Edson discovers alternative flight path with Air Force academics in case I got hurt. So I guess it worked out in that sense.” Edson’s Air Force career began – and ended – after five games in 2012. “It was a fluke accident in practice,” he recalled. “I stepped on a stick, fell and hit my head on the boards.” Edson passed a concussion test and resumed playing, but something wasn’t right.
symptoms and I realized I couldn’t put myself in that situation again,” he said. “I’ve never fully gotost-concussion symptoms have kept Max Edten over it, but I’ve learned how to manage it. Some son from taking a regular shift for four years, medical devices have helped me out, but exercise but they haven’t prevented him from contributing still bothers me.” to Air Force’s hockey program. Yet Edson missed the parts of hockey that most The 24-year-old has displayed perseverance fans don’t get to see. while carving out an important niche as a video co“We have a close-knit group at Air Force, and I ordinator. wanted to get back into it,” he said. “I started help“He’s a great young man,” Falcons coach ing with video as a way to stay close to the guys. Frank Serratore said. “It was unfortunate the “It kept me in a routine and kept my mind off concussions ended his hockey career, but he’s of what I’d lost. I didn’t want to let myself go, so going to be a great Air Force officer, and he’s I kept busy and tried to stay as active as possigoing to do great things in life.” ble.” Edson experienced several plot twists in his Falcons senior forward Tyler Rostenkowshockey career. ki and Edson are economics majors who study After playing several years of AAA hockey in together. Rostenkowski says his friend remains Southern California, he went to Salisbury School an integral part of the team. in Connecticut for his last two years of high “When I go on the ice and see him, I tell him, school before two seasons with Waterloo of the ‘Today is for you, Eds,’ because I know how United States Hockey League (USHL). much he wishes he could be out there,” RostenAir Force approached him before his senior kowski said. “His skills and the abilities to see year at Salisbury, but he passed. the ice and stickhandle might be the best on the “I had bigger hockey aspirations at that time,” team if he could play. Edson said. “We want him around as much as possible. After a concussion cost him his playing career, Max Edson decided to Injuries during his second USHL season remain part of Air Force’s team by filling a valuable role providing video We definitely appreciate the insights he has bechanged his outlook, and AFA’s continued pur- support. Photo/Chris Bayee cause he has a different perspective and he’s a suit eventually made it a match. “I thought my allergies were causing pressure skilled guy. He’s always there to help guys, wheth“I liked how it’s right on the mountain side, and on my head,” he said. “I played for a month and it er academically or on the ice. “ (former Falcons goalie) Jason Torf was a longtime got worse and worse. I finally had to tell them, ‘I’m Edson’s help includes providing data to help the friend who always had good things to say about it,” not doing this.’” Falcons’ present, as well as their future. In addition Edson said. “I realized it was somewhere I could His hockey season finished, Edson wondered if to clipping games as Air Force plays to provide play immediately. I knew it was a way different ex- his hockey career might be over when he returned footage the coaches can utilize to make in-game perience than just being at a normal school. to Southern California for the 2013-14 school year. adjustments, he provides video scouting reports “I also wanted to go somewhere that had good “I wanted to resume my education, but I still had on upcoming opponents and potential recruits. By Chris Bayee
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CHALK TALK
Player development - following all the recent research H
ockey has fallen victim to the “quick fix” and “instant results” mentality that seems to be increasingly dominating our culture. The new norm is parents spending countless amounts of money for private lessons and private trainers to accelShaun Hathaway erate the player development process, while overlooking the actual science behind long- term athletic development. Parental expectations for success continue to rise while the overall level of patience falls and as a result, adults are forgetting that our hockey players are developing children. Research and practice has proven that athletic development is a long-term process, a marathon and not a sprint. It requires movement away from early specialization and constant adult directives towards an active multi-sport lifestyle guided by self-drive and intrinsic motivation. Multi-sport lifestyle Numerous studies have provided research indicating that children who specialize in sports at young ages (meaning roughly 14 and younger) suffer from higher rates of adult inactivity, more overuse injuries and early burnout. In recent studies around the world, benefits of early sport specialization have only shown evidence in gymnastics and some evidence for diving and figure
skating. Conversely, the benefits of multi-sport participation include (among others) improvement in skills and ability, increased motivation, better decision-making, stronger pattern recognition skills and higher levels of creativity A multi-sport lifestyle is an active lifestyle. During a week, a youth athlete has 168 hours to fill. If a child spends 8-10 hours per night for sleep, 30-40 hours per week for school, and time to eat 5-7 meals per day, the time spent on health-related fitness should be 20 hours per week. For the younger ages, less than half of the 20 hours per week should be used for team/hockey club-specific activities. • 6U – 10U: 5-8 hours run by club, 12 – 15 multi-sport on their own • 10U – 14U: 8-10 hours run by club, 10 – 12 multi-sport on their own • 15U – 19U: 10-15 hours run by club, 5 – 10 hours multi-sport on their own The multi-sport activities during a sport season include any type of non-structured (self-motivated) sport: skiing, biking, hiking, walking, running, playing tag, and much more. At young ages, supplemental private lessons and extra practice time run by adults should not be included in multi-sport activities. Like a properly run off-ice training program, engaging in other activities that use different muscle groups and enhance agility, balance and coordination can actually accelerate the player development process.
Self-drive Research has always exposed the benefits of inner-motivation and self-drive (intrinsic motivation) as the vehicle to maximize player development. As opposed to being motivated through rewards and avoiding punishment (extrinsic motivation), athletes experience better long-term development success when the desire is to become competent and self-determining. To get the most out of practices and competition, players must learn how to best motivate themselves to train, perform, compete and manage adversity. Intrinsically-motivated players are usually self-starters that experience consistency in practices and games. Taking ownership of one’s effort and developing self-drive is critical to learning and harnessing intrinsic motivation. The coaching culture in Finland places a great emphasis on an athlete’s self-drive and their perceptions of ownership, and the Finnish results are proven. By giving athletes the ability to be creative and learn to make decisions without over-reaching adult directives, they better learn skills and conceptual awareness. The days of spending precious practice time on the ice with long lines and robotic drills should be over. During practices, coaches should design drills with a purpose that keeps the players moving and solving problems. Practices that encourage creativity, free movement, and fun have a much stronger impact on long-term development compared to spending time on the ice teaching the game robotically through rote x’s and o’s training.
Shaun Hathaway is the executive director for Aspen Junior Hockey. Interested in being a Chalk Talk columnist? E-mail Matt Mackinder at matt@rubberhockey.com. 17
Colorado Rubber Hockey Magazine