The Pro Star Model
Pro Star's foremost commitment is to the long term success of our players. This
commitment begins with helping our players realize their full potential as a person
and as a player. At the earliest stages of development, Pro Star offers the latest
training and development methods for its athletes. In addition, Pro Star targets
the top players in their respective age groups through our network of scouts to
ensure a competitive and learning environment.
Pro Star stresses the importance of preparation in every aspect of individual development
on and off the ice. We believe that practicing fundamental skills in a structured,
challenging and repetitive manner is the key. To do that, athletes need the right
mixture of motivation, practice, feedback and theory. Our experiences have proven
that young players learn in different ways both on and off the ice and our progressive
and positive teaching style coupled with patience and understanding allows them
to learn at their pace.
The Pro Star model concentrates on specific areas and our staff has identified the
components below as crucial to the development of the whole person and player.
Skills Development
Speed and Skill are now, more than ever the key components to the game. Pro Star's
practice sessions are designed to teach both the technical and tactical aspects
of the game. We spend a lot of time on individual skills. Primarily players will
practice skills that are comfortable to them and not necessarily the correct skills.
Our staff ensures that our players are practicing the correct skills the correct
way.
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Technical - morning practices are structured toward individual skills. We incorporate
high tempo skating, shooting, passing and puck control drills. The key to developing
individual skills is repetition. This approach allows the players to handle the
puck hundreds of times throughout the week which increases individual technique,
natural creativity and self-confidence.
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Tactical -afternoon practices are structured toward team play and focuses on the
individual tactics necessary to play within a system. It is crucial to learn all
aspects of the game and develop the skills needed to be a solid two-way player.
Our drills teach important techniques like angling, support, body checking, read
and react skills, positioning and many other tactical skills.
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Games – The evening is structured toward competition. Our staff will rotate teams
throughout the week to provide players with different insight and coaching styles.
This format also provides the player’s an opportunity to apply the skills learned
in practice and implement them into a game situation. From a development standpoint
it gives the coaches the ability to offer instant feedback and take some teaching
points from the game and use them in practice the next day while it is fresh in
everyone’s mind.
Team Building
Creating or shaping a vision in one's life requires both mental and physical discipline.
Our team-building exercises assist in achieving this vision. The more intensive
the training, the greater the opportunity for molding the athlete’s character and
personal make up. Many off-ice programs are counter productive because they have
no purpose and are inserted as "fillers" in the daily schedule.
Pro Star wants to develop future captains and leaders and we feel this aspect of
the program is important to the overall learning process. This program offers the
players the opportunity to challenge themselves and their teammates in a competitive
environment while having fun!
By teaching, modeling and reinforcing values such as respect, positive attitude,
cooperative teamwork, personal accountability and responsibility, our young athletes
will be more prepared for the challenges they will encounter on and off the ice.
Format
Players are assigned to teams that will compete throughout the week in various team
building exercises. Pro Star has teamed up with Elite Leadership Training or ELT
for the team building component. Dale and ELT director ,1st sergeant JB Spisso have
worked together before and are excited to bring his program to our athletes. Spisso
and ELT are team building instructors for four NHL teams: Pittsburgh Penguins, New
York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers and Florida Panthers. The ELT staff will insill
important mental and physical training which is essential for elite athletes.
It requires teams to work together to achieve a common goal or purpose. The process
helps develop team compatibility, problem solving techniques and conflict resolution
skills. These exercises are designed so that team members cannot accomplish the
tasks working individually.
Each exercise has a clearly defined objective which provides the team with a sense
of accomplishment when the objective is reached. In addition to developing team
cohesiveness, these exercises develop leadership skills, such as, decisiveness judgment
and communication. Developing this skill set early will help immensely as our players
mature and are confronted with adverse situations.
At the conclusion of camp, there will be an award ceremony recognizing both team
and individual accomplishments. To maximize potential you must develop the whole
person and this concept supports our philosophy.
Player Evaluation and Feedback
Communication is a key component in the development process. It is important for
our players to understand their strengths and weaknesses on and off the ice. At
the end of camp, coaches Dunbar and Kasper meet with each player individually to
discuss specific areas of their individual development. We prefer personal evaluations
because we can be honest and objective with the athletes. This concept also allows
the players the opportunity to provide feedback and ask important questions which
helps promote self-confidence. Also, becoming a good listener is an important tool
toward individual development and the overall communication process.
In addition, our counselors are also required to evaluate each player in their group.
We value their input because as former Pro Star campers they know the emphasis we
put into being a good person and their evaluation is often a determining factor
when deciding an individual’s future at Pro Star.
Support
The landscape of hockey is constantly changing and it is important that our players
and parents are armed with the correct information and guidance when making important
life decisions. Today, there are far more options available for elite players and
choosing the correct development component can be an overwhelming and confusing
process.
With years of experience in advising elite athletes, Pro Star acts as a link to
parents, players, educators and coaches and is always accessible to assist in any
way possible. We are honored to be considered in this process and take tremendous
pride in our player’s future.
Over the past decade we have written hundreds of recommendation letters as well
as personally contacted coaches on behalf of our players. Pro Star is well respected
in the hockey world and has personal relationships with many of the top programs
in North America. We have helped place players in the best prep schools, Canadian
Hockey Leagues, the USHL as well as Division I college hockey programs.