A North Bay hockey skills coach has released a book that he believes will help reduce concussions in hockey.
The plan is called Concussion Preventative NeuroTraining (CPN) and is the culmination of 15 years of player development workshops, hockey schools, and MMSP hockey instructional programs (muscle memory skills patterns) designed by North Bay hockey skills instructor Dan Selin.
"The plan is based on scientific principles and not just a coach’s personal opinion," said Selin in a release.
"The plan centres around the player’s brain as the main input for hockey skill development–termed brain science. The plan is implemented during on-ice practice time with a player correction process to create better-skilled players."
He says the plan can be introduced at any age level–although the earlier the better, and the plan identifies a new skill that is the crux of the program – the development of peripheral vision in a player, allowing for head-up play, instead of the head-down puck-handling we see all too often in today’s players.
“The book outlines the only change that today’s hockey needs," said Selin.
"We need to change the way players practice. We do not need to change one rule in the game of hockey. We do not need to change the game at all. We only need to change the way we practice. My CPN program takes the phrase ‘how you practice is how you play’ to a more scientific level– ‘what’s in your brain is how you play!’ ” states Selin.
“CPN trains players to stop playing with their head down, teaching them how to play with their head up," he continues in the release.
“Players want to be more-skilled but do not want to suffer injury or concussion. Coaches want to win, and they can win with more-skilled players, but they cannot win with injured players, especially their star players. This holds true for professional players as well–and includes players who have already suffered a concussion. Parents want their children to have fun playing hockey. Parents do not want their child to be injured or suffer a concussion. Parents want their child to practice in a way that makes them safer and more-skilled as players. You cannot deny any of these statements.”
Selin believes CPN is proven effective and is the answer to reducing on-ice concussions.
"Players need to learn to play while keeping their head up! This is a skill in itself. It needs to be practiced by every player so that head-up play is automatic. Every parent with a child in hockey needs to be more involved in their child’s coaching techniques and more aware of the benefits of CPN.”
For more information on Dan Selin and his CPN Plan to reduce concussions in hockey visit www.hockeycpn.com.
