Sean Skinner is one of the best hockey coaches in the world. He has experience of working with seven NHL teams, a number of Olympic teams and federations of European countries. His effective training methods is recognized as the best in the world, so Sean is often invited to train and arrange workshops. At the moment, he has trained hockey players in almost 50 countries around the world. He worked as a personal trainer of such world hockey stars as Sidney Crosby, Alexander Ovechkin, Jeff Skinner, Eric Staal, Brad Marchand, Tomasz Tatar and others.
In his twenty plus years of experience Sean Skinner has managed to change the training process of the entire world of hockey by creating his own methods and a new technique. Owing to them many players discovered great opportunities for development. Nowadays millions of DVDs with his exercises are sold all over the world; the videos with his training sessions, training in throwing technique, stick handling, skating techniques and etc. are widely popular on YouTube video hosting.
Previously Sean Skinner was a hockey player. However, after a serious injury he had to retire despite being very young. However, his passion for hockey took over and he became a coach. The 52-year-old specialist loves to travel around the world, enjoys visiting different countries, study the culture and traditions of peoples. Sean is highly popular around the world, even in non-hockey countries, so his trips are scheduled a year in advance.
The arrival of a world-famous coach is a very significant event. Therefore, we did not miss the opportunity to meet with the master and ask him a few questions.
— Hi, Sean! Welcome to Tashkent. You’ve been in many countries. Is it your first visit to Uzbekistan?
— Thank you, yes, it’s my first time in Uzbekistan, and I’m grateful for inviting me to your country. Tashkent is really a fantastic city! I couldn't believe my eyes when I came here and saw the arena - it's amazing! Night lights, smooth ice, breathtaking ice stadium... Everything is perfect.
— What is your job?
— The main objective is to conduct training sessions with children according to the new program. Actually, it is a one-year program that can be explained in 5 days. It seems to be unreal though it works effectively. It includes over 150 dribbling techniques and over 25 different dangles and jukes. I want to teach kids how to dribble, juke, control and protect the puck, how to master wide stickhandling, various puck control tips and many other secrets of playing against goaltenders. Train format intends 5 training days, including 10 hours on ice and 10 hours off-ice exercises.
— How do Uzbek boys differ from young hockey players from other countries?
— I teach all hockey skills, including dribbling, body technique, skating, throwing, passing. My universal program suits everyone and is good both for amateurs and professional players. So, there is not much difference whether the player is tall or short, fast or slow, whether he/she is a forward or a defenseman. And it’s the reason I travel to different countries, looking for talented children. The local guys are really talented, and the coaches are just great. I'm really impressed. I want to note that you are approaching the level of Russia, the level of the best Russian players and coaches. I think their training process is among the most serious and hard ones, and I have something to compare! And the only thing left to do on the way to the development of hockey is to increase the number of ice arenas, since you have only 4. You need more skating rinks, and thus you can help young talents. I think, very soon we will see players from Uzbekistan in Pro League 2 and in the list of the best hockey players in the world.
— However not everyone becomes a player of professional hockey clubs…
— Only the best of a hundred thousand players play in the clubs. The competition is very high. Lots of the sportsmen leave to play in the championships of other states, to Europe, Asia. Another very interesting fact is that people who actively played hockey in childhood can successfully perform in any other game and team sports, including wrestling. When I was a child, my father used to tell me that hockey combines strength, speed, skating, running, dribbling, and many other qualities that enable a person to perform in other sports. And to become a hockey player, a child needs to start training at the age of 4-5. The foundations of a good player are laid at an early age.
— Do you have any interests other than hockey? What's your hobby?
— Yes, I am an active athlete, so I play not only hockey. Previously I was really fond of golf, skiing. And so, for the last five years, I have been actively diving, traveling around the world, diving with sharks, whales and everything that can be more dangerous than you can imagine. So now I'm a Master Diver.
— What are the most vivid impressions from your visit to Tashkent?
So, I've only been here for a couple of days, and we work most of the time. However yesterday, during a trip around the city, I managed to count about 12 cranes. Everything is under construction, buildings are skyrocketing, and it looks like you're having a building boom right now. This city, this country, my stay in Central Asia itself is fantastic.
— What do you think about the ice palace HUMO Arena (by the way it was built by our company)
— Yes, as I’ve already said, this arena built by Enter Engineering Company is excellent! Both architecture and style are amazing! This building is as good as the best buildings in the world.
— What are your wishes to the employees of Enter Engineering?
— Enter Engineering is building amazing structures! I want to wish you to build more around the world and continue to do your job at the highest level! I am deeply impressed by the ice palace, all the details of the interior and exterior. Everything is great!
Continue doing a great job by attracting international coaches, improving the professionalism of local coaches, and training in such magnificent ice palaces as this one, and thus you will definitely develop hockey in the Republic of Uzbekistan. Keep playing and strive to participate in international tournaments! All this will be a good start on the way to success and great victories!