Friday, January 27, 2017

The Next Ice Hockey Recruiting Camps

By Elizabeth Howard


Talent is meaningless unless it is exposed and allowed to manifest in a practical environment. Ice hockey recruiting camps offer a perfect moment for aspiring professional players to be discovered and enlisted in NCAA. The camps bring together coaches in search of different skills to boost their teams for the next season. The camps provide the exposure that propelled most successful players in the league to their current positions.

Either at the camp or during other opportunities, the need to be noticed cannot be over emphasized. What should you do to catch the eye of a coach or scout who will change your life forever? Being proactive is the most effective way. Coaches do not have the capacity to reach every potential and good player. Send a reminder to the school, team or coach to let them know that you are interested in joining their team. Expound on your skills and achievements as much as possible.

Though your skills will be required in the field, academic performance gives you a perfect edge over other players with similar talent. The number of schools offering Division 1 Men hockey are very few. Your chances double if your grades are impressive. When faced with a dilemma between two equally skilled players, coaches always go for top academic performers.

Be conversant with eligibility requirements. There are two important elements for any player seeking a position in NCAA. Your academics must be impressive. Without good grades, your chances are greatly diminished. The other requirement is your amateur status. This means that you have to take certain classes and standardization tests. Be proactive in taking these tests. This will give you an incredible head-start during recruitment.

Your character as a player matters a lot. Coaches face touch choices where two players tie in terms of skills. The coach is forced to look beyond your skills into the contribution you make to the team and game. This is what defines character. Some of the desirable traits include your response during a bad call or terrible shift and your team spirit. The best idea is to watch each of your moves whether you are in the presence of a scout or not. Scouts are usually disguised but take note of special skills and contribution.

Work diligently on your skills. While it is normal to enter as many exposure events as possible, do not tire attending so many yet producing the same results. Coaches favor players who show improvement. This is an indication of awareness of your capability and the desire to produce better results. A coach watching you a second or third time should be more impressed than the previous game.

Create networks with hockey facilities and coaches to gain exposure. Your skills will never be known unless they are displayed in the eyes of the right person. Visit camps when there are no events to enable you interact with coaches and the management. Let the clubs or scouts know of your existence and showcase your capability at a time when they are under no pressure to recruit. The informal sessions give you more interactive time and increase your chances of being picked.

There is a lot of competition in hockey recruitment. The best talent is likely to be missed if not properly exposed. Being inquisitive and having supportive parents or teachers will also make a huge difference. Be patient with the recruitment process. Do not exhaust yourself trying to showcase your skills. Develop a strategy to avoid burnout.




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