Wednesday Drill of the Week: 3v3 on Rim

May 15, 2013 Leave a comment

3v3 on Rim

 

This drill is a simple 3v3 Drill using one end of the ice. Everyone starts stationary. Offensive team starts with two forwards on the goal line and one in the high slot. Defensive team starts with two defensemen on top of the crease, one forward in the mid slot. The drill starts with a coach rimming a puck to either forward, and then plays out 3v3 from that point.

Why do 3v3 this way? It isolates position specific skills for teaching. First, it allows the forwards to retrieve the puck first, forcing them to work on playing the puck off the runner and working with a defender on their back. Second, it helps forwards to understand spacing, support options and release points when the puck is below the goal line. One the defensive side, it helps defenders work on closing down on attackers, taking away time and space, and anticipating the offensive play. As a team, the quicker you can anticipate what the offensive team will do, the quicker you can shut it down.

As a coach, you can work on individual skills this way, as well as basic down low defensive zone and offensive zone play.

Filed under Coaching, Drills, Hockey, Individual Skills, Position Play Tagged with , , , ,

Pet Peeve – Offsides

May 7, 2013 Leave a comment

Is there anything more controllable for a team on the ice than staying onside? Smart, simple plays at the offensive blue line will ensure that a team never goes offsides and is able to attack the opponent effectively.

Teams and players with high hockey IQ rarely, if ever, go offside. They read and recognize plays as they develop and they make the appropriate move with or without the puck to prevent an offside call and maintain their attacking momentum.

Plays that I frequently see resulting in an offside call include the following:

  • Not headmanning the puck – a player may be open up ice but a player doesn’t see or refuses to pass
  • Overhandling the puck – players will try to make an extra move at or near the blue line, not realizing that their teammates are attempting to judge their speed and hit the line at the same time
  • Flat passes – rather than placing a pass up ice, players will make a lateral pass to their teammate at the blue line and their resulting momentum will carry them offside
  • Refusal to chip into space – often, defensemen will attempt to use the blue line to their advantage and hold a tight gap. Forwards need to recognize this and chip the puck into space behind them, rather than trying to stickhandle or skate past the defenseman

Staying onside allows you to attack your opponent with speed – the momentum you have gathered moving up ice can be continued into the offensive zone. Getting the puck over the blue line with smart, effective plays can create a good forechecking opportunity or a great offensive chance off the rush.

 

Filed under Hockey, Individual Skills, Strategy Tagged with , ,

The Three H’s of Goaltending

April 23, 2013 2 Comments

One of the backbones of my goaltending philosophy is the three H’s. When goaltenders move, they should follow the progression of Head, Hands, Hips.

First, a goaltender should track the puck with their eyes (head). The head snaps to the puck and allows the goaltender to see the play and react accordingly. Your body will always go where your eyes and head are going, so this should be the first reaction to any change in play.

Immediately following the head snapping to the puck should be a goaltender’s hands moving to the new position. It is imperative that the hands get there first. I have two reasons for this: 1. The hands will guide the body into the new position. 2. If the body is late, the hands will still have an opportunity to get there first and are the most reactionary/mobile part of the player to attempt to make a desperate save.

Finally, the hips need to open and move to the new position on the ice that the play dictates. The goaltenders lead hip should open and adjust to the new angle with a strong push coming from the trailing foot/leg to propel the goalie to the new position on the ice.

This progression is a critical habit for goaltenders and should happen almost instantaneously. It is taught slowly, but in game situations should happen instantly. Goaltenders need to be able to immediately get their Head on the puck, put their Hands in a position to get to the puck and use their Hips to propel their body to the new position on the ice.

Filed under Coaching, Hockey, Individual Skills, Position Play Tagged with , , , ,

Paradox of the Product Goal

April 22, 2013 Leave a comment

This is from an article by Jason Selk on Forbes.com:

Strategy number two is to help the CEO identify with the process, not the result.  Think about a baseball player in the batter’s box. If all he’s thinking about is, “I gotta get a hit,” he won’t. It’s what’s called the “paradox of the product goal.” What the batter needs to think about are the actions that will get him a hit – tracking the ball, the short swing, and the follow-through.

The same truths apply to CEOs. Instead of dwelling on meeting their numbers, they need to think about the process that will ensure that success. All they need to do is focus on the three most important tasks to get them to their goal. Science tells us that focusing on process is what brings results.

How many players get caught up in the paradox of the product goal? They think “I have to score” or “I have to make a play” and get so focused on doing that one thing that they forget the details that allow them to do that in the first place. They forget about moving their feet, seeing their options, skating hard, making the smart plays and instead try to force things and do it all themselves. Focusing on the process will ultimately lead to a successful result. Doing the little things right leads to big success.

Filed under Coaching, Hockey, Individual Skills, Motivation, Position Play Tagged with , ,

Wednesday Drill of the Week: Jam/Stuff

April 17, 2013 2 Comments

This week I am featuring a drill that I do with my goaltenders at Colby. I call it the Jam/Stuff drill.

Jam Stuff

 

This drill works on a goaltender’s ability to play pucks along the goal line, behind the net, and in tight on the crease. It starts with a player attacking the net along the goal line. There is a second player positioned at the far post, right on top of the blue paint. The player with the puck attacks the net and then has a choice of whether to jam it tight to the near post, pass it across the crease for a re-direct, or go behind the net and again, jam it tight or pass across the crease (other player moves far post). In the event of a cross ice pass, the player should attempt to redirect the puck on net and try to keep it low, not handle it or catch and shoot.

This drill will test a goaltenders ability to read the play, play pucks beneath the goal line and seal the ice. Goalies should focus on playing tight to the near post (this is where I would advocate for the use of the Vertical/Horizontal save), having  an active stick to play passes, and sealing the ice with their pads. Hands should be active and out in front at all times. Understanding a player’s options as he moves behind the net is critical. Read the player moving behind the cage, understand when he is looking to wrap vs when he is looking to pass (depth is a good guide – players looking to wrap stay tight while those looking to pass tend to create space for themselves). Goalies will also have the opportunity to play second chance pucks in tight after the jam or in tight shot. Battling and competing for pucks is critical here.

Filed under Coaching, Hockey, Individual Skills, Position Play Tagged with , , , , ,

Wednesday Drill of the Week: Double Rim

April 10, 2013 Leave a comment

This week is a Defensemen pinch/shooting drill.

Double Rim

 

This drill starts with two D in position on the strong side of the blue line. Coach will move a puck up the wall (either through a hard rim up the runner, a chip off the glass, a hard play off the dasher, etc – test your defensemen and their ability to pinch pucks in on the wall), the D will stop it, control it, move it D-D who will then take a shot. Once the shot is taken, coach will hard rim a puck the other direction, the D need to move to the other side of the ice, stop the puck, control it, move it D-D for a shot. D need to focus on stopping pucks on the wall, controlling them, and making good hard passes to their partner. The partner in the middle of the ice should focus on keeping their feet pointed up ice, presenting a good target, and keeping their eyes up when they shoot.

Filed under Coaching, Hockey, Individual Skills, Position Play Tagged with , , ,

Wednesday Drill of the Week: Western Two Shot

April 3, 2013 Leave a comment

This week’s drill is a half ice shooting skills drill involving both forwards and defensemen.

Western 2 Shot

 

The drill begins with forwards in both corners and defensemen manning the points. The forward on the strong side passes to the D, who moves it D-D. The forward then rolls through the high slot for a pass and a shot. A forward comes to the net front from the opposite side. After this is executed, the forwards stay in front of the net while a second puck is passed to the strong point for a point shot. The drill then begins again from the other side of the ice.

Skills worked on in this drill for forwards should be catch and release, goalie screen, and shot tipping (both high and low). Defensemen should work on moving the puck with their eyes up, making hard accurate passes, and getting pucks to the net with traffic.

Filed under Drills, Hockey, Individual Skills Tagged with , , , ,

Wednesday Drill of the Week: Carolina Flow

March 27, 2013 Leave a comment

This week’s drill is a simple warmup/shooting drill that incorporates a lot of flow, timing and precision.

UMass ShootingCarolina Flow begins with lines in all four corners. One player takes off from opposite lines and button hooks just inside the far blue line. They receive a hard pass from the opposite line. Meanwhile, a player skates out of the same side and skates into a support position. They then attack the far net in a 2v0. As soon as the player makes the hard cross ice pass, they take off and button hook inside the far blue line. The drill is continuous.

Players should focus on speed/pace of the drill, hard accurate passes, timing and support, driving the net, and shooting to score/shooting for rebounds.

 

Filed under Drills, Hockey, Individual Skills Tagged with , , , ,

Wednesday Drill of the Week: BU 2v1

March 20, 2013 Leave a comment

This week I have a simple but effective 2v1 drill. The BU 2v1 incorporates speed and passing for forwards and passing, distribution and skating skills for defensemen.

BU 2v1

 

A defenseman starts with the puck, skates out to the center of the ice and passes to a forward. The forward fires a hard pass down to a D on the far side of the ice and then swings low into a support position. At the same time, a forward steps out behind the D and presents an option. The D who made the first pass gaps up. The two forwards then receive a distribution pass from the D and attack 2v1. The D can be introduced as a third option (activation/follow the play). The drill then starts again from the other side on a whistle.

Forwards should focus on puck support and next play thinking – creating options for their teammate with and without the puck (drive the net, puck carrier drive, cross and drop, etc). D need to maintain good gaps, strong sticks in passing lanes, and try to influence the play into tight areas.

Filed under Coaching, Drills, Hockey, Individual Skills Tagged with , , , , ,

Wednesday Drill of the Week: Speed Pass/Shot

March 13, 2013 Leave a comment

Short and simple passing and shooting drill this week. Speed Pass/Shot focuses on specific skills and keeps the drill simple to enhance a players ability to dial in on a few specific things. The main skills? Listed in the drill title.

Speed Pass Shot

 

Place a player on each of the three neutral zone lines. Player 1 takes off with a puck, give and go exchange with each player, then accelerate into a shot on net. While the drill itself and the execution is simple, it is the skills worked on that are important. Players should focus on keeping their feet moving at a high tempo the entire time. They should focus on their ability to pass and receive, and transition from receiving to passing quickly (all while moving their feet). Finally, they should focus on the execution of attacking the net with speed and getting off a quick release with their feet moving. Players should complete this drill with their heads up and presenting extremely good targets for their teammates.

While it is a simple drill, when executed properly and at a high tempo it will improve a players ability to pass and receive, as well as shoot on the move.

Filed under Drills, Hockey, Individual Skills Tagged with , , , , , ,

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