Special Hockey

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Special Hockey

• USA Hockey Coaching Education Program for
  Disabled Hockey

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Disabled Hockey

• USA Hockeys Disabled Section sanctions 4
  distinct
• disciplines
• Sled Hockey
• Amputee Hockey
• Deaf/Hard of Hearing Hockey
• Special Hockey

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Developmental Disabilities

• Affects 4.5 million Americans (1.65 of U.S.
  population)
• Severe, life-long ailments attributable to mental
  and/or physical impairments, manifested before
  age 22
• Substantial limitations in 3 or more
• these areas of major life core
• competencies
• Capacity for independent living
• Economic self-sufficiency
• Learning
• Mobility
• Receptive expressive language
• Self-care/direction

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What Are DDs?

• The most common
• Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Down Syndrome
• Neurological Disorders
• (i.e. Tourettes Syndrome)
• Mental Retardation
• Cerebral Palsy
• ADD/ADHD

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Coaching Autistic Players
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Definition

• Autism is a complex developmental disorder that
  appears in the first 3 years of life, although it
  is sometimes diagnosed much later. It affects the
  brain's normal development of social and
  communication skills. Common features of autism
  include impaired social interactions, impaired
  verbal and nonverbal communication, problems
  processing information from the senses, and
  restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior.
  The symptoms
• may vary from moderate to severe. Two related,
• milder conditions are Asperger syndrome and
• "pervasive development disorder not otherwise
• specified" (PDD-NOS).

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Facts

• 1 in 150 U.S. children are Autistic
• 1 in 94 in New Jersey!!!!
• Affects boys 3-4 times more often
• More than 80 are under 21
• The number of those aged 6-21
• receiving services for Autism
• increased from 22,664 to 193,637 (1994-2005)
• Autism is the fastest growing developmental
  disability
• Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Study Feb.
  2007
• Autism Speaks
• Autism Society of America

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American Special Hockey Association (ASHA)

• More than 70 ASHA teams and counting
• Mission
• To give those with physical and developmental
  disabilities the chance to play hockey in an
  environment that is completely adapted to the
  level of ability which the athletes are able to
  participate.

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What We Do

• ASHA emphasizes the development of
• desirable individual
• characteristics such as
• Dependability
• Self-reliance
• Ability to concentrate
• Willingness to share
• Personal accountability

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Whats So Special?

• Neuro-Typical vs. Special Hockey
• 3 Major Differences
• Age (5-Adult)
• Degree of disability
• Skill level/physical limitations

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What it Looks Like

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Six Words

• Earnest Hemingway once bet a man in a bar that he
  could write a story in six words
• For Sale, baby Shoes. Never Used.

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Six Words

• Born knowing nothing. Know less now.
• "We're restrained by our own perception."
• "Keep on asking lots of questions.
• Failed SAT. Lost scholarship. Invented rocket.
• --William Shatner
• Wake up. Do good stuff. Sleep.

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How Do We Do It?

• We make
• it work.
• Our own
• way

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Games

• No off-sides or icing
• Penalties enforced (penalty shot TBD)
• 1-2 floaters allowed on ice/team
• 2-minute shifts
• Opposing coaches work
• together

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Adaptive Skill Practices

• What coaches are doing around ASHA

Commonalities ice ? player/coach ratio Skill
stations Game situations Free time Fun
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Communication Instruction

• Use clear, simple language speak slowly
• Ask parent if there are key phrases
• Demonstrate whenever possible (coaches)
• Repetition is key (routine is soothing)
• Visual aids can make huge impact (spray paint)
• Be aware of each childs learning preference
• Tone of voice or noise in the environment
• Physical proximity

NJ COSAC
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Comprehension

• THEY MAY
• Appear not to listen
• Confuse direction
• Fail to follow instructions

• YOU COULD
• Touch on shoulder, make eye contact understand?
• Go to top of circle vs. Come stand right
  here
• Have them repeat

Laurie Kennedy Special Hockey Coaching Guide
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Humor, Sarcasm Figurative Speech

• Literal interpretation
• Lend me a hand.
• Lets hit the ice.
• Whats up?
• Stick down.
• Eyes Up.
• That blue lines high today

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Rules Expectations

• Expect what you expect from children WITHOUT
  disabilities
• If players break the rules, issue a penalty like
  everybody else
• Game rules sportsmanship can be learned if
  coaches provide consistent messages
• Recognize good performance
• When do you need to have modified expectations?

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Safety

• Hidden dangers of the locker room, practice/game
  environment (helmet rule)
• Starts with listening to parents
• Time of day can be a factor (medication)
• Physical environment can present unexpected
  hazards

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Measuring Success
What does success look like? Neuro-Typical Hockey
vs. Special Hockey

?
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Are You Successful?

• Have you changed behavior in a positive way?

• NON-VERBAL
• Pursuing the puck
• Grasp of game concept

• HIGH FUNCTIONING
• Mastering puck handling
• Grasp of team concept

• LIFE
• Mainstream school/team
• Social maturity
• Employment

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Being A Youth Hockey Mentor

• Why bother?
• Youth Hockey Player
• Challenging/rewarding college prep
• career choice planning

Youth Hockey Organization Builds character
community relations sets an example (i.e.
parents, other hockey orgs, Atlantic District)
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Coach or Couch? That is the Question
Play Nick News Video
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50 Hockey Things to Do Before You Die

• USA Hockey Magazine published a list in Sept. 2007

• No. 33
• Coach a special hockey team.

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Growth
Area Teams Hackensack, NJ West Orange,
NJ Woodbridge, NJ Aston, PA Bucks County, PA Long
Island, NY Westchester, NY Albany, NY Bridgeport,
CT
Goal Reach 100 ASHA programs by 2010
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Baltimore/ Washington Growth
Area Teams Laurel, MD Washington Ice
Dogs Baltimore Saints Reistertown,
MD Montgomery Cheetahs Rockville, MD NOVA Cool
Cats Arlington, VA
Goal Reach 100 ASHA programs by 2010
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Awareness
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Questions?
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To Learn More

• www.usahockey.com
• www.americanspecialhockey.org
• Jon Schwartz
• Head Coach, NJ Daredevils
• Executive Vice President, ASHA
• 201.312.8390
• jonschwartz3p_at_yahoo.com

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To Learn More

• www.novacoolcats.org
• www.usahockey.com
• www.americanspecialhockey.org
• NOVA Cool Cats Special Hockey, Inc.
• Contacts
• Randy Brawley / madref_at_verizon.net
• Bob Banach / novacoolcats_at_aol.comWally Reed /
  WERCAP_at_aol.com