how to run a beginner underwater hockey clinic

I often am asked by local schools to run underwater hockey clinic's for the school kids.
Im never sure what to teach first and how to structure the sessions to get the kids into it. This is how I started hockey so I would love to make the most of the opertunity to get younger kids into it.
Any segestions on how to structure the sessions?
Belle

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Underwater Hockey Rules!

it can be a good idea to start with a recap of snorkeling skills, and you can assess whether they have a handle on duck and frogdiving and sitting on the bottom etc. if they need it, do a couple of exercises for those things. then get the pushing pucks round in relays, then trying to pass the puck, then split up into some teams and let them let rip.

I do not have much time. But this is one off the jobs in my function off consultant underwaterhockey in the netherlands. Tommorow i must go with my junior team to a competition game. I tell more how i do that next monday.(16-4-2007)

To give a Onderwaterhockey clinick.
(very short version)

How that to do. I read here that one tell’s that you must firstly get lesson during those clinick to snorkel. That is possible iff you have more then enough time. Generally I state simply in avance that there must be a minimum snorkel skill at the participants present. As a result, you can start right with the onderwaterhockey clinick. Yes, there will be always participants who have charge/problems with their equipment. For that I take along if possible an extra person.

Take Care that you have with you, if not present.
1. sticks
2.gloves (left and Right!)
3 pucks
4. presently publicity for the people that want to now more

What at first to do?
To start right do not send the participants in water.
But first explain quiet on the side what is a stick, somewhat history and results of your own country, and in short what behaviour rules in the water such as:
1.Keep off each other's equipment.
2.Play the Puck only with the stick
3.NEVER throw the puck.

Here after you can do what basis techniques in the pool such as to swim with the puck to practise. after that What simple slalom techniques. Do not try for a first time to much things/techniques. Most important is them let make knowledge with the sport.And to have fun. It is however always most important to play with the group the game underwaterhockey.

do not participate in the game, let the others play participate only as a LEADER/REFERY to checks everything.

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Thank u heaps very good!
Belle

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Underwater Hockey Rules!

I've always found that getting them involved asap is the first step to running a junior coaching clinic. Normally a junior's attention span isn't that great so you don't want to spend too long explaining too much.

I've found a good way to start things is by showing them how to swim with the puck and then split them into a couple of teams and let them have a relay race against each other over a short distance.

Once they're bored with this, or have the hang of it, introduce a flick into the relay, or add some extra puck for them to swim around "slalom-like" or out and around a puck and back.

Once they've done that a couple fo times get a games happening. We've actually tried to make it a bit different for the juniors by having sticks a different colour than black and white, such as fluoro yellow and green or red. Seems to hold their attention a bit longer!

Other than that - Good Luck!

I've had a fair bit of experience running coaching clinics for young girls at a high school age. The majority of them have never heard of underwater hockey. The make-up of the groups (an average class size of about 25) are normally 20% not confident at swimming, 60% confident at swimming, but not at snorkelling/underwater work, 20% confident swimmers/confident snorkellers.

Initially I pass around a puck, stick and glove - it always gets a good reaction - and briefly explain the sport, i.e. 6 players in the water for each team, basic rules, etc... I've always found that its good to have sets of gear laid out and ready for the students as it can eat away a whole heap of the class time if you're not organised. At this point it is great to get the help of the class teacher. You can also expect a couple of girls to have conveniently "forgotten" their bathers.

Once the gear is on, jump in and go through basic snorkelling techniques (its amazing that some people are convinced that wearing a snorkel means you can breathe underwater!). This will also include how to duck dive and pull down. Let the kids muck around for about 5-10 minutes with the snorkelling aspect, and then introduce them to the stick.

Just a tip - give the teacher on the side of the pool a whistle which they can blow when you indicate to them you need the student's attention - there's no need to lose you voice!

Most importantly is to show the students how to correctly hold the stick, I always say it should be like you're giving the thumbs up witht the hook pointing towads your thumb. At this stage its ideal to run them through a few basic relays of swimming the puck - nothing fancy. After 5 minutes of this, show them how to spin the puck on the front of the bat - explain to them that this is how you start to learn how to flick the puck/pass. With those two basic skills under their belts its enough to start a game. At this age its important to keep them stimulated and interested so at this stage a game will do the trick!

A lesson in this format would probably take about 1hr, you may be able to squeeze it into 45 minutes if you luck out with a class of angels though.

Also make sure that you take along with you any promotional information, such as where they can get a game should they wish to have another go! If you're a natinoal rep it also helps impress if you tell the students how you got into the sprt, what you have done and wear your national uniform... maybe even take a World Championship gold medal with you too!

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