WWFHA ASSISTS

Washington Wild Email Newsletter:
April 5, 2017

WASHINGTON WILD NEWS

Nominate or Apply for 2016 Mikayla Anderson Leadership Award

Named after Mikayla Anderson, Washington Wild member for 5 years and Alumna (2016) who captained the 19U Rep AA team, the Wild Leadership award will be given annually to the Washington Wild graduating player who exemplifies Mikayla’s character and leadership on the ice, in the classroom, and in the community.
 
To be eligible, players must be:
(1) currently registered in WWFHA; and
(2) graduating from the program to attend college or pursue a career in the following year.
 
Qualifications include excelling in:
(1) Academic achievement
(2) Good school participation and service
(3) Good community participation and service
(4) Hockey participation and leadership
 
WWFHA members may nominate a qualified student-athlete (nominated athlete will then need to apply), or a player may apply herself. This season’s deadline is April 30^th (if nominating, please allow enough time for the player to apply).
 

Sports Psychology Tip: Is it perfection, afraid to fail, or afraid to prevail?

May athletes feel the need to be perfect, afraid to show their weaknesses, or fear being too successful and keeping up with that expectation. Have you ever wondered why your athlete (or yourself) does well during training sessions, and either blends in or bombs during their game?  Many people (especially parents) ask why?
 
As usual there is no easy answer. However, the majority of athletes I have worked with have told me when they are at practice or training, they are relaxed, no pressure, and have fun.  While during games, these same athletes that shine during training, face challenges during their games.

For example, one baseball pitcher told me he could throw a 90 mph pitch during practice, yet during a game his speed averaged 80 mph.  He also said he knew how to adjust his pitches during practices and training, yet had a hard time during games. Another athlete that is an ice hockey goalie said she could 'shut them down' (average percentage was 92%) during practice or pond hockey, however, during games, her average percentage was 78%. A high school track athlete said he could run the 1200 in 4:52 during practice, however, at meets he could not break 6 minutes. A hockey player was trying out for an elite team, and during tryouts he blended in with everyone else (82 others); while during practices, and scrimmage games he stood out with his quick skating, and puck handling. Yet, he under-performed at the tryouts and was cut first round. 

While these above averages are good for athletes, the question is why did their performance decrease during their game, meet, or tryouts?  How did they perform at optimum level during practices and not have this follow into their games?  Will they be able to perform like this during a game or tryouts when they feel under pressure?  
 
There is a lot of research that suggests some athletes feel the pressure, and the mind and body have a disconnect. Think about it, and we most likely have all been there. Think back when you studied hard for an exam, test, rehearsal, etc. and felt prepared. The big day comes, and you barely remember your name and ultimately fail your exam or do not make the play. What happened?  FEAR is what happened. Majority of us are not aware that FEAR crept in and stole our confidence resulting in failure. 

New Photos of Last Beginner Class

On Sunday, Beginner Hockey 1 and Hockey 2 class came to an end with 47 players completing the session. 
 
New and exciting photos by Eric Badeau are posted in the Beginner Team page.

Last Call for New Beginner Session!

The next beginner session begins April 16^th and runs for 10 weeks until June 25^th. The class is near capacity, so please register ASAP if you plan to attend.
 
Students will receive a purple Washington Wild hockey jerseys and socks, and learn the basics of the game.

Photos will be taken at the second session on Sunday April 23^rd.
 

2017-18 Tryouts for 19U, 14U and 12U AA Teams – Mark Your Calendar

Tryouts for 19U, 14U, and 12U Rep AA teams will be the first weekend of August at Highland Ice Arena. All players interested in playing for a Washington Wild Rep AA team in these age groups and levels should attend.

 
Saturday Aug. 5 – Large Ice
1:30pm – 2:30pm: 19U AA
2:45pm – 3:45pm: 14U AA
4:00pm – 5:00pm: 12U AA
 
Sunday Aug. 6 – Small Ice
10:15am – 11:15am: 14U AA
11:30am – 12:30pm: 19U AA
12:45pm – 1:45pm: 12U AA
 
Players selected for Rep AA teams will practice starting Aug. 12th each weekend at the same time slots and ice sheets throughout the month of August.
 
Registration for Tryouts will open later this Spring.
 

2017-18 Evaluation Skate for League & Travel Teams – Mark Your Calendar

All players interested in playing for a Western Washington Female Hockey League (WWFHL), and subsequent Travel Teams, should attend the evaluation skate. Mark your calendars for the last Saturday of August at Highland Ice Arena.
 
Saturday Aug. 26 – Large Ice
1:30pm – 2:30pm: 10U
2:45pm – 3:45pm: 8U
4:00pm – 5:00pm: 12U/14U
 
Players will be placed on balanced teams for league play. Those interested in playing on a age-specific, tiered Travel team selected by skill levels will also be evaluated. Travel teams will play local exhibition games against boys’ teams, female teams, and tournaments.
 
Registration for Tryouts will open later this Spring. 
 

Coaches Applications Accepted

Coaching applications welcome for the 2017 - 2018 season.

We are looking for coaches with strong character, excellent background in coaching, and a desire to mentor and teach the the Washington Wild student-athletes

Please take a moment to fill out the application prior to meeting the Coaching Director for an interview.
 

2017 Annual General Meeting - Mark Your Calendar

WWFHA invites all current members (all parents and guardians of 2016 - 2017 registered Wild players) to our Annual General Meeting.

Date/Location: May 20^th at 4:00pm at Highland.
 
We will present a brief re-cap of this season, a summary of plans for the coming season, hold voting for board members, and host a question and answer session.

Spring/Summer Female Hockey League - Sundays!

Interested in keeping the rust of your skates this summer and enjoying some friendly, local competition? This league will consist of three to five teams (roster spots may be shared), one ref per game, for players age 14 - 65 with skill level from beginner to college players.

Day: Sundays
Dates: May 14 – August 13 (we skip Memorial Day weekend and July 4th weekend)
Time: 4:30pm or 9:30pm
Locations: Highland, Olympicview of Lynnwood.

Fee: $250-350. The first payment is $250. The amount of the final payment will be determined after the exact number of participants is present. If you want to play, or want more details, email

Wild 3v3 & Skill Sessions - Tuesdays
New Ice Slot for 11-14 Year Old Players!

Every Tuesday between April 25 and July 25, players come together for a great mix of scrimmages and skills.
 
Players will experience:
- 3v3 scrimmages - fast paced, creative hockey in small spaces
- Age-specific skills
- Tons of fun and hockey development
- Great preparation for hockey in the Fall

• Time/Ages: 6:30pm – 7:30pm (7-10 year olds)
• Time/Ages: 7:45pm – 8:45pm (11 – 14 year olds) - NEW!!
• Dates: April 25, May 2, May 9, May 16, May 23, June 6, June 13, June 20, June 27, July 11, July 18, July 25 (not held on May 30 or July 4)
• Location: Highland Small Ice
• Time/Ages: : 6:30pm – 7:30pm (7 – 10 year old)
• Time/Ages: 7:45pm – 8:45pm (11 – 14 year old)
• Cost: $14 per session or $168 for 12 sessions (must register online and pre-pay)
• Registration:  Click here to register

All Hockey Elite Spring/Summer Camp - Saturdays

NOTE: All Hockey Academy, owned and operated by several top coaches from the area, is a separate entity from WWFHA. While WWFHA supports the program, All Hockey Academy is an independently owned and operated business that offers camps and tournament teams -- including a team attending the Beantown Classic and other tournaments.
 
All Hockey Academy offers programs for 7-10, 11-14, and 15 and over age groups for elite players and those who desire to reach the next level by the beginning of the 2017-18 season.
 
Each age group will train on the large ice at Highland with some of the best coaches in the area and engage in off-ice stick-handling and a separate off-ice conditioning session. Shaun Miller leads a team of excellent coaches for this camp May - July.
 
Coaches may select players to travel to age-specific tournaments through the camp tenure.
 
Cost: $980 for 11 sessions
 

Expert Edge

Praise vs. Affirmation 
Stephen Rollnick is a pioneer in motivational interviewing and in recent years has been applying his knowledge to sport. In this article, Stephen offers a psychology perspective on the key differences between praise and affirmation with young athletes.
In my work as a psychologist and trainer in and around the medical and counselling fields, I notice quite a difference between praise and affirmation. Then more recently, when I started working in sport, I noticed the widespread use of praise, not just to acknowledge success, which seems natural enough, but as a motivational strategy or “sweetener” that presumably improves outcomes. Does it? I wasn’t so sure. Then I read James’ Vaughan’s article on how praise, and its withdrawal, affected his self-esteem and well-being as a young person, and undermined his creativity on the field. So I wondered about whether the use of affirmation in sport might have value. See what you think.

Ask WWFHA

Q: What do college coaches really look for in potential recruits?

A: The answer might surprise you. The higher up the ladder you go in sports, the more you will find that there are always plenty of skilled, talented players competing for limited spots.
 
Recently there was a press conference interview with University of Connecticut women's basketball head coach Geno Auriemma making the rounds on social media. The 11-time NCAA Division I women's basketball national champion (and seven-time Coach of the Year) talked about what he and his coaching staff look for in athletes that supersedes talent and stands as the absolute bedrock attributes required to win championships in team sports. While Auriemma is a basketball coach, the same holds true in our sport: Character counts, and it’s not just a cliché for programs that are successful.
 

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