It might seem strange to start out a blog post about volunteering with a quote regarding passion, but I’ve found that one often breeds the other. Volunteering is such a worthwhile endeavor. It’s a way to help others and give back to your community. It builds character and strengthens humanity, both for you and those you serve, and it ignites passion. When you’re passionate about something, you naturally want to share it with others, and what better way than through volunteering your time and talents to do so? In addition, many people who volunteer in support of a cause find a passion for service they didn’t even know they had!
I recently had an amazing volunteer opportunity to share one of my passions, ice hockey, with a group of young goaltenders at the Bloomington Ice Center (BIC), a non-profit recreational facility in Bloomington, Illinois offering a variety of ice skating opportunities to people of all ages. The goal of this particular event was to provide in-depth instruction to young ice hockey goaltenders, develop and encourage good habits, fine-tune their skills in the net, and build their confidence. It was a great experience. I love ice hockey, particularly playing goalie. It is something I am truly passionate about, and it brings me joy to share it with others. Teaching kids the game I love was so satisfying, but the best part was seeing them learn and having fun while doing so. I don’t know who enjoyed the experience more – the kids or me!
The BIC was a great facility for this type of event. The safety of participants is of utmost concern at BIC. First aid equipment, including an AED, are readily available in the rink, and staff are trained and certified in first aid response. We only used a single sheet of ice for the event but made good use of the space by setting up eight different “stations,” each focusing on a different skill or activity.
We had fourteen coaches spread over the eight stations to provide guidance and direction to the participants. Two to three kids worked at each station at a time, before rotating to a new station every ten to fifteen minutes. This structure works extremely well for this type of training event because it maximizes the available space, uses small group work to minimize the amount of “downtime” when participants aren’t actively engaged, and provides a variety of different kinds of training opportunities.
Our event leader assigned me the role of “lead” instructor. Since I have played the goalie position at a higher level than the other coaches, our leader wanted me to help guide and instruct the other coaches as well as the participants. Consequently, I was not assigned a specific station to run. Rather, I floated from station to station to check in, guide the coaches, make sure they were emphasizing the right things, and offer suggestions, explanation, and input to both the coaches and students. Our young goalie students ranged in age from six to fourteen years old, so this approach also allowed me to customize and change drills to make them more advanced for groups of older, more experienced students.
Overall, I think the training structure worked well. Given my experience, I was able to connect with the students and provide input and personal testimony that really resonated with them. I remember, when I first started out as a goalie, feeling so appreciative when an older goalie shared some of his secrets and techniques because I knew he truly understood the challenges I faced in a way that someone who had never played that position couldn’t. It’s so rewarding to now share my own secrets with the next generation, knowing that I’ve been able to give them something so valuable. The students were like sponges, eager to absorb everything I had to share. They were happy to be there and learn, and that made my job incredibly easy.
I wish, though, that I had been able to work more closely with the students in a manner that more personally addressed their training needs. For example, some of the younger kids aren’t the best skaters and would have benefitted from some one-on-one help with their skating techniques. Others would have benefited from personalized training on positioning or other specifics. In addition, I wish I would have had the time and opportunity to review the session plan in more detail before we started. I wasn’t as familiar with the practice plan as I should have been, which meant I wasn’t as efficient or effective with providing input and guidance as I could have been. There were also modifications to the session that I would have recommended, had I thoroughly reviewed the plan in advance. For example, kids really enjoy the use of “props” as training aids. Next time, I would recommend using a screen board to obstruct their line of sight to the puck, as that’s a regular occurrence in game situations and one that most goalies need practice in how to handle. These were good lessons for me that underscore the importance of ensuring that I properly plan my own time as well as that of the students. Going forward, it’s imperative that I continue to improve my skills in preparedness. Doing so will help ensure that I am equipped and ready to provide the best possible experience to the students.
Next time I’m in a position to lead such a group, I intend to take charge and really lead the group. I am very good at ramping up the energy if the kids seem a little tired, and as a goalie myself, I know how to motivate other goalies. However, this being my first time coaching at BIC, I felt a little timid. I didn’t want to step on anyone toes or make it seem that I was critical of their efforts. Consequently, as things went a bit off track, which is a normal part of life, especially when working with kids, I didn’t step up as much as or in the best way I could have to resolve things. Now that I’ve established a rapport both with the kids and the other coaches, I feel more comfortable speaking up and taking the lead, and I look forward to the opportunity to do so.
In general, I found the event to be organized and well-run. It takes significant time and effort to coordinate and organize such an event, including scheduling the ice time, coordinating availability for so many coaches, planning drills and activities, and promoting and marketing the event to potential participants. I think the BIC staff did a great job with it. However, even great things can be improved. I would love to see future events of this nature include:
- Slightly lengthened event time to allow for stretching and warm-up activities. These are great team-building opportunities and an essential part of any pre-practice/game routine to get into the right frame of mind and prevent injuries.
- More in-depth orientation and training for the coaches. Some of the coaches were unfamiliar with certain drills and how and why they’re used, so some upfront explanation would benefit both the coaches and participants.
- More expansive invitation. There are many more goalies in the local hockey organization and surrounding communities who would have benefitted from this event, but many didn’t even know it existed. I would like to see expanded marketing and promotional advertisement so that future sessions could see at least 90% of the goalies in the organization in attendance. I work at BIC, and I didn’t even know this session was occurring until I approached my managers to inquire about volunteer opportunities. Even something as simple and inexpensive as posters hung up around the rink would improve program visibility.
Through this experience, I’ve learned a lot about my ability to work with people and interact with program participants. I’ve served in a similar capacity in other organizations, but it was always under the guidance of a mentor or other more-experienced goalie coach who could give me guidance and answer my questions. Volunteering at BIC gave me the opportunity to approach this task from another perspective. This time I was the one who was mentoring others and answering their questions. It’s a role I haven’t played before, but it turns out I’m pretty good at it. I enjoyed the opportunity, and I’m proud of the work I was able to do – both in teaching our young goalies and helping develop coaches who can further that training during practices and games.
These types of programs are essential to both the players and the BIC. Players need these kinds of development opportunities to grow into the best version of themselves they can be. The BIC benefits through continued participation and funding. It’s not just the money that BIC makes from the events themselves, it’s the excitement that is built among players, both current and future, to continue to want to play and participate. That excitement builds a future income stream for BIC and the local hockey associations for years to come because players know that BIC will provide them with a place to grow and develop their skills in the game they love.
All in all, both the event and the volunteer opportunity were successes. Our young goalies gained some valuable, practical skills that they can immediately apply to their next practice or game situation. I, personally, had a great time sharing the game I love with a group of like-minded, eager, young people. It reminds me why I love hockey so much and reinvigorates me to continue to play, live, and serve with passion. The next time you’re looking for an opportunity to find your passion, I hope you will consider the BIC and its many ice programs and volunteer opportunities. I know I will!
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