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26 // SEPTEMBER 2017 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM k EACH SUMMER, I meet with the new members of USA Hockey's National Team Development Program to discuss school and housing as these athletes prepare to embark on a two-year journey at a critical time in their young lives. As part of that discussion, I ask our student-athletes to create a list of habits or 'things to be' that will enable them to experience success on and off the ice. Although the list may vary slightly from year to year, the message is consistent. As a constant reminder, we keep this list posted on the board or in the front of their notebooks. Be Kind & Polite Manners make a difference. At school and at home, it is important for athletes to treat classmates, teachers and family members with kindness and respect. Doing so goes a long way toward building important relationships. Be Friendly The goal is always for our student-athletes to develop friendships at school and with their host family that will last a lifetime. The best way to do so, is to be the kind of person that other people want to be around. Be On Time & Prepared Every coach expects his players to be early to practice and ready to play. Student-athletes should be held to the same standard at school and home. Be Participative & Engaging Without question, players need to be active learners in the classroom. They need to arrive on time, have their homework completed, be prepared to ask questions when they don't fully under- stand the material covered in class and participate in class discussions. The same is true at home. Student-athletes need to be active members of the family, doing chores, participating in group activities, eating family meals, and actively engaging in conversation. Be Humble Playing high-level hockey definitely sets the stage for players to walk around with their heads held high, considering themselves 'the best.' Creating A Game Plan As you work to create your study plan, recognize the importance of studying for every class. In your plan, make the conscious decision to tackle the hardest subjects and assignments first. It is important to have the focus and energy to complete the 30 math equations or his- tory study guide or verb conjugations. Once those are done, you can move on to the rest of your assignments. Don't delay on what is dif- ficult, never procrastinate, just get down to business and complete the work. Avoid Distractions In addition to your study plan, make sure you create an appro- priate workspace. That space should be free from distraction and contain the tools that you need to complete the work. If you are assigned chapters to read for literature class, make sure your work space is quiet. If you have equations to solve for algebra, calculus or chemisty, be sure to have the correct cal- culator, graph paper and space to spread out. If you need sup- plies for a special class, make sure that they are readily avail- able. When it is time to com- plete schoolwork, go to your well supplied work space, turn off your phone, and get down to business. Take A Step Back In addition to your daily assign- ments, don't forget to review. Start each lesson with a review of the notes taken in class and don't forget to review the appropriate pages from the textbook. On the weekends, spend time reviewing chapters and units that have been previously completed. As final exams are cumulative, a regular review of class content will lead to learning the material much more so than a quick cram session the weekend before exam week. Success at school doesn't come without planning, hard work and personal responsibility. Like hockey, it comes as a result of clearly established goals, managing your time, and having the tools available to complete the work. Is it easy to achieve success both on and off the ice? Probably not. But the best things in life often come as a result of hard work and sacrifice. P Lisa Vollmers spent 25 years as an educator in the Ann Arbor (Mich.) Public Schools. For the past 13 years, she has served USA Hockey as an academic mentor, and currently as the director of Student-Athlete Services for the National Team Development Program. 5 10 A C T B A L A N C I N G Don't delay on what is difficult, never procrastinate, just get down to business and complete the work. Ten Tips For Developing The Person, And The Player CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24