Rolling 101
UCF roller hockey players coach kids
Jillian krotki
Issue date: 3/3/08 Section: News
In the midst of regionals and upcoming nationals, the Southeastern Collegiate Roller Hockey League has dedicated some time to aspiring young players.
For the first time ever, the league hosted the Mission Hockey College, which provided a free clinic for children between the ages of 5 and 15 to learn more about the basics of roller hockey, Jeff Cohen, a junior player at UCF, said. The three-hour clinic was completely booked a month in advance. The players worked with children with a wide range of skill levels and gave them an opportunity to learn.
Roughly 60 children signed up for the session with college-age players, hosted in Snellville, Ga., just north of Atlanta. This year there was only one clinic, but next year the team plans to hold two or three. Cohen said they were just trying to help.
"It was all nonprofit," he said. "We were just trying to promote roller hockey and help teach them some basic skills."
Some of the basic skills that were taught to the youth were skating and form. Instructors taught by example and showed the youth what proper form looks like. Although more than a few hours is needed to teach perfect form, the team tried to give participants the right idea.
Alex Tisdail, a goalie for the roller hockey team at UCF, worked with four goal tenders ranging in age from 6 to 11.
"The most difficult skill for them to pick up on was proper stance and form," Tisdail said.
A certain amount of technique is needed to be successful as a goalie. Tisdail focused his time with the young players on stance and technique. He showed them the correct way to stand and explained why it's important to practice these mechanics, which ultimately make it easier to save the puck.
Also, he said that many players in that age range aren't able to strike and lift the puck more than 6 inches off the ground, so covering the ground with the glove and stick in proper position was the most practical way to be successful as a goal tender.
For the first time ever, the league hosted the Mission Hockey College, which provided a free clinic for children between the ages of 5 and 15 to learn more about the basics of roller hockey, Jeff Cohen, a junior player at UCF, said. The three-hour clinic was completely booked a month in advance. The players worked with children with a wide range of skill levels and gave them an opportunity to learn.
Roughly 60 children signed up for the session with college-age players, hosted in Snellville, Ga., just north of Atlanta. This year there was only one clinic, but next year the team plans to hold two or three. Cohen said they were just trying to help.
"It was all nonprofit," he said. "We were just trying to promote roller hockey and help teach them some basic skills."
Some of the basic skills that were taught to the youth were skating and form. Instructors taught by example and showed the youth what proper form looks like. Although more than a few hours is needed to teach perfect form, the team tried to give participants the right idea.
Alex Tisdail, a goalie for the roller hockey team at UCF, worked with four goal tenders ranging in age from 6 to 11.
"The most difficult skill for them to pick up on was proper stance and form," Tisdail said.
A certain amount of technique is needed to be successful as a goalie. Tisdail focused his time with the young players on stance and technique. He showed them the correct way to stand and explained why it's important to practice these mechanics, which ultimately make it easier to save the puck.
Also, he said that many players in that age range aren't able to strike and lift the puck more than 6 inches off the ground, so covering the ground with the glove and stick in proper position was the most practical way to be successful as a goal tender.