In a new collaboration with St. Andrew's College and the Ontario Minor Hockey Association, The Coaches Site is proud to be hosting its inaugural one-day coaching masterclass: TCS Live SAC!
Created specifically for minor hockey coaches, this event features the most innovative lessons on player development, team building and seasonal planning - and is guaranteed to provide a spark of energy for the 2024-25 hockey season.
Unlike our flagship coaching conference, TCS Live, which takes place every June at the University of Michigan and appeals to coaches at every level of the game, TCS Live SAC is primarily for youth hockey.
Dedicating a conference specifically to coaches at the grassroots level was important to Aaron Wilbur, CEO of The Coaches Site. The minor hockey landscape has changed, and continues to change, so it’s important for The Coaches Site to provide solutions to the challenges minor hockey programs are facing.
“The reality is, players and parents have high expectations of their experience playing minor hockey, however that experience is largely delivered by volunteers, and this can create undo pressure,” said Wilbur. “By providing a forum to share best practices, technical resources and hacks, we're going to relieve some of that pressure and hopefully inject a little bit more fun into the minor hockey experience for all stakeholders.”
David Manning, Head Coach of SAC 1st Hockey, said he and St. Andrew’s College are completely aligned with Wilbur and The Coaches Site. They’re excited to host the event on September 7, 2024.
“Our minor hockey coaches play such an important role in helping grow and develop not only the game but the entire hockey community and the people within it,” said Manning. “Equipping them with as many tools as possible to make a positive impact is a no-brainer.”
Attending TCS Live SAC is especially a no-brainer when you see the announcement of who the first six event presenters are, namely Ben Barr (University of Maine men’s Head Coach), Rachel Flanagan (PWHL Toronto Assistant Coach), Scott Jones (Vegas Golden Knights Skating and Skills Consultant), Daniel Tkaczuk (former AHL Head Coach), Kevin Hodgson (Executive Director of HEROS Hockey) and Manning himself (Head Coach of the 1st SAC men’s hockey team).
Although presentation topics have yet to be announced, each speaker will educate attendees on how to provide the best coaching experience possible.
Grassroots hockey provides a pulse for the overall health of the game, Wilbur believes, and there are some issues to address.
“Registration numbers are declining in most regions and overall, volunteers are becoming harder to come by. This is concerning and we feel that now is the time, as a sport, to meet these challenges head on and that The Coaches SIte is uniquely positioned to help lead the charge.”
Educating grassroots coaches means players can have better experiences at younger ages and foster a lifelong love for hockey.
“Grassroots in the foundation of our game, where players can participate for life but also as coaches, administrators, game officials,” said Ian Taylor, Executive Director Ontario Minor Hockey Association. “Our players of today will hopefully be the leaders in our communities for the next generation.
“Coaches, by far, have the biggest impact on player experience,” continued Taylor. “The number one reason players play the game is to have fun. The number one reason they leave is lack of fun. So it seems straightforward that investing in our coaches should be a priority in all levels of hockey.”
Tickets to TCS Live SAC are selling fast - and that’s not just a marketing ploy to increase your urgency to buy one. Get yours now or you will miss out on this grassroots extravaganza!
