goals, which means they will act on a daily basis. Why is this important? It isn’t what we do once in awhile that shapes our lives, it’s what we do consistently. Athletes must therefore “buy into” goals and work toward achieving them in a systematic way.

Focus on the Process

In addition to the ABCs, researchers have identified several key principles that enhance the effectiveness of goal-setting procedures. Most importantly, goals should focus upon the process of performance rather than the product.

• Outcome goals focus on the product of performance. Good examples of outcome goals are wanting to win a league championship or get the MVP award. Although outcome goals can provide a sense of direction and purpose, they do have built-in flaws. For example, if your goal is to go undefeated all season and you lose your first game, it’s all over.


• Process goals focus on the actual acts of performance and learning, and they define what the athlete needs to do to be successful. For example, instead of setting a goal to win, an athlete might strive to make a reasonable number of passes or shots-on-goal—something that is within the athletes’ “zone of control.” Process goals are also useful when teaching skills and drills. For example, when teaching a player how to take shots, the learning objective might be to hit the puck with the “sweet” part of the blade on at least 7 out of 10 attempts.

Inch by Inch, It’s a Cinch

Process goals should be set in small increments, following the concept, “Yard by yard, it’s awfully hard, but inch by inch, it’s a cinch.” Short-term goals are effective for two main reasons:

• They are more flexible and controllable. Thus, they can be more easily raised and lowered to keep them challenging but realistic.


• They provide more frequent evaluations of success. The object of each step is to give athletes a sense of accomplishment, which motivates them to eventually reach long-term objectives.

Goal Stoppers

Although there are many advantages to implementing a goal-setting program, some problems can arise.

• One problem is setting too many goals too soon. This results in a system overload. To avoid this, an appropriate approach is to prioritize goals and focus attention on the one or two that are most important.


• Some goals are too general. If you can’t measure the goal in terms of specific numbers, it is too vague and general to be used effectively. And again, remember that process goals are preferable to product goals because athletes have greater control over them.


• Some athletes have negative attitudes about goal setting. In such cases, it is best not to force their participation in a goal-setting program. Quite frequently, they will see the benefits and enjoyment that other athletes are experiencing as a result of goal setting and will come on board later on.

Setting and meeting goals doesn’t automatically guarantee a winning season. But if parents work with their young athletes on goal setting, everyone can attain some degree of success.

Editor’s Note: Thank you to Frank L. Smoll, Ph.D., University of Washington, for this story. Dr. Smoll is a professor of psychology at the University of Washington and co-director of the Youth Enrichment in Sports program (www.y-e-sports.com).

Mnemonic Device Contest Winner: My Sweet Pass Blew Minds

For the last couple weeks we asked for helping creating a (politically correct) mnemonic device for remembering hockey’s progression through Mite, Squirt, Pee Wee, Bantam and Midget—given that it is impossible to guess that a Midget is larger than a Pee Wee. Thanks to our winner, Kristen, who wrote the active and gender-neutral “My Sweet Pass Blew Minds.” We hope she and her family use the prize, a $50 gift certificate from HockeyShot.com, to continue working on passing!

The Winner: My Sweet Pass Blew Minds

Memorize and you’ll never forget who’s who in hockey again. (OK, you do have to remember that a Midget is bigger than a Mite, but just think “dust mite.”)

• M for Mite: My


• S for Squirt: Sweet


• P for Pee Wee: Pass


• B for Bantam: Blew


• M for Midget: Minds

The Runners Up

Just a sampling of other entries includes:

• May Santa Please Bring Money


• Might Score Pucks Behind Me


• Might Squirt Pucks Behind Me


• Mom Said Please Bring Money


• Mom Said Please Buy Milk


• Monkeys Shoot Pucks Before Midnight


• Monkeys Shoot Pucks Between Meals


• Monkeys Slurp Pineapple Banana Milkshakes


• Mouthing off, Swearing, Punching warrant Bench Minors


• My Shot’s Probably Better, Macinnis


• My Sister Peed Before Me


• My Sister Played Before Me


• My Sister Puked Before Mass


• My Son Pays Big Money


• My Son Plays Bantam Major


• My Son Plays Better, Mister


• My Son Plays Big Man!


• My Squirt Peed on the Bag of your Midget


• My Sweet Pass Blew Minds

Editor’s Note: Thank you to Kelly Kordes Anton with the Grow the Game Initiative for this story.

Glossary: Overcommit

An attacking forward has the puck in your team’s zone. Spectators are yelling for the defense to stop him, but the defense aren’t making a move. You start yelling, “Go after him! What are you doing?!” But the defense is already doing exactly what they should be doing.



Sometimes players, particularly defense, will appear to hesitate on the ice. It may look like they don’t know what to do next—but what doesn’t look like much can be a large factor in the outcome of the game. By not attacking a player right away, or overcommitting, the defense can force the attacking player to commit to a play and then they can react accordingly.

Players overcommit when they chase the puck or player. By doing this, the attacking player will know the defenders path and be able to skate away or make a pass that could lead to a goal. No one wants that—except the other team.

So when the game appears to be at a standstill on ice, it’s not because the players are lazy or don’t know what to do. They’re trying to read each other and waiting for the other player to make the first move. Like most sports, hockey isn’t just physical—it’s strategic, too.

Editor’s Note: Thank you to Kristin Carlson, a member of Women’s Hockey Association of Minnesota and an intern with the Grow the Game Initiative, for this article.

Real-World Grocery Shopping List

In our effort to keep you out of the drive-thru lane—thereby saving your time, money and arteries—Grow the Game’s nutritionist put together a handy shopping list for you. This list focuses on healthy foods that need little to no preparation and kids are sure (well, likely) to like. You just may reach that holy grail of a take-out free week of hockey.



Produce

• Any type of produce your family eats


• Sandwich toppings such as tomatoes


• Include backpack- or briefcase-ready fruits and veggies such as apples, bananas, pears, oranges and baby carrots

Meat & Poultry

• Lean meat, poultry and fish


• Buy cuts with little prep or pre-formed patties if you are short on time


• Keep one package in the freezer for an emergency meal

Dairy

• Low-fat regular milk and chocolate milk


• Low-fat Greek yogurt


• Reduced-fat shredded and singles cheese


• 1% fat cottage cheese


• Eggs

Freezer

• Quick-fix meal solutions such as veggie burgers, microwavable chicken strips and fish


• Microwave-in-the-box/bag vegetables and rice mixtures including Green Giant boxes and Birds Eye SteamFresh


• Microwave meals (Kashi and Amy’s brands are best)


• Toaster-friendly waffles


• Precut potatoes (easy to throw in the oven for a carbohydrate source that most kids love)

Breads & Grains

• Whole grain bread


• Cinnamon raisin bread (great carbohydrate for post-workout)


• Bagels


• Cereal


• Quick cook oatmeal and grits


• Pita pockets

Dips & Spreads

• Mayonnaise


• Ketchup and mustard (very helpful for picky eaters)


• Shedd’s Spread Country Crock (great for the whole family)


• Oil-based salad dressing


• Hummus


• Peanut butter

Snacks

• Trail mix


• Nuts/seeds


• Whole grain crackers


• Whole grain granola bars


• Cereal


• 100% juice (such as orange, Concord grape)

Performance Foods

• PowerAde


• Clif Bars


• PowerBars


• Granola bars


• Electrolyte packets or table salt (for athletes who need the extra sodium)


• Chocolate milk, protein powder for athletes hitting the weight room

Editor’s Note: Thank you to Marie Spano, MS, RD, CSSD, CSCS—a sports nutrition expert and Grow the Game consultant who works with athletes throughout the country—for providing this story. Her website is: www.mariespano.com.

Stocking Your Fridge for Success

Add hockey practices and games to an already busy life and you’ll find that you spend way more time at one place: the drive-thru window. One way to get a handle on this is to make sure your refrigerator and pantry are stocked with healthy, easy-to-prepare foods that—and this is key—that kids will eat.



As a nutritionist, my top piece of advice can be summed up in one word: plan. Surely you’ve heard the age-old saying “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” Well, when it comes to nutrition, this statement is like hitting a shot in a wide-open goal. You can see the target but it takes a little practice to make the shot every time. Athletes who are successful at gaining weight, losing weight, recovering from injuries, staying hydrated and staying well fueled, plan accordingly. They don’t just stumble upon success but instead have a plan to ensure that each aspect of their performance is taken care of.

At home, I encourage people to think of nutrition planning in steps:

1. Be Realistic

First you’ll need to think about your current diet and how you eat.

• Do you rely on fast food?


• Do your kids get school lunch everyday? (And do they actually eat it?)


• Do you cook? If you’re a parent and you don’t have the time or skills to cook, that’s OK. Better to admit it now then break out a Julia Child cookbook with the intention of feeding your family Beef Bourguignon.

2. Determine What You Need in Your House for the Week

Take a look at what meals and snacks you and your family eat at home and buy food accordingly.

• If everyone eats lunch out, then you may only need breakfast, dinner, snacks and performance foods (before practice, during practice and post-practice fuel and beverages).


• Be sure to add “emergency” meals and snacks to this list. By emergency I mean convenience foods that anyone, even an 8-year-old, can grab and eat.


• Don’t buy something nobody in the house likes just because it’s healthy. Many healthy foods are available, so why torture yourself or your kids? (Trust me, they’ll find a way to throw it out or sit stubbornly at the table for hours without consuming it!)

3. Keep a Running List

Don’t forget to keep an ongoing list of foods you run out of—basically an ongoing grocery list. Divide up the list by sections of the grocery store so shopping is easier and you don’t forget anything.

Click here for a handy grocery list to use as a starting place for filling your fridge!

If you want to be a champion or you are fueling a growing champion, you need to eat like one. Parents, don’t forget that kids are like sponges soaking up what is around them. This means they model your eating behavior from a very young age. Even if you never step foot on the rink or in any competitive sport, you still need to eat like a champion so your growing child follows your footsteps.

Editor’s Note: Thank you to Marie Spano, MS, RD, CSSD, CSCS—a sports nutrition expert and Grow the Game consultant who works with athletes throughout the country—for providing this story. Her website is: www.mariespano.com. http://www.youthsportscoalition.com/go/nutrition/

Glossary: Zamboni

According to good-old Charlie Brown, “There are three things in life that people like to stare at: a flowing stream, a crackling fire and a Zamboni clearing the ice.” He’s talking about the mesmerizing ice-resurfacing machines used before and after practices and games—and if you’re lucky, between periods. While you probably know what a Zamboni is—and have even heard the verb form “zamming”—the big question is why the machine’s name makes it sounds like a piece of pasta.



That’s Italian!
Well, the Zamboni is in fact an Italian invention. In 1949, Frank Zamboni invented the world’s first self-propelled ice resurfacing machine—and named it after himself. His invention eventually earned Frank a spot in the National Inventors Hall of Frame in 2007 and forever revolutionized the maintenance of ice rinks. Several other companies, including Olympia, make ice resurfacers, but the name Zamboni is in such common usage that using the brand name—as with Frisbee and Kleenex— is clearer than using the generic name. Today’s Zambonis are mostly electric not gas, meaning that a power outage at a rink equals maybe one resurfacing tops.


I Wanna Drive the Zamboni!
To fulfill many a sports fans’ dreams, many rinks offer Zamboni (err, ice resurfacer) driving lessons. With sponsorships that trick out the Zamboni like a trash truck, ambulance and more, you can even fantasize you’re more than an ice resurfacer. And if you’ve never heard the song dedicated to it, you’re missing out!

Video:



Editor’s Note: Thank you to Rose Conry, an intern with the Grow the Game Initiative, for this story. Rose studies journalism at Northwestern University, loves all sports and sails competitively with the university’s club team.