Let’s face it - there’s no money in girls’ hockey. No one is going to be signing million dollar, multi-year contracts to play professional women’s hockey any time soon.  A few women are able to make a living by playing hockey,  but I would say that number is well under 50 world-wide.  

I would love to be able to tell you that this will be a realistic goal for aspiring young girls’ sooner than later, but the reality is that women’s hockey is neither marketable enough or competitive enough at its highest levels right now to make this dream a reality anytime in the near future. AND to be honest with you,  I don’t think that is a BAD thing at all.  

Sure, we’d love to have equality to the men’s game and be able to play all over North America and support ourselves and our family playing the game we love, but we need to be realistic.

For the majority of girls’ hockey players, their competitive playing days are done after high school.  A smaller subset of the population will continue to play in college and university.  And an even smaller number will have the opportunity to tryout for and represent their country on the international stage.  

So all that being said, what’s a realistic goal for an aspiring girls’ hockey player who is willing to put in the time and effort needed to get to the next level?

:::::  To leverage their athletic ability to get a better academic opportunity.  :::::

The truth of the matter is, we are going to make our living for what we do away from the rink and not from what we do on it.  It is your education that is going to get you where you want to be in life, not your ability to shoot a slap-shot.  That being said though, I know of many players who were able to use their athletic ability, in combination with their academic prowess, to get the chance to study at some of the best universities in the world - myself included.  

Although I was a very strong student in high school, I would not have been able to get into an Ivy League school based solely on my academic ability.  However,  because of my hockey ability, I was recruited by most of the Ivy League schools and was able to make the choice to study at one of the best academic institutions in the world, while also playing the sport I loved.    

The best we can do as female hockey players is to leverage our athletic ability to get a better academic opportunity.  And I think this is much more realistic than the legions of male hockey players who are chasing the NHL dream and sometimes sacrificing their academics in order to do so.

::: So the best advice I can give you is to work as hard in the classroom as you do on the ice - if not harder. :::

So as you go through spring tryouts, summer hockey, regional team tryouts and showcase tournaments, and things seem to get that much more cut-throat and intense, remember that no one is getting drafted here.  You will graduate high school and hopefully go on to college or university.  If you work very hard, you’ll get the opportunity to study and play hockey at the same time.  And when your hockey is done, it’s your education that will count the most.

Keep Working Hard and Dreaming BIG - on the ice and in the classroom.

~ Coach Kim

 

PS -  OUR 2011 SUMMER CAMP SCHEDULE IS COMPLETE!

We’ve finalized the details of all our Summer Camps.  We start up with camps throughout May and run all the way through to the end of August.  We’ve got camps for every age and ability level -  check out the link below for all details!

http://totalfemalehockeyclub.com/camps-schools/

Kim McCullough, MSc, YCS
Director, Total Female Hockey
Girls’ Hockey Director, PEAC School For Elite Athletes

The next few weeks of hockey are pretty hectic here in Ontario.  The provincial championships are this weekend, the biggest girls hockey tournament in the world is next weekend and then tryouts for next year’s teams start the next day.  It’s a stressful time for players, parents and coaches alike. So this is a message for all the players who are nervous and excited about the tryouts.  With big games and critical tryouts just around the corner, there is one thing you need more than anything else and that’s…

==>  CONFIDENCE

You aren’t going to drastically change your skills between now and tryouts.  But you can dramatically improve your confidence in a short period of time.   Confidence comes from inside you - not from your parents, coaches, teammates or friends.  You have complete control over it.  So to help to get you ready for the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead in the next few weeks…

… Here are 8 of my favorite quotes about CONFIDENCE.

::  Confidence is preparation.  Everything else is beyond your control.

::  Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent.

(Meaning:  There is NO reason anything anyone says or does has to make you feel bad about yourself. You choose the way you interpret what happens to you.)

::  It’s not who you are that holds you back, it’s who you think you’re not.  

::  We have to learn to be our own best friends because we fall too easily into the trap of being our own worst enemies.

::  The way you treat yourself sets the standard for others.

(Meaning:  If you put yourself down or think you aren’t good enough, you are opening the door for others to treat you the same way).  

::  Nothing reduces the odds against you like ignoring them.

::  Whether you think you can or think you can’t - you are right.

::  Don’t let anyone steal your dream.  It’s your dream, not theirs.

I hope that one of the quotes above really speaks to you and helps you to get ready for the challenges ahead.  Remember to stay focused on the 2 things you’ve got control over - your attitude and your work ethic.
 
 
Work Hard and Dream BIG.

Good luck!

Your friend and coach,

Kim

PS - ANNOUNCING 3 MORE CAMPS - COMING IN MAY!!!

This past weekend, we ran our first-ever Total Female Hockey POSITION-SPECIFIC clinic for forwards and defensemen.  Over 60 players participated in the 2 hour on-ice camp and learned the secrets of how to play their position more effectively.   The clinic was such a success that we will be running 3 more in May.

The dates are Sunday May 1st, Sunday May 15th and Sunday May 29th. All clinics will be at Chesswood Arena in Toronto and we will have an  Atom/Peewee age group and a Bantam/Midget age group at each clinic.

There are critical position-specific skills that you must learn and master in order to get to and excel at the next level. This is your chance to work on  those specific skills. 

We can only accept 15 defenseman and 15 forwards into each age group for the camp, so you’ll have to take action quickly to secure your spot today.

Click on the link below for more information:

http://totalfemalehockeyclub.com/camps-schools/position_specific_camps/

Kim McCullough, MSc, YCS
Director, Total Female Hockey
Girls Hockey Director, PEAC School For Elite Athletes

I’m sure you’ve heard this before. That in order for you to achieve a level of "mastery" in anything,
you need to spend 10,000 hours practicing and perfecting your craft.

10,000 hours is A LOT of time, especially when you consider that most girls’ hockey teams are only on the ice for an average of 6-7 hours a week.

Reaching 10,000 hours requires a MASSIVE commitment.  I guarantee you that the women who were playing for Canada and the US in the Olympics a few months ago have put in far more than 10,000 hours.  Most elite women’s college hockey players will be close to that target within their first few years playing at that level - and many of them may have hit it already.

I’m not telling you this to scare you. I’m telling you this to inspire you. Because IT IS POSSIBLE. 

:::: So How Are You Going To Reach That 10,000 Hour Target??? ::::

I’ll show you exactly how to make it happen in this 5 minute video clip.

Click on the link below to watch the “10,000 Hour Rule Video”:

http://totalfemalehockeyclub.com/video-sample/10000-hour-rule/
 

Enjoy!

Choose excellence.  Exceed expectations.  Work Hard & Dream BIG.
 

Your friend and coach,

Kim

Kim McCullough, MSc, YCS
Director, Total Female Hockey
Girls Hockey Director, PEAC School For Elite Athletes
 

PS - Getting to 10,000 hours isn’t as scary as it may seem. It is possible - if you think beyond ice time.

Click on the video link below to see how:

http://totalfemalehockeyclub.com/video-sample/10000-hour-rule/
 

In last week’s newsletter to you, I talked about how you are the one who has complete control over your success when it comes to reaching your ultimate goals in hockey, school and life.  Your coaches can teach you all the skills, your teachers can give you all the knowledge and your parents can give you all the support you want…
 

… But YOU are the one who has to walk through the door.

Now, I want to take this idea one step further.

Not only do you have to do the work, you have to truly BELIEVE that you can and will reach your ultimate goals. Your parents can believe in your ability to realize your dreams… So can your teachers, coaches, teammates and friends…

But at the end of the day, the person who has to believe in you most is… YOU.

I am not saying that in order to succeed, you need to have 100% belief in your ability at all times.  Let’s face it, there will be times when you aren’t playing your best and believing that you will reach your big goals seems impossible. We’ve all been through periods of the season where we can’t score a goal as a forward, can’t stop a beachball in net or are getting spun around like a top on 1-on-1s as a defenseman.  We’ve all been there - and we’ll all get there again many times in our hockey careers.

Believing in yourself is easy when you are playing your best. Then it’s easy to have confidence that you’ll reach your goal.

But what about when you hit those bumps in the road? What is going to get you through those tough times?

You must have a plan to deal with the fact that your path to the next level isn’t going to smooth or easy.  It is going to be a hard, bumpy road. What is going to drive you forward when all you seem to be doing is taking steps back?

:::::  Your "WHY" :::::
 

At the Goal Setting & Goal Getting Workshop I ran at the Total Female Hockey Experience Camp this past weekend in Toronto, I asked all of the players to spend one minute writing down answers to these 2 questions…

 1. Why do you like playing hockey?
 

2.  Why do you want to play at the next level (college hockey & national team)?
 

I’d like you to spend the next few minutes writing down your answers to these questions.  Don’t think too much - just write down whatever  comes to mind.  There are no right or wrong answers.  Everyone plays hockey and pursues playing at the next level for different reasons and those reasons are right for them. These are critical questions to answer as we go into the new season.  WHY are you spending all of this time, energy, and money playing hockey?
 

::: You need to know your "WHY".

Your WHY explains your passion for the game and for getting better. It’s your WHY that is going to keep you driving forward when things  aren’t always going your way. When you think about WHY you play hockey and why you are pursuing your dream of playing at the next level, you should get excited. Just thinking about it should light a fire inside you. Having a tremendous passion for what you love to do is an extremely personal and emotional thing. 

So before the season gets into full swing and you are busy, busy, busy, take a few minutes to answer those 2 questions.  And when you hit a bump in the road (as we all will) make sure to go back to your "WHY" to help you get through the challenges that lay ahead.

Keep Working Hard, Dreaming BIG and Taking Action.

Your friend and coach,

Kim

Kim McCullough, MSc, YCS
CEO, Total Female Hockey
Girls Hockey Director, PEAC School For Elite Athletes
For more information about PEAC, visit: http://totalfemalehockeyclub.com/peac/
 

Back when I was working as a personal trainer, I had a client who used to tell me that she liked training with me because I was really tough, but I definitely wasn’t "nice".

She meant it in the nicest possible way of course and she is right. I am definitely not a "cheerleader" when it comes to coaching.
I have very high expectations of all the athletes I work with and I don’t just hand out "Good Jobs" and compliments easily.  And the truth is that in the 10+ years that I’ve been training and coaching, I’ve found that it’s the players who don’t need constant feedback, encouragement and "hand-holding" who make it the furthest. 

Don’t get me wrong - there are times when you need to be a little softer and kinder with your players as a coach, but the players who aspire to play at the next level want to be - and need to be - pushed and pushed hard. And sometimes that means a little "tough love". 

If you asked my players at the PEAC School about my coaching style, they would most likely say that I am extremely passionate about helping them succeed and have incredibly high expectations of myself and them.  They would say that I run a very "tight ship", but I also have a lot of FUN.   That’s the main reason I coach, and hopefully, it’s also why my players play.

BUT, if they don’t bring the level of commitment, passion, desire, dedication, focus and effort that it takes to get to the next level to the rink, gym and classroom every day, they will see a "harder" side of me as a coach.

I rarely scream and yell - but when I do, they know they’re in for it.  My expectations of them are very clear from the very first day and they know that I won’t tolerate less than the best effort that they can give on that day.

Because that’s what it takes to get to the next level.

You can’t take a day off from moving towards your dream.  That doesn’t mean that every day is filled with blood, sweat and tears…
….it means that you always have your eye on the prize, and no one or nothing is going to keep you from achieving your ultimate goal.

My players know that I’ve been in their shoes.  I was a teenage girl who desperately wanted to play college hockey and was willing to do whatever it took to get there. I had my fair share of serious injuries, major setbacks, and big frustrations when I didn’t make the team I wanted to make.   I wanted to be the best athlete and student possible, and I also wanted to have a social life.  I was constantly on the go, trying to squeeze in all the homework and time with friends that I could between practices and games. Just like them, I wanted it all and I put so much time and energy into making it happen that my focus might have bordered on obsession at times.  I really had no idea how I was going to get to my final goal - but there was no doubt in anyone’s mind that I had  the desire and dedication it took to make my dreams a reality.

The reality is that I can give my players all the information I was missing and inspiration they need to get to the next level - but that’s still not enough to guarantee they’ll succeed.

The kids I coach at PEAC train on and off the ice with me from September to June. That comes out to 138 practice and training sessions a season - and that’s over and above what they are doing with their club teams.  (Don’t worry - I make sure to manage their energy and time demands - which is a critical skill to learn as an elite athlete).  They also get all the nutrition, mental and college hockey information that I’ve created as part of Total Female Hockey.  In fact, I always joke that going to PEAC is like having Total Female Hockey on steroids.  But even though they have this incredible opportunity to improve every single day and access to all the resources they need to reach their goals - it’s not enough.

They need to couple this unique opportunity with an uncommon drive to succeed.
 

Your coaches can teach you all the skills, your teachers can give you all the knowledge and your parents can give you all the support you want…

But YOU are the one who has to walk through the door.

You are the one who has to take consistent and constant action towards your dreams.

You’ve got to want it more and be willing to do more.

We can give you all the tools you need to build your future.

But you’re the one who has to do the work to put it all together.

Just a little tough love for you as we get closer to the season.

So before the craziness of hockey season is back into full swing,  ask yourself whether you are willing to do whatever it takes to succeed and are going to walk through that door?

No one else can do it for you. It’s your future - go out and create it.

Work Hard. Dream BIG. Take Action.

Your friend and coach,

Kim

PS - I’m just heading out the door to pick up my good friend, and fellow coach, Brooke, from the airport so that we can put the final touches on the Total Female Hockey Experience Camp we are running here in Toronto this weekend.

We’ve got 80+ elite high school aged players coming in from all over North America to participate in the camp - which includes practices, games, on & off-ice testing,  evaluations, off-ice training, nutrition, mental performance & college hockey seminars. 

We absolutely love running this event - I wish it was something I could have gone to when I was a young player to figure out exactly how I stacked up to the competition and learn exactly what I needed to do to take my game to the next level on and off ice. 

This weekend is packed with all the information and inspiration these players need to succeed.  But it’s what they do with those tools when they leave that will determine whether they reach their ultimate goal of playing college hockey.  They need to walk through the door too.

Registration for the event has been closed for a while, but you can still check out this elite camp is all about at:  http://totalfemalehockeyclub.com/experience2010/

Kim McCullough, MSc, YCS
CEO, Total Female Hockey
Girls Hockey Director, PEAC School For Elite Athletes
To learn more about PEAC, visit:  http://totalfemalehockeyclub.com/peac/

This is one of the best videos I have ever seen.  I promise you that after you watch it, you will be motivated.  You will want to pursue your goals with such energy and passion that you will feel unstoppable.

I Will Believe When Others Will Doubt.

Belief Will Change My World.

No One Will Deny Me.  No One Will Define Me.

I Will Define Myself.

WHO AM I? 

I AM A CHAMPION.

Work Hard. Dream BIG. Take Action.

Your friend and coach,

~ Kim

 Kim McCullough, MSc, YCS

CEO, Total Female Hockey

Girls Hockey Director, PEAC School For Elite Athletes In Toronto

I just finished reading this great new book called, “Bounce - Mozart, Federer, Piccasso, Beckham and The Science of Success” (The author is British - which is why Gretzky didn’t make it into the title).  The book is jam-packed with the secrets of success in sport, as well as scientific studies to back all of it up - a perfect storm for someone like me who is a sport and science junkie (ie. athletic nerd).

In the opening chapter of the book, the author talks about a groundbreaking study done of elite violinists (stay with me here - this is related to girls hockey).  There were 3 distinct groups in this study:
1. The Supertalented - who were expected to be superstars & soloists
2. The Extremely Good - who were expected to play in orchestras, but not as soloists
3. The Average - who were dedicated but didn’t show any extraordinary ability

When the researchers interviewed these 3 groups, they found out that they were all remarkably similar. The vast majority of them began studying the violin around the age of 8 and came to the realization that they wanted to be musicians around 15.

The ONE dramatic difference between the 3 levels of violinists was….. the NUMBER OF HOURS they devoted to serious practice.

By the age of 20, the best violinists had practiced an average of 10,000 hours which was 2000 more than the good violinists and 6000 more than the average ones.  And - there were NO exceptions to this pattern!  No one got to the elite level without a tremendous amount of practice and everyone who worked their socks off ended up excelling.

So why I am I sharing this with you today?

Well, the first thing that jumped out at me when I was reading this chapter is how it related to female hockey.  Most girls start playing around the age of 8 and most decide they want to play at the college/national level around the age of 15.  But more importantly, the thing that really rang true with me is that those who are willing to put in the work are the ones who will be rewarded.

:::  It is PRACTICE, and NOT talent, that really matters. :::

A commitment to purposeful practice was the only factor distinguishing the best violinists from the average ones.  Having “natural talent” had absolutely nothing to do with their long-term success. So Talent isn’t necessary - but effort is.

This brings up TWO really critical points:

1. Talent alone doesn’t entitle you to anything.  Despite what some people think, talent only takes you so far in hockey.  And those we think are just naturally talented are usually the ones putting in hundreds and thousands of hours of  work in when no one else is watching.

 2. A lack of natural talent cannot be a crutch.  I cringe when I hear players say, “I’m not as naturally skilled, so I won’t make it.” or “She’s just so good - I must not have the hockey gene.”

Those, my friends, are simply EXCUSES.

Because we see time and time again in life and in sports that it is the willingness to put in the time - which has been found to be 10,000 hours over the course of 10 years - that makes you an expert.

If you are willing to put in the 10,000 hours, you will be rewarded.  And if you aren’t, then you can’t be surprised when you don’t reach the top.

So now that we’ve got 5 weeks left in the summer and off-season,  you need to ask yourself whether you’ve been putting in the time and effort to take your game to the next level this season and beyond. Because cramming in 10,000 hours at the last minute doesn’t cut it. Preparation needs time.

Work Hard. Dream BIG.  Take Action.

Your friend and coach,

Kim

Kim McCulough, MSc, YCS
Director, Total Female Hockey

Girls Hockey Director, PEAC School For Elite Athletes
 

Almost without exception, every single girls’ hockey player I’ve spoken to since I started Total Female Hockey two years ago has told me that she wants to play college hockey and play for her country.  With all the speaking, traveling and coaching I do across North America, I’ve probably heard that from well over 3000+ players at this point…

… which, to be honest, is awesome.  We all have BIG dreams.

BUT - and this is a HUGE but…

Saying and doing are 2 very different things.

Telling me, your parents, your friends, your coaches and your teammates that you want to play hockey in university or represent your country on the world stage is great.

But it’s really easy to talk about being great.
 

It’s a lot harder to take the action necessary to get there. It’s hard to go out and train off the ice all summer instead of taking it easy. It’s hard to go to power-skating lessons instead of playing 3-on-3.  It’s hard to go out and practice 150 shots every afternoon instead of checking your Facebook account for the 15th time in one day.

Becoming the best at anything - whether it’s your sport, your studies or your job - takes a lot of unpaid, unnoticed and under-the-radar work.

But that hard work is NEVER unrewarding.  You might be doing that work by yourself - but trust me, people will notice when you step back on the ice in the fall and you’ve taken your game to the next level.

Speaking of work, the month of June is one of the busiest of the year for me for traveling to different tournaments and showcases, and for running camps for teams and groups.  In fact, I am heading up to Sault Ste Marie this weekend to run a camp for their Midget AA team and then heading off to Vancouver to run the 3-day Total Female Hockey Experience Camp just a few days later.

By the end of this month, I will have met another 300+ players who will tell me about their BIG dreams.

And my challenge to them is the same challenge I give you this summer.
 

::  Stop just telling people about your dreams.

::  Stop just saying that you’re going to get a scholarship.

::  Stop just doing enough to get by.

And start TAKING ACTION.
 

::  Take control of your dreams.

::  Take time this summer to set goals for the future and start putting together your plan that’s going to get you there.

::  Take this summer and use it to become a significantly stronger, faster and fitter athlete, and a more skilled and more focused player.

Saying you want to get to the next level is good. But doing what’s necessary to get there is what makes you great.

Keep Working Hard, Dreaming BIG and Taking Action.

Your friend and coach,

Kim

PS - As the school year winds down, you might be thinking about the training you are going to do this summer to prepare you for next season. Don’t wait until July or August to start taking your strength, speed and stamina to the next level.  Get your copy of the Total Female Hockey Elite Training System today and you can get started tomorrow.

Click on the link below to get started:

http://www.totalfemalehockey.com/cts_exclusive.shtml

My question for you today is simple - Do You Want To Be The Best?

If you answered "Yes", then you have to ask yourself these 3 questions.

Don’t get me wrong - there’s nothing wrong with playing for the “love of the game”.  But that isn’t what this is about.

::  This is about holding yourself to the highest standard.
::  This is about pushing beyond what you even dream is possible.
::  This is about exceeding your own expectations.
::  This is about becoming excellent in everything you do.

So before you run off to do whatever you have planned next for the day, take a few minutes, ask yourself these 3 questions and answer them honestly.

1.  HOW Badly Do You Really Want It?

Whether your BIG goal is to make the Olympic team, play college hockey, make varsity next year or move up to the AA level, ask yourself how badly you really want it.

::  Do you get excited just thinking about it? 
::  Do your eyes light up when you talk about it?
::  Does that goal, and all the passion you have towards achieving it, drive you to be your best each and every day?

2. WHAT Are You Willing To Do To Get It?

Almost every single player I’ve spoken to in the last year (about 3000 girls) says they want to play college hockey and make the National Team. 

But there is a BIG difference between saying and doing.  It’s easy to say that you want these dreams to come true.  It’s a lot harder to actually go out and make them happen.

So ask yourself - are you doing what it takes to be the best? 

::  Are you warming-up before every ice session? 
::  Are you taking the time to work on your mental game? 
::  Are you eating the right kinds of food to fuel your best performance?
::  Are you working on your game when no one else is watching?

Some players want it to happen, some wish it would happen… You need to MAKE it happen by doing all of the "little" things every day.  Be honest with yourself.  Are you really ready to invest the time necessary to become great?

3.  WHY Are You Doing It?

This is BY FAR the most important question of all. 

Is becoming the best your true passion?   Because it’s your passion that drives you.  It’s what keeps you going when times get tough. 

The road to the next level is going to get rocky.  It always does. Because if it were easy to get there, everyone would be there. But not everyone who says they want it is up to the challenge.  If you know exactly why you do what you do on a daily basis to be excellent, and there’s no question in your mind that this is what you were meant to do, and you are willing to buckle down and do the work when others let up, anything is possible. 

Please pass these questions along to anyone that you think is ready to reveal to themselves whether they truly have what it takes to be great. 

Not everyone is going to be ready for these questions.  They aren’t easy to answer.  And that’s why they are so important.
 
Becoming the best takes more time, focus and energy than most people are willing to give. But if you are willing to make that investment, the pay-off will be great.

Choose excellence.  Exceed expectations.  Work Hard & Dream BIG.

Your friend and coach,

Kim

PS - Next week, I will be opening up the next 100 spots in the Total Female Hockey Mentorship Program. The players who just finished the program have learned exactly what they need to do to get to the next level, have taken massive action towards achieving their dream and are on the road to success.

I don’t want you to miss out on your opportunity to kick-start 2010 and take a huge step closer to your dreams - so keep your eyes peeled for that big announcement.
 

PPS - Attention All Coaches - I?ve created a special mentorship program to specifically address the needs of you and your team so that you can have your best season ever.  More details to come soon - but I promise that you, and your team, have never been part of something like this before. 

Kim McCullough, MSc, YCS
Director, Total Female Hockey
Girls Hockey Director, PEAC School For Elite Athletes
 

Like many people, I’ve set myself some lofty goals for the coming year. But before I ever think about where I want to get to, I stop to think about where I’ve come from.

Looking forward and setting goals for yourself is critical, but it’s reflecting back on what you’ve achieved that gives you the confidence you need to go after your BIG goals.

It took me a long time to learn this.  I used to think the grass was always greener on the other side, that what I’ve done so far is nothing compared to what I will achieve in the future, and that celebrating all that I’ve achieved on and off the ice is kind of selfish and dorky.

But now I know that isn’t true.  That without the successes of the past year, I would never have the opportunity to dream of all that I want to achieve in 2010 and beyond.

That’s why I wanted to share with you the “Top 8 Moments of 2009” for me and Total Female Hockey, because without YOU, none of this would have ever been possible.   Thank you for making this such an amazing year and I can’t wait to  help you move closer to your dreams in 2010.

#8 - Tournament & Tryout Travel:

One of my favorite things to do is to speak to players, parents and coaches about what it takes to get to the next level on and off the ice.  This past year I was able to speak to over 2000 players at over 20 different tournaments and tryout camps all across North America.   To be able to share my experience and expertise with the female hockey world is truly an honor and I look forward to doing even more of it in 2010. 

#7 - PEAC Private School Program:

This one really came out of nowhere but it was an opportunity I just couldn’t pass up.  If one year ago you told me that I would be the Girls’ Hockey Director at a private school for elite athletes in Toronto, I would have told you you were crazy.  But after meeting some great parents, kids and administrators, somehow this became reality.  And I am so glad that it did.   Now I get to coach a group of girls, who share the same passion and commitment I had to becoming the best, every single day on and off the ice.  We’ve already come so far since the school year began - we even beat a team with 2 national team players and 4 provincial players when we only had 10 skaters just before the holiday break.  I am truly honored to be able to work with these amazing players every day.  I can’t wait to grow the program and take our game to the next level in 2010.

#6 - Quote of the Year:

This actually happened just a few days ago at a huge girls’ hockey tournament here in Toronto.  I was sitting with the mom of one of the players I train in the summer after the game and she said that her daughter was upset because she just broke a brand-new $300 stick.  I jokingly said that I would gladly lend her one of my wood sticks if she needed it.  I said to the mom, “Which way does your daughter shoot?”  And her response was classic, “I don’t know - at the net!”

Funny stuff.  It was one of those classic moments away from the stress of the game  that I will never forget.

#5 - The Total Female Hockey Experience:

Back in April of 2009, I decided that I was going to run my first ever hockey camp with Total Female Hockey.  But this wasn’t going to be your typical camp.  It was going to be for high school aged players who aspire to play at the college/university level and beyond.  We were going to give the girls all the information and inspiration they needed off the ice and all the experience and opportunity they needed on the ice, to allow them to get to the next level. 

Only 4 short months later, we had 70 players come to Toronto, from all over North America, to join us at the Experience.  And it was absolutely awesome!  Everything from the state-of-the-art on-ice testing “lasers”, to 3-time Olympian Sami Jo Small’s speech about following your dreams, to the on-ice sessions with former Team USA player and NCAA coach Brooke Whitney, to the off-ice speed and strength training sessions with me, I couldn’t have asked for anything more.  Most importantly, the players had a great time and they learned a lot.  I can’t wait for this year’s camp(s)!!!

The registration details are coming soon - the Toronto camp will be on from August 20-22 and there might just be another camp out west earlier in the summer.

In the meantime, you can check out footage from last year’s camp here:

http://totalfemalehockeyclub.com/camps-schools/

#4 - Watching Them Play:

One of my favorite things to do is to watch the girls I’ve trained off the ice - either in person or those who have used my manuals and DVDs - play in games.  Knowing how hard they have pushed themselves off the ice, and seeing that translate into their on-ice performance is really awesome.  They feel stronger, faster, fitter and more confident out there and it really shows.

#3 - The First Chin-Up:

Along the same lines of #4, I love it when I get to see one of the players I train do their first chin-up.  I even tell girls who are using my training program on their own to email me when they do their first chin-up.   This is no easy task.  Most girls and women will never do one - but they aren’t exactly training for it.  Do you need to be able to do 20 chin-ups to be an elite female hockey player?  Not exactly.  But I guarantee that you could be a lot stronger than you are now and that’s only going to make you a better player.  When it comes to chin-ups, you’ve got to start with one. It takes the players I train average of 9 weeks to do their first chin-up - but it’s worth it.

#2 - The Olympic Torch:

Just a few weeks ago, I took 8 of the players I coach into downtown Toronto to watch the Olympic torch relay.  I’ve been fortunate to see two other torch relays in person (for Calgary in 1988 and for Salt Lake City in 2002) and words can hardly describe the inspiration and motivation that is ignited inside of you after seeing the flame in person.  I was so excited to be able to share this experience with the players I coach as many of them aspire to represent their country at the Olympics in the future. As I stood out there watching the torch go by, I thought back to when I was a player with those same dreams, working hard each and every day to move closer to that BIG goal.  That kind of fire and passion never goes out.

#1 - Your Feedback:

But nothing means more to me as a coach and a mentor than hearing back from YOU, the members of the Total Female Hockey community, about how the websites, videos, newsletters, products, camps and workshops have helped you become the best you can be.

I have always said from the beginning of this whole journey with Total Female Hockey, that if I can help just one player gain the confidence, knowledge and ability she needs to fulfill her dreams on and off the ice, it will all be worth it. 

That’s why hearing back from you means so much.

Here are just a few comments I received recently from the members of the first-ever Total Female Hockey 12-Week Mentorship Program (the second session starts soon - so stay tuned):

“I don’t know what you said in your videos, but my daughter now believes, without a shadow of a doubt, that she can achieve all her biggest hockey dreams.  You have completely transformed how she approaches the game on and off the ice.  Thank you!”

“Thanks so much for what you do.  Our daughter wants to get to the NCAA and national level.  We are grateful that someone like you is helping girls to navigate this daunting and competitive life choice.  After this program, I know she’ll be well on her way to getting to the next level.”

“Thanks Coach Kim.  Since starting this program, people have been telling me how much faster and stronger I look out on the ice.  I’ve been setting my goals and eating well too.  But the best thing is that for the first time ever, I know that I am doing the right things to help me reach my dreams.”

I hope you take some time today to reflect back on everything you’ve accomplished in 2009 and use that confidence to catapult you into 2010.

Thanks again for helping me to work hard and dream big.

Your friend and coach,

~ Kim

Kim McCullough, MSc, YCS

Director, Total Female Hockey
Girls Hockey Director, PEAC School For Elite Athletes