Richard Bercuson

Host of Grassroots minor hockey podcast-Editor Brooklin Town Crier-Freelance writer/editor-novelist - North Durham Minor Hockey Coaching Director

[Richard Bercuson @berky544]

Whitby’s Rahim Karmali is overhauling its coach dev program. Listen to Grassroots minor hockey podcast episode 125 to hear what he’s doing. Great initiatives.

[Richard Bercuson @berky544]

Grassroots minor hockey podcast episode 124: Are SAGs/SSGs misunderstood and misused? Host Richard Bercuson discusses with Dean Holden and Brian Gillam.

[Richard Bercuson @berky544]

Grassroots episode 123: A poditorial on Canada’s world junior bronze. 5 topics that help explain why and what’s needed. https://t.co/VqxCV47P4L

[Richard Bercuson @berky544]

How important is developing decision-making for kids in minor hockey? Episode 122 of the Grassroots minor hockey podcast looks at DMIQ: Decision making IQ and how to develop it.

[Richard Bercuson @berky544]

Grassroots episode 121 is about TOP sports which aims to reinvent how minor sports is supposed to work. It uses invasion sports hockey, soccer and lacrosse in seasons designed to allow kids to accentuate physical literacy using mostly a CLA approach.

[Richard Bercuson @berky544]

Grassroots the minor hockey podcast episode 120: the proliferation of non-sanctioned hockey in Alberta. With Dallas Ansell whose PhD dissertation was on that topic.

[Richard Bercuson @berky544]

@HockeyThinkTank Topher, I'm host of Grassroots the minor hockey show podcast. I'd like to get you on. Please email: [email protected]

[Richard Bercuson @berky544]

@chasmahoney Yup. My u11 boys last year had that as part of their pregame warmup. Also did it every practice. There wasn’t a come on the ice all season.

[Richard Bercuson @berky544]

@kestrelpsych It’s very much a unicorn in Canadian hockey. Governing bodies exhibit no interest and perhaps no expertise. Only the very rare youth (minor) coach is even superficially aware. No one to show them. Sad.

[Richard Bercuson @berky544]

Grassroots podcast is back for season 6. Episode 119 with Brian Gillam. Outstanding commentary about why coaches might choose one approach over another - or not.

[Richard Bercuson @berky544]

…3 Has HC become a moribund entity?

[Richard Bercuson @berky544]

…2. World wide hockey people gathering and sharing findings and info. But - but! - no one from Hockey Canada nor any branch aside from HQ’s TD Leblond and HEO’s Brian Gillam. Pretty embarrassing when US, Swedes, Finns, IIHF and others all had strong presence…3

[Richard Bercuson @berky544]

Grassroots minor hockey podcast episode 114 now online. 1st of 5 episodes. Talks with international researchers from recent hockey research conference in Quebec City. Exceptional 3-day inside view of the newest research in the game…2

[Richard Bercuson @berky544]

Now on Grassroots the minor hockey podcast episode 114: Jim Haverstrom talks about his CLA and EcoD approach as a coach and USA coach developer. As he says, “Once you see it, you can’t unsee it.”

[Richard Bercuson @berky544]

Grassroots minor hockey podcast episode 112: Why you need a coach development person. Dean and I delve into why it's necessary for all minor hockey associations, what this person's role should be and how to go about it.

[Richard Bercuson @berky544]

Grassroots the minor hockey show podcast: Episode 111: Teaching skills using ecological dynamics. Brian Gillam discusses what he does, how, and why as a “skills instructor” but a radically different one from the toys and pylons people who are everywhere. Great approach!

[Richard Bercuson @berky544]

@mike_kenny3 …2 they’ve improved immensely. No pylons or whiteboard or static drills or skating circles. Kids love the practices. Always moving, always playing. Even the puck protection exercise the other day was competitive.

[Richard Bercuson @berky544]

@mike_kenny3 Yours and the other comments are bang on and so important. I’m working with a group 10 yr olds from a house league org. We do no skill drills. Everything is contextual re competitive situations: 1v1, 2v2, 3v3 in various ways. Principles of puck possession, pursuit and helping…2

[Richard Bercuson @berky544]

@BSlugocki You’ve been beaten to the punch by us Canucks. A company called Mastrius in Calgary is on the verge of launching a mentorship program much like you describe. A bunch of very experienced people are involved. https://t.co/x7OHJpgVMs

[Richard Bercuson @berky544]

A question for anyone coaching kids volleyball, ages 10-13 approx. How many coaches stand at the sidelines and give instruction and feedback to kids throughout matches? Do you consider it helpful or not? Why? Please define over-coaching.