The Mineola PAL Hockey Association held the first of two workshops for Sportsmanship and Fair Play. The first workshop was held Dec. 11, for the coaches. The second workshop for parents and children will be scheduled in February 2003. The coach's workshop was held at the Mineola Village Hall. Sixteen coaches braved the stormy weather to attend the workshop sponsored by New York Islanders. Warren Breining, Dan Bedard and Dan Wattell of Adelphi's Athletes Helping Athletes and the Sports Leadership Institute conducted the informative workshop.

This workshop was introduced this year to the PAL Hockey program with the assistance from Ken McKeown and Gerry Schweyher as an educational tool for the coaches, parents and children. The Coaches Sportsmanship Workshop presentation covered the following topics: Why this workshop is required today; Tips in managing parents' and children's behavior; and Exercises in Coaching Themes - Life Lessons and Displaying Leadership and Sportsmanship. In addition, Breining and Bedard showed several video clips of managing parental conflict and fair play and they distributed printed material. The workshop concluded with a very informative question and answer session and the Islanders distributing gifts for the coaches.

The Mineola PAL Hockey Association wishes to thank the following organizations and individuals: The Town of Mineola for their support, Mineola Trustee Jack Martins and Town Clerk Louis DiDominico, Heather Umen of the NY Islanders, Warren Breining, Dan Bedard and Dan Wattell of Athletes Helping Athletes for their informative workshop and the coaches who attended the workshop and are taking a leadership role in coaching our children.

Those who attended included Bill Deventhal, Jack Stagnari, Ken McKeown, Gerry Schweyher, Jack Martins, Bill Proctor, Mathew Sliwinski, Ed Calabro, John Sullivan, Mike McKeever, Joe Tiseo, Mike Olkuser, Ed Falconer, Lou Worth, Nick Fabiano and Don Guy.