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On Call Coaches Podcast – Episode 4: Player Development with Coach Adam Saito
In this episode of the On Call Coaches Podcast, Coaches Alex and Zane sit down with Adam Saito to discuss his unique approach to coaching and player development. Adam shares insights into his coaching journey, offering valuable strategies for players at all levels. From building comprehensive development plans to focusing on key skills, Adam highlights the importance of structured growth in hockey. The conversation dives into the evolving role of technology in the sport and provides actionable advice for players and parents alike.
Timeline Summary:
0:00 – 3:00: Introduction and Small Talk
Alex and Zane introduce Coach Adam Saito, briefly touching on his background, current coaching roles, and his journey from player to coach. They discuss his coaching influences and how his past experiences shape his methods today.
3:00 – 8:00: Adam’s Coaching Philosophy
Adam explains his approach to coaching, emphasizing the importance of individualized development plans. He talks about how he tailors training based on each player's unique strengths and areas for improvement, and why a long-term focus on development is crucial.
8:00 – 13:00: Integrating Technology in Player Development
Adam discusses how he incorporates technology, particularly video analysis, to break down player performance. He shares specific examples of how he uses this to help players recognize and correct their mistakes faster, leading to quicker improvements on the ice.
13:00 – 18:00: Balancing Skill Development with Game Performance
Adam dives into how he balances focusing on immediate game performance with long-term skill development. He shares strategies for preparing players for game situations without sacrificing the development of fundamental skills.
18:00 – 23:00: Age-Specific Coaching Strategies
Adam talks about how his coaching techniques evolve for different age groups. He provides insights into how he adjusts training for younger players versus older, more advanced athletes, and the key developmental milestones he focuses on for each age bracket.
23:00 – 28:00: Success Stories and Real-Life Examples
Adam shares a few notable success stories from his coaching career, detailing how his development plans helped players progress to higher levels. He offers specific examples of how focusing on foundational skills over time paid off for certain athletes.
28:00 – 33:00: Advice for Players and Parents
Adam gives practical, actionable advice for both players and parents. He covers tips for staying motivated during long development periods, how parents can best support their young athletes, and what players should focus on during off-season training to continue improving.
33:00 – End: Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways
The episode concludes with Adam reflecting on his coaching philosophy and his most important advice for aspiring hockey players. He emphasizes the need for patience, consistent effort, and a structured development plan to achieve long-term success in the sport.
Episode 3: Synchronized Skating & Coaching Insights with Kameryn Furman
In this episode of the On Call Coaches Podcast, Coach Alex and Coach Zane are joined by special guest Kameryn Furman, a national synchronized skating coach and Team USA representative—who also happens to be Coach Zane’s sister. Kameryn shares her incredible journey from ice dancer and competitive figure skater to her current role as director of KC Momentum. She dives into the world of synchronized skating, the rise of video coaching in figure skating, and how technology like On Call Coaches is transforming athlete development. Along the way, Kameryn shares personal stories about growing up with Coach Zane, including a hilarious mishap from her first competition and some funny behind-the-scenes family stories.
Whether you're interested in synchronized skating, coaching techniques, or just enjoy sibling banter, this episode has something for everyone!
Timeline Summary
00:05 - 00:25 – Intro by Coach Alex and Coach Zane, with updates on new On Call Coaches features like downloadable videos and algorithm changes for ranking coaches.
00:26 - 01:59 – Discussion on technical improvements at On Call Coaches, including Google listing issues and platform upgrades.
02:00 - 03:25 – Introduction of Kameryn Furman, sharing her background in both hockey and figure skating.
03:26 - 05:16 – Kameryn recounts her first synchronized skating competition at age three, including a minor injury and an adorable finish.
05:17 - 07:10 – Kameryn talks about her coaching journey, her master's team qualifying for nationals, and winning a national medal.
07:11 - 09:27 – Kameryn shares her experience representing Team USA internationally and fun traditions like swapping flags with competitors.
09:28 - 12:25 – Kameryn and Coach Zane reflect on growing up together, with a funny story about Zane removing his own braces.
12:26 - 15:15 – The hosts share more sibling banter, discussing Zane’s childhood, coaching style, and an old sticky ceiling toy.
15:16 - 18:43 – Kameryn explains the rise of video coaching in figure skating and how she collaborates with other coaches for feedback.
In this episode of the On Call Coaches Podcast, Coach Switz and Coach Zane kick things off talking about Zane’s gig coaching 6U and 8U Lady Cyclones. Zane’s loving it, even though half the time the kids are more worried about getting ice cream afterward than learning how to score goals. But hey, that’s half the fun.
They chat about keeping sports fun for the little ones, especially when parents start getting a bit too serious. Zane shares how his 8-year-old just flipped the switch and started asking for extra ice time and training. They hit home that it’s all about letting kids find their own passion for the game.
Then they bring in the big guns: Coach Joe Kavanaugh, a St. Louis guy who lit it up at Pattonville High and then played at Minnesota’s ACHA team—oh, and he’s got a degree in physics because apparently, he didn’t think college hockey was hard enough. Joe talks about living the Minnesota hockey dream—outdoor rinks everywhere and endless shinny.
Joe now crushes it as a private video coach at STL Hockey Training. He breaks down how video analysis is the new secret sauce for players looking to up their game. You send in your clips, and for just $4 a minute, you’ll get feedback that can help you fix what’s not working. It’s a no-brainer if you want to separate yourself from the pack.
It’s a laid-back episode with a lot of laughs, some solid advice for parents, and tips for players who want to take their game to the next level.
Timeline:
0:00 - 1:00 | Introduction
Hosts Coach Switz and Coach Zane introduce the podcast.
They start with small talk about coaching experiences and teams.
1:00 - 4:30 | Coaching 6U and 8U Teams
Coach Zane talks about coaching the 6U and 8U Lady Cyclones teams.
Discusses the joy of coaching young kids and the differences from coaching older age groups.
Funny moments and lighthearted stories from coaching young players.
4:30 - 8:30 | Parenting and Coaching Philosophy
The conversation shifts towards how to encourage kids to stay engaged with hockey.
Coaches talk about keeping the game fun for young players and encouraging a lifelong love for the sport.
8:30 - 10:45 | Guest Introduction: Coach Joe Kavanaugh
The hosts introduce Coach Joe Kavanaugh, providing background on his hockey career.
They discuss his playing experience in St. Louis and at the University of Minnesota.
10:45 - 13:30 | Balancing College and Sports
Coach Joe talks about balancing his physics degree with playing college hockey.
He describes the challenges of time management, especially after road trips.
13:30 - 15:30 | Minnesota Hockey Culture
Joe describes the differences between St. Louis and Minnesota’s hockey culture, including outdoor rinks at every park.
15:30 - 18:00 | Use of Video in Coaching
Joe shares his experience with video sessions as a player and how video coaching has evolved.
Discussion on the importance of video as a differentiator for skill development.
18:00 - 19:45 | Video Coaching Process
Joe talks about his current work as a private hockey coach at STL Hockey Training.
He discusses how he uses video analysis with players, focusing on both broad and specific areas for improvement.
19:45 - 21:45 | Video Coaching Pricing
Joe outlines the cost for video coaching: $4 per minute.
Typical video feedback comes back 3-4 times longer than the video submitted, offering detailed insights.
21:45 - 23:30 | Closing Remarks
The hosts thank Coach Joe for being a guest.
Final wrap-up and sign-off from the hosts, with light-hearted banter about the heat in the studio.
In this inaugural episode of the On Call Coaches Podcast, Coach Alex and Coach Zane introduce their new show, where they dive into the journeys of coaches and explore how they use video analysis to enhance player development. For their first episode, they sit down with Coach Ryan Dietl, a former player from Webster Groves, Missouri, who has since become a prominent skills coach.
Ryan walks through his playing days at McKendree University and the Texas Junior Brahmas, sharing the challenges of transitioning from college to juniors and why he ultimately chose to focus on hockey. He provides thoughtful advice for players deciding between the college and junior paths, emphasizing the importance of being honest with oneself about their skill level and goals.
The conversation also covers Ryan’s shift to coaching, where he integrates video analysis into his training. He explains how video coaching helps players improve their skills and decision-making, from strategy to technique, and why he focuses on players’ mistakes rather than highlight reels.
Tune in for valuable insights on personal growth, coaching techniques, and the growing role of video in player development.
Episode Timeline:
0:00 - 1:00 – Introduction
1:00 - 2:30 – Hosts’ Background
2:30 - 4:00 – Introducing Guest: Coach Ryan Dietl
4:00 - 6:30 – Ryan’s Transition from Player to Coach
6:30 - 9:00 – College vs. Junior Hockey
9:00 - 12:00 – The Grind of Junior Hockey
12:00 - 15:00 – Choosing Between College and Junior Hockey
15:00 - 18:00 – Personal Growth in Junior Hockey
18:00 - 21:00 – The Role of Video Coaching
21:00 - 24:00 – Video Coaching: Skill vs. Strategy
24:00 - 27:00 – Sources of Video for Coaching
27:00 - 30:00 – Video Sessions: Keeping Them Fun and Honest
30:00 - 33:00 – Pricing and Video Recommendations
33:00 - 35:00 – Closing Remarks
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