Book Feature Play and Coach Hockey Like 1959! (by Paul Langan)

[plangan107]

Play and Coach Hockey Like 1959 are 3 original booklets from the 1950s/60s combined into one book for the first time ever. Starting In 1959, The Royal Canadian Air Force released a sports series of Play Better Hockey booklets. They included: 1. Beginning Hockey, 2. How to Play Better Hockey and 3. Coach’s Manual. The booklets included skill development, instruction and drills for the player and coach. This is an amazing look back at how hockey was taught in the 1960s.

The booklets covered: Passing, Shooting, Checking, Faceoffs, Defense, Offence, Fitness, Equipment and coaching. Amazingly a series of hockey films were also made to supplement them.
The original main author of the booklets was Willard (Bill) Joseph L'Heureux,Flying Officer W.J. Heureux, (supplementary reserve) and Professor and Dean of Physical Education at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario developed the books in cooperation with the Canadian Department of Health and Welfare.
In addition to the Play Better Hockey Series, Bill was the author of numerous articles on sport and physical education, as well as the book Hockey for Boys (1962) and an internationally acclaimed hockey instructional film used by, among others, the Soviets in the 1950s.
The Play and Coach Hockey Like 1959 book is available worldwide as paperback from Amazon. ($11.99)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR of this compilation, Paul Langan - is a historian and author of 18 history books/booklets on a wide variety of topics. He lives in Cambridge, Ontario. He has one other hockey related book titled, “Classic Hockey Stories from the golden era of pulp magazines, 1930s-1950s." His website is http://paullangan.com

EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK

Forechecking

i. The nearest forward hounds the puckcarrier before he has a chance to make a break-out pass. The deeper in the end of the rink this can be done, the better.
ii. If the puckcarrier has room to stickhandle, the checker doesn't meet him head-on, but rather swoops in an arc to cut him off. (See Fig. 6b.)
iii. This swooping action forces the puckcarrier to get rid of the puck, and enables the checker to take him out, or continue back toward his own goal to backcheck.

Click to read more...

 

[seventieslord]

Welcome, Paul. Interesting stuff.

I co-manage the sihr database of publications and all of the original booklets are in there. One thing I noticed is that the one called "coach's manual" is in the database three times with three different dates.. 1956, 1959, and 1963. Because these books predate ISBN numbers, and because no other supporting information is given besides the photos of the front covers, I don't know if these are actual different publications that came out in different years or if this is just three entries put in by three different people who either assumed or guessed the dates or used the information that was provided in whatever online listing they found the publications in.

In compiling this book, you probably researched these publications and collected a few of them as well. Is there any supporting information inside the coaches manuals, that would confirm or refute the idea that it was published three separate times?

 

[plangan107]

Welcome, Paul. Interesting stuff.

I co-manage the sihr database of publications and all of the original booklets are in there. One thing I noticed is that the one called "coach's manual" is in the database three times with three different dates.. 1956, 1959, and 1963. Because these books predate ISBN numbers, and because no other supporting information is given besides the photos of the front covers, I don't know if these are actual different publications that came out in different years or if this is just three entries put in by three different people who either assumed or guessed the dates or used the information that was provided in whatever online listing they found the publications in.

In compiling this book, you probably researched these publications and collected a few of them as well. Is there any supporting information inside the coaches manuals, that would confirm or refute the idea that it was published three separate times?

Thanks for the question. They are just reprints, the 1965 one I have does not mention anything about being a new version, or anything about changes. The front inside cover does not have any new info. The only difference I see is the cover is darker blue. Also I have some big news hopefully soon about the companion FILMS for the booklets!

 

[Theokritos]

Thank you for joining us! I find the development of tactics and techniques and how they were taught very interesting, so this compilation is right up my alley.

Paul, what made you go from the "Classic Hockey Stories" you have compiled before to these guides?

 

[Jim Genac]

Hi Paul. I’m curious about the process to obtain permission to reprint these books. Was it difficult to get permission from the Royal Canadian Air Force to reprint them? Or do they qualify as out of copyright per being printed by a crown corporation (50 years after last publication date). I’ve always wondered if the military was classified as a crown corporation for these purposes?

 

[plangan107]

Thank you for joining us! I find the development of tactics and techniques and how they were taught very interesting, so this compilation is right up my alley.

Paul, what made you go from the "Classic Hockey Stories" you have compiled before to these guides?

Thanks for the question. Classic Hockey Stories, I really felt this is a missing part of our hockey cultural/historical past. Often dismissed or not even known about, I wanted future generations to know about them. Unlike many pulps, that are available online, these hockey pulps are not easily obtained. I plan to do a Classic Hockey Stories Vol. 2. So the reason to release that one was for historical preservation. They have largely disappeared from the public conscientiousness. I read them in my youth....
The Play Hockey Series that I released, had been preserved by hockey historians but for the general public it has been forgotten. Also I was actually given one to help my learn how to play hockey by my dad, so I had a personal angle. I find the history of how hockey used to be taught fascinating.
So the rationale was basically the same preserve, promote history and both played a part in my past.
On the super neat side, with these three booklets Play Hockey original booklets there were instructional films also. I am trying to get permission to use them.

 

[plangan107]

Hi Paul. I’m curious about the process to obtain permission to reprint these books. Was it difficult to get permission from the Royal Canadian Air Force to reprint them? Or do they qualify as out of copyright per being printed by a crown corporation (50 years after last publication date). I’ve always wondered if the military was classified as a crown corporation for these purposes?

Yes the copyright had expired, they were from the queens printer ottawa and yes Defence is a government department. On an interesting side note, the booklets I have, there is no copyright mark on them or anything about "rights reserved".

 

[Theokritos]

The Play Hockey Series that I released, had been preserved by hockey historians but for the general public it has been forgotten. Also I was actually given one to help my learn how to play hockey by my dad, so I had a personal angle. I find the history of how hockey used to be taught fascinating.
So the rationale was basically the same preserve, promote history and both played a part in my past.

Thanks. What, to your eyes, are the most obvious differences between the way the game was taught back then and what you see in hockey games today?

 

[plangan107]

Thanks. What, to your eyes, are the most obvious differences between the way the game was taught back then and what you see in hockey games today?

Sorry for short reply. I am away on a trip. One of the most fascinating things I saw and did not know about, was the debate about who should take a defensive zone faceoff. The defencemen or centre! Biggest most obvious change was the whole goaltending style changes,equipment as everyone knows.. There is other stuff too but as mentioned travelling now, thanks for excellent question.

 

[Theokritos]

One of the most fascinating things I saw and did not know about, was the debate about who should take a defensive zone faceoff. The defencemen or centre!

Defencemen taking faceoffs is something that indeed caught the eyes of our users when we were watching watching a few NHL games from 1963 a few years ago. One of the comments back then:

Probably the single thing that intrigued me most about this game is the defensemen taking draws in their own zone. Fortunately the topic was actually addressed by the hosts at around 1:18:30. They say this was a Punch Imlach concept, and Bob Nevin says that if the faceoff was in the right-hand corner of the defensive zone then either Horton or Baun would step up and take it. This is very strange to me, especially as those two visibly struggled with the responsibility throughout the game. In the interview, Nevin says they never even practiced it or taught the defensemen how to take them... just threw 'em in the deep end against experienced centermen.

But, having said all that, it's also quite obvious that the Red Wings defensemen took draws as well. Gadsby seemed to be the specialist of choice, and by the end of the game he probably led all Wings in faceoffs. Eddie Shack's go-ahead goal for the Leafs was scored directly off a faceoff lost by Doug Barkley, who had only taken maybe one or two draws all night. Detroit even had Howe take a d-zone faceoff on the PP because he was the guy playing the point (this makes no tactical sense). And both teams did it on both sides of the ice. So it wasn't just an Imlach thing, or a right corner thing, was it?

Paul, what was the argument brought forward in the RCAF booklets?

 

[plangan107]

I do not believe an argument brought forward. It was framed in the booklet more as there were two options.

 

[Theokritos]

I do not believe an argument brought forward. It was framed in the booklet more as there were two options.

I see. Would have been interesting.

Paul, by 1959 there already was something a body of literature on "how to play hockey". Is it known whether L'Heureux, the author of the RCFA booklets, consulted any earlier books?

 

[plangan107]

I see. Would have been interesting.

Paul, by 1959 there already was something a body of literature on "how to play hockey". Is it known whether L'Heureux, the author of the RCFA booklets, consulted any earlier books?

Theokritos, i should have an answer in next few weeks. I tracked down the son of
L'Heureux and will be mèeting with him about his dads history.

 

[Theokritos]

Theokritos, i should have an answer in next few weeks. I tracked down the son of
L'Heureux and will be mèeting with him about his dads history.

That's exciting to hear. Looking forward to what he can tell you.

 

[plangan107]

Defencemen taking faceoffs is something that indeed caught the eyes of our users when we were watching watching a few NHL games from 1963 a few years ago. One of the comments back then:



Paul, what was the argument brought forward in the RCAF booklets?

Theokritos, I am home from holidays and looked in my Play Hockey Compilation booklet on the topic of defensive zone faceoffs. Here is the exact wording, "Some coaches prefer to have a defenceman take all face-offs near the defending net, to drive the opposing centre back leaving the puck for a teammate to pick up. Other coaches feel that because he is a specialist at facing off and because possession of the puck is so important near the net, the centre should do the job. Regardless of who takes the defending net face-off, the important thing is to adequately cover all attackers in front of the net. The defensive alignment will then depend upon how the attacking team line up. To meet strength with strength, one of the defencemen should be made responsible for the positioning of his teammates."

 

[Theokritos]

Theokritos, I am home from holidays and looked in my Play Hockey Compilation booklet on the topic of defensive zone faceoffs. Here is the exact wording, "Some coaches prefer to have a defenceman take all face-offs near the defending net, to drive the opposing centre back leaving the puck for a teammate to pick up. Other coaches feel that because he is a specialist at facing off and because possession of the puck is so important near the net, the centre should do the job. Regardless of who takes the defending net face-off, the important thing is to adequately cover all attackers in front of the net. The defensive alignment will then depend upon how the attacking team line up. To meet strength with strength, one of the defencemen should be made responsible for the positioning of his teammates."

Thank you. By now a copy of your book is sitting on my shelf and I'm looking forward to read it.

 

[Theokritos]

From a detailed obituary of Bill L'Heureux, shared by Gary Mossman via SIHR today:

"Educated at Assumption College (BA Classics, 1937), Ontario College of Education at the University of Toronto (1939) and the University of Michigan (MA, 1953), he received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of New Brunswick in 1967 for his contributions to physical education, fitness and amateur sport.

Bill was the author of numerous articles on sport and physical education as well as the book Hockey for Boys (1962) and an internationally acclaimed hockey instructional film used by, among others, the Soviets in the 1950s. He wrote, with the Rev. David Bauer and Max Bell, a definitive Report on Amateur Hockey for the federal government in 1960, outlining challenges for Canada's national game related to education and professionalism. An accomplished athlete, he played defence for Windsor Bulldogs, Chatham Maroons, University of Toronto Varsity Blues, Maxville and Renfrew Millionaires while pursuing his education and starting his teaching career in high schools. He joined the University of Western Ontario as lecturer and football coach in 1950. Generations of students developed their professional philosophies in his course on ethics in sport, and more generally from the self-contained, modest model he provided. He was active in London as a member of the Roman Catholic School board, and he promoted high school athletics as secretary of WOSSA and in countless other ways. He was the first Chairman of the federal government's Council on Fitness and Amateur Sport in 1963. He is a member of the Sports Halls of Fame at both University of Western Ontario and University of Windsor.

Bill was born in Port Arthur, Ontario, on February 28, 1918, the second child of Wilfrid L'Heureux, a banker who had played rover on three Allan Cup-winning Port Arthur hockey teams, and Irene Morris, the undisputed source of his tolerance and good humour. Bill's learning was influenced by the Jesuits in his youth and the Basilian Fathers at university. He loved his wife and family, his God, Winston Churchill, poetry, fishing with John P. Metras, Beyond the Fringe, Chariots of Fire, and vegetable gardening."