I’m going to get to the 5 tests you need to pass in order to get to, and excel at, the next level in a second, but I want to clear the air first.  

We all hate tests, don’t we?   Too much stress, right?  Whether we’re talking about school, work or hockey, testing isn’t fun.  Not only is it hard work, but there is always that chance that you might FAIL. And we don’t like to FAIL.

I can sit here and tell you that failure is an opportunity to learn and to get better, but I know as well as you do, that sounds really good and reassuring, until you actually fail, and all you want to do is kick things and play the blame game.

But here’s the truth - Testing is a necessary evil.

Because you NEED to know how you stack up and where you stand.  You might NOT always like the result you get - after all, no one likes to be told that they are in the bottom 10% and no one wants to know that they missed making the cut by just a few percentage points.

BUT…and this is a big BUT - as much as it might sting to find out that you aren’t at the top of the pile quite yet, you have to know where you sit right now in order to figure out how you are going to get to the top.

That’s what you want, right? You don’t just want to be "good enough".  You don’t just want to "get by".  You want to blow your competition out of the water (be honest - you do).  

And in order to get to the top, and move onto (and excel at) the next level, you need 3 things:

1.  Exactly where you are starting from (your point A)
2.  Exactly where you need to get to (your point B)
3.  A personal plan to help you get there

I’ve tested over 5000 female hockey players over the last 5 years, and very few of them were excited about it.

But they were always rewarded for their efforts. Because after the testing was done, I was able to tell them exactly where they stood right now, how they stacked up against the competition at their same age group as well as against the best players in their province, region and country, and then we could start to figure out the plan for getting them from point A to point B with a personalized road map to get them there.

But if you don’t know your Point A, and you don’t know your Point B, it’s going to be virtually impossible to put a road map together.  It’s like getting in your car and trying to use the GPS - without having it connected and not knowing what your final address is.  It won’t work.

Here are the 5 critical areas I test with every single player no matter their age or ability level to determine their point A:

1. Lower Body Power
2. Lower Body Strength
3. Upper Body Strength
4. Lateral Agility
5. Conditioning

::  Lower Body Power:  How explosive are you?   The more explosive you are, the faster your starts will be and the faster you’ll be able to change direction. You’ll win more races for the puck and be much more effective in 1-on-1s.

::  Lower & Upper Body Strength:  How strong are you with and without the puck?   Can you win battles in the corners and in front of the net?  Are you easily pushed off the puck?  This is so critical for women’s hockey - it’s a puck possession game so if you can win the battle and keep the puck with strength, you’ll dominate

::  Lateral Agility:  Excellent lateral movement is critical.  This is how defensemen contain forwards, how goalies get from post to post and how forwards beat Ds in 1-on-1 situations.  Being fast in a straight line is important, but it’s not nearly as critical as your ability to move laterally.

::  Conditioning:  I’m not talking about the beep test or a 5 mile run here.  The most important ability for hockey players looking to get to the next level when it comes to conditioning is to be able to put out a high level effort on each and every shift throughout an entire game, tournament and season.  You need to get as fit as possible, and stay as fast as possible, to dominate.

You need to find out where your Point A is in these 5 areas so that you can make your plan for getting to your Point B.  Especially now since you just finished a long season and have got a whole summer to  take your game to the next level on and off the ice.

::::  ATTENTION - IF YOU ARE IN THE TORONTO AREA on Sunday May 16th ::::

===>  You’ve got the opportunity to see how you stack up in these 5 tests, as well as 14 different on-ice skating tests, at the Total Female Hockey TESTING COMBINE on Sunday May 16th at Chesswood Arena <===

We’ll be using the most cutting-edge on-ice testing technology available, and the same tests we’ve used on 5000 players over the last 5 years,to show you were you stack, compare you to everyone else at the camp, and show you where you rank compared to the best players in the world (no one gets your results but you - so no chance of being embarrassed).

You’ll get your scores, your rankings and recommendations for what you need to do in order to get from your Point A to your Point B.

There are only 35 spots left in the Testing Combine, and if you want in, you’ll have to sign-up quickly.

Click on the link below for camp registration details:

http://totalfemalehockeyclub.com/testing-camp/May2010/

I hope to see you there!

Keep Working Hard and Dreaming BIG.

~ Coach Kim

PS - Please pass this Testing Camp information along to any friends and teammates who might be interested.  Testing is always a little bit more tolerable when you are doing it with someone you know.

Remember - only 35 spots left:

http://totalfemalehockeyclub.com/testing-camp/May2010/

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

Over the course of the next 8 weeks, there are at 5 BIG opportunities for girls’ hockey players to see how they stack up on the ice here in Toronto. 

::  First, the provincial championships are this weekend. Teams of all ages and abilities have the chance to see who is the best team in the province.

::  Then, 48 hours after the provincials finish, tryouts start. Players will get the chance to fight it out for spots on the best teams in their region.

::  A few short weeks later, the tryouts for Under-18 Team Ontario start.  Players will have the chance to see how they stack up individually against the best players in the province.

::  And right at the beginning of June, there is a huge girls’ hockey prospects tournament coming to Toronto that brings in 24 teams filled with the best players across North America.

Those are 4 great opportunities to see how you stack up against the best.

But there is ONE BIG THING missing from all of these events…

=>  SPECIFIC PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK on how to get to the next level.

You can go to big showcase tournaments, rep and regional team tryouts, and see how you stack up -  but you usually leave with nothing.  You get the opportunity to showcase your skills as a team and individual, but you don’t learn exactly what you need to work on to become the best player possible. 

That’s where the 5th event comes into the picture.

I am running the TOTAL FEMALE HOCKEY TESTING COMBINE on Sunday, May 16th in Toronto, to give players the specific individual feedback they need to take their game to the next level ON and OFF the ice.

After attending the Testing Combine, You Will Know Exactly:
::  How You Stack Up In Terms Of Skating, Puck Handling & Reaction Time
::  Where You Rank In Terms Of Speed, Strength & Fitness Off The Ice and
::  What You Need To Work On To Take Your Game To The Next Level

ON-ICE TESTING:
You are going to participate in the most cutting-edge on-ice testing in the world with NEXT Testing.  This skating combine has 14 on-ice tests that are being used by pro teams across North America. You are going to leave with full report of your results that will show you exactly which areas you need to work on ON the ice.

OFF-ICE TESTING:
You are also going to participate in the same off-ice testing combine I’ve used to test over 5000 female players over the last 5 years.  I have a huge database of numbers elite players so I can compare you to players from all over North America at every age group, including the Under-18, college hockey and
national team level. 

AND THE BEST PART IS….
You are going to receive a Complete performance report of your ON & OFF ice testing results, that will not only show you where you rank relative to the other players at the event, but that whole database of 5000 players we’ve tested. 

You aren’t going to get that kind of personalized feedback from those other 4 events I mentioned above.  That I can guarantee.  Armed with the feedback you get from this event, you’ll be able to head into the off-season with a complete picture of what you need to work on to be the best player possible heading into next season and beyond.

Click on the link below to find out more and register for this event on May 16th:

http://totalfemalehockeyclub.com/testing-camp/May2010/

Your friend and coach,

Kim
 

NOTE:  There are ONLY 60 spots available in this event and it is only for players who will be playing peewee, bantam, midget or junior next season. 

Secure your spot today:

http://totalfemalehockeyclub.com/testing-camp/May2010/

Kim McCullough, MSc, YCS

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

For the first time ever in August, aspiring female hockey players are going to participate in the most cutting-edge on-ice testing in the world at the Total Female Hockey Experience Elite Player Development Camp. The NEXT Testing Skating combine uses 14 on-ice tests to show players exactly how they stack up in terms of skating, puck control and reaction time. Watch the video below to check out all the on-ice action:

Now girls hockey players can take their on-ice game, dissect it piece by piece and pinpoint their strengths and weaknesses. The NEXT Testing Skating Combine does just that with 70 individual measurements extracted from 14 on-ice tests that break your game down into its critical components: skating, puck handling, and reaction time. Each drill is measured objective by precise laser gate sensors and an automated timing system. No human error and no place to hide. You’ll get an exact measurement of your reaction time, quickness, top-end speed, transition speed, agility and puck handling.

Combine these objective on-ice testing scores with your off-ice fitness testing results, and add in the personal evaluations from women’s college hockey coaches and scouts, and you’ll see exactly which areas of your game you need to work on to take your game to the next level and reach the elite level of women’s hockey.

That’s what makes the Total Female Hockey Experience Elite Player Development Camp different.

After Attending The Total Female Hockey EXPERIENCE Camp, You Will Know:

=> Exactly Where You Stand On and Off The Ice
=> Exactly What You Need To Work On
=> Will Be Able To Put Your Personal Plan Together To Realize Your Dream Of Playing College Hockey

Players, coaches and scouts from all across North America will be joining us at the Experience…

Will you be there?

To see why college coaches are calling this a “must attend” event for high school aged players who want to play college hockey, visit:

=> www.TotalFemaleHockeyExperience.com

I hope to see you in August,

~ Coach Kim

PS - As of the time I posted this entry, the camp was 70% full. There are still some spots left, but you’ll need to act fast. Click here to register for the Experience today.

I just sent out 102 sets of fitness testing results to all of the elite girls hockey players that I tested at the Prospects tournament a few weeks back. Not only did I give them their scores - I ranked them relative to all the other players I tested on the weekend and showed them the benchmarks for elite women’s hockey players on the tests. For example, the average standing long jump score at the tournament was 1.9m - which is pretty good for high school aged players. But the average at the senior women’s national team level is closer to 2.5m - which is a huge jump from 1.9m! I don’t expect these young players to jump another 60cm by the end of the summer (although that would be nice). So what is a reasonable increase in your off-ice fitness testing scores over the course of a 12 week period?
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On Thursday, I will be fitness testing 119 of the best girls hockey players in North America. I wanted you to have the opportunity to see how you stack up against the best by doing the exact same tests. Watch the video below to see what the tests are about.

Now that you know what the testing is all about, here’s what you need to do next:

1. Sometime over the course of the next 4 days, you need to do the same 4 tests you just watched in the video: Standing long jump (double leg and single leg versions), pushups, crossover agility and shuttle runs.

2. Write your scores down for each test and then click on the link below to tune in to the FREE coaching call on Sunday evening at 9pm EST to hear exactly how you stack up against the 119 girls I test this at the tournament (as well as the 400+ players I have tested in the last 3 years).

Coaching Call - How Do You Stack Up?
Sunday, June 7th at 9:00pm Eastern

TO ATTEND THIS EVENT, CLICK THE LINK BELOW…
http://instantTeleseminar.com/?eventid=7719294

(This is super easy to use - I promise. I can even figure it out - and I’ve had 4 major concussions. Either just click on the “play” button to listen live via the web or use the phone number to call in and enter the conference ID.)

On the coaching call, I am going to go through each test and what is considered to be an elite score for each test relative to the girls at the tournament, as well as elite women’s hockey players I have tested from the U-18 and senior national team program. so that you know exactly how you stack up. You can also ask me questions about your own scores and how to improve them so that you can make your personalized off-ice training plan to take your game to the next level this summer.

Good luck with the tests and I hope to chat with you on Sunday night.

Work Hard. Dream BIG.

Your friend and coach,

~ Kim

Next week I am doing fitness testing with over 90+ elite girls hockey players at a huge tournament in Toronto. The word ‘testing’ makes a lot of girls hockey players nervous. I remember how I used to feel before doing the fitness testing for our women’s college hockey team at the start of the season. It didn’t matter how many times I had done the tests before or how well I had prepared over the summer, I always had butterflies in my stomach. Fitness testing can be a confusing and controversial topic so today I am going to walk through the basics of testing for girls hockey players.
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Your results in the “aerobic” Beep Test won’t tell you a single thing about your speed - and speed kills. Watch the video below and try out the Ultimate Speed Test, that will tell you whether you have the strength and power you need for speed.

Remember - going on long runs to try and “beat” the beep test is only going to make you SLOWER. And you definitely don’t want that to happen.

Get stronger, faster and more explosive this summer.

That’s how you are going to take your game to the next level.

Work Hard. Dream BIG.

~ Coach Kim

Girls hockey speed all starts with your core. To try out the second Total Female Hockey Speed Test, watch the video below.

This test may look simple - but don’t forget the 4 things you must do to make sure you are performing the second speed test properly.

Try it out today and share your results in the comment box below.

And make sure to check back here in the next few days to try the “SECRET Speed Test”.

This brand-new Total Female Hockey Speed Test will let you see whether you have both the strength and power necessary to become the fastest player on the ice.

How do you measure up?

~ Coach Kim

How many push-ups can you do? I ran a Total Female Hockey Push-Up Contest this past weekend at a tournament and I had players, teams and even parents going for the win.

And I am talking about real legitimate elbows to 90 degrees, body in a straight line push-ups - not barely bending your elbows or letting your hips sag down to the ground. The player who won the contest completely blew me away - her form was perfect and she managed to pull off…

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I have been getting a ton of questions from goalies about putting some goalie-specific training tips here on Total Female Hockey Club. I promise that your information is coming - but in the meantime, I wanted to share a goalie success story with you.

Back in May, I had a chance to work with all of the goalies at the Under 18 national team training camp. One goalie stuck out among the group - she was so shy and quiet and she had a “deer caught in the headlights” look on her face for most of the camp. She admitted that she didn’t have much experience with fitness testing and seemed worried that she wouldn’t be able to make it through the week.

She pushed herself as hard as she possibly could for those four days. She fought and clawed her way through it - all the while with a huge smile on her face. She may not have been a fitness testing superstar, but she definitely left an impression. She showed no fear - she may have been scared to death on the inside, but she didn’t let that get in the way of pushing herself to her limit.

And you know what happened when I saw her a month later at our next provincial camp?

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