Adult hockey camp

[meteor 0]

I'm looking seriously at the Weekend Warriors adult hockey camp, but it will involve an expensive plane ticket and a time commitment, so I'd like some advice as to whether this is really a smart thing to do or if my money and efforts could be better spent elsewhere. Their website is here:

http://www.weekendwarriorshockey.com/

I'm in my late 40's and started playing organized hockey in July of 2008; I'm about to complete my first `beer league' season in the beginner division. I'm also a competitive cyclist so I have excellent fitness compared to almost all the players and rank in the top-5 in scoring. I have been working very hard at hockey in the last 10 months: in addition to the weekly league games, I religiously do stick and puck and 2-hours of public skating each week. I really want to get better!

I primarily do drills from the Laura Stamm power skating book/DVD. More than once, experienced skaters have pointed out errors when I thought I was nailing it. That's when I started thinking about coaching. My local rink has a weekly power skating class so I tried that. There were about 18 people in attendance and I was surprised that most were way above the beginner level. The instructor went through an assortment of drills, most straight out of Laura Stamm's DVD, then quickly on to the next drill with almost no time to practice or individual instruction. I really got very little out of it.

I know many players rave about the camps. I realize the more ice time you have the better, but I can get that at my local rink for a fraction of the cost of a camp. Yet I'll be the first to admit I have a ton still to learn. So my question is: Can one honestly gain significant skills in the span of 4 days at a hockey camp?

Thanks in advance!

[SolarWind 23]

I'd honestly say 'NO'

Stamm's DVD is pretty good so it's just a matter of putting enough time into practice - sure there might be a point or two an experienced skater would give you, but in my opinion there're no 'secrets' anymore & so it's not worth the $

[Chadd 916]

You can often get tips and advice with individual attention. For that reason, I would suggest an individual lesson with a local instructor.

[Skunk 1]

So my question is: Can one honestly gain significant skills in the span of 4 days at a hockey camp?

Yes, you can.

I went to the camp last year and walked away with skills I was able to build on.

When you ask the question of those that have played youth hockey, up through high school and beyond, I think you'll get more of a negative response but I've been exactly where you are. I've worked very hard to get where I am, more than anyone else I know. In addition to that camp, I take private skating lessons as well on and off, to keep me strong on my edges. I take the Laura Stamm book to the rink, and attended adult clinics here when they come up, more than anyone. The last one I was going to was a hour away, every Wednesday night.

MY kids also started late, compared to most and it was my mission to try and get them caught up to others their age and what I've learned is yes, you'll get more bang for you buck with a good private instructor but remember, the camp will be well rounded, covering game aspects as well.

The more you take in, from different sources, the quicker you will learn.

Combining camps, clinics,books,privates,videos etc...all add up to shortening the learning curve as much as possible. You'll learn a lot from the other skaters and camaraderie as well. The coaches at WW are great and very approachable. What else.....PM me and I'll shoot you my phone number if you want and we can talk if that will help you out. I can tell you that it was a lot of fun and I'd go back again. That camp experience was a blast.

[roller to ice 0]

If you have the money to spend i would do it in a hearbeat. it looks like its custom made for someone whos an adult and with experience just not alot and still a beginner. I just switched to ice from roller a few months ago and attended only two classes like this at my rink and it helped me unimaginable amouts with translating everything to ice. im sure a camp like this would help you alot.i would kill to attend that.

[interpathway 9]

I did a skills clinic run by USAH this summer in Atlantic City, NJ, for $300. Vitually the same amount of hockey was played. $750 for W.W.'s camp seems a bit ridiculous, considering individual lessons might run less than $50 an hour. It does look like a great time regardless, and perhaps that is the reason I would personally recommend it.

[SidCaeser 0]

I have never attended any of the Weekend Warrior camps, but there is a group from one of the leagues around here that goes to the Tennessee camp almost annually. They would catch a Predators game and they skate at their practice ice to boot. Sometimes the extras you get make it worth it.

[qmechanic 17]

I don't think your skills will improve that much while you're at camp, but you'll learn drills and learn technique which you can build on in your own time. When I was at camp, people remarked that they played worse right after camp, because they were so tired from playing so much hockey.

An alternative to Weekend Warriors is Heartland Hockey Camp (they have an adult camp during August each year). The camp is a week long (about 5.5 days of hockey). I enjoyed it very much and the people were awesome. I wrote about it in this forum topic.

http://www.modsquadhockey.com/forums/index...showtopic=35257

[iceholes 0]

I actually heard good things about that camp... heck in June one will be less than 3 hours from me... But I am in softball shape in june, and $700 is a bit much for me off season

[UMWhockey 0]

I instructed at 5 of their camps over the years. Rob, the head instructor, is great and has a lot of good ways to help develop both basic and advanced skills. The one main difference is that many instructors do mainly youth camps and an adult camp here and there an don't truly understand the difference in learning styles between youth and adult. I know the camps I worked, everyone loved the instruction they received as well as had a blast in the camp. The camp is not only meant to be about hockey instruction, but everyone has a blast in their times off the ice as well. Rick, the owner, really puts a lot of time and effort into these camps and I would highly recommend them. If you have any questions just shoot me a PM.