Wednesday Drill of the Week: Matignon 2v0

May 8, 2013 Leave a comment

A simple post and go shooting drill for this week.

Matignon 2v0

 

Forwards start at the blue lines, opposite ends go at the same time. One forward leaves with a puck, skates to the red line and passes it to a defenseman. Puck moves D to D, while the opposite forward posts up at the far blue line. After the D to D pass, a quick hitter is made to the posted forward who then passes it to the supporting forward and they attack the net 2v0. The drill then starts again from the other direction.

While the drill itself is simple, there are some nuances that can be added and/or emphasized to increase the degree of difficulty and work on specific skills. For example, the D can do an escape upon receiving the first pass, and the pass up to the forward can be required to be direct or indirect. The forwards can be required to chip the puck or place a good area pass. On the 2v0, the D can be required to follow the play up ice and the forwards can be required to utilize a 2v0 move such as a cross and drop, net drive/far pad shot, etc. The simplicity of the drill allows for players to focus on refining specific skill sets.

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Wednesday Drill of the Week: Ducks Shooting

April 24, 2013 Leave a comment

Ducks Shooting

This week is a continuous shooting drill. Ducks Shooting is a good drill for getting the legs and hands moving, working on passing, working on timing, and letting the goaltenders see some shots.

Players line up on the goal lines. One player starts on each blue line. The drill begins with a whistle where the X on the near blue curls up near the red and presents himself for a pass. He receives a puck from the corner and then immediately passes to the X on the far blue who has timed the start of his loop so that he can catch a pass in sync from the near blue. He then goes in and takes a shot on net. Meanwhile, the player who made the first pass skates up to the near blue, the player who made the second pass skates up to the far blue and then each goes on a similar timing loop, passing and receiving, going in to shoot. The drill moves continuously, and runs out of both ends. After you pass, you take the place and the pattern of the person you passed the puck to. This drill flows nicely and can create a good pace to start a practice.

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Time Management

April 22, 2013 2 Comments

Most people think that time management is about compartmentalization and making the most of the time that you have. I have a different argument to make today. I believe an important and overlooked part of time management is using the time of day when you are at your best to get the most done. This will maximize your ability to be productive and put you in a great mindset to continue to be productive for the duration of your day.

Personally, I am a morning person. I am at my best and sharpest first thing in the morning. I know many people that are afternoon or night people – they are at their best at those times of day. It doesn’t make a difference as to what part of the day you are most effective, it does matter what you do with that time. Making the most of the time that you are at your best will help you to be the very best you can be.

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What Is The Win?

April 17, 2013 Leave a comment

More great stuff from Leadership Freak – I love this part about “What is the Win?”.

The question is, “What is the win?” Define success in behavioral and emotional terms.

  1. What does winning look and feel like?
  2. What improved results are we seeking?
  3. How will we act differently?
  4. How will success be measured?
  5. What does implementation look like?
  6. Who are the champions?
  7. How will we celebrate wins and correct failures?

As coaches, we must define wins on a regular basis. What does winning a workout look like? What does winning a practice look like? What does winning a recruiting class look like? Winning a game (that you might have lost on the scoreboard)? Winning a year? Coaching is all about developing people through technique and motivation. You must define winning and how we will change behavior before you can go out and do it.

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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.

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Behavior Over Words

April 16, 2013 Leave a comment

Leadership Freak has a great post this morning about how organizations and people reflect their leaders and how leaders can influence those around them with just their behavior. It is not how you see yourself, it is how others see you. If you believe that you care about your people and those around you, show it. A great segment that is fitting for coaches talks about focusing on the present.

“Pressing into the future makes leaders seem ungrateful about the present.

You see yourself as grateful but you don’t recognize achievement without reminding everyone they aren’t there yet.

The team reached goals this week but missed them last. What do you say when they celebrate? “That doesn’t fix last week!” You don’t want people letting down next week so you keep pushing. You’re an ungrateful jerk, even if you don’t feel that way.”

http://leadershipfreak.wordpress.com/2013/04/16/when-your-heart-lets-others-down/

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Peer Feedback

March 11, 2013 Leave a comment

Today, I became a better coach. I am lucky to work in an office where I am surrounded by my fellow coaches. We frequently discuss and share ideas, philosophies, thoughts and constructive criticism. Today I was reminded why I work in such a special place. I received instant feedback from my peers and it made me a better coach.

Feedback from your peers and those you work with is vital. It keeps you grounded, keeps you focused and holds you accountable to the person and coach you want to be. Being challenged and pushed is what we do for our athletes and it makes us better when we expose ourselves to it as well.

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The End of a Season

February 25, 2013 Leave a comment

Our season came to a close on Saturday in a hard fought 2-1 loss to the Ephs of Williams College. The reality of playing sports is that at the end of the game, someone wins and someone loses. On Saturday we lost, not because we played poorly or we were outclassed, but because someone wins and someone loses. Our team played a fantastic hockey game – hard hitting, smart and disciplined. We had a consistent next-zone mentality and repeatedly handed off good shifts from one line to the next. There was no quit in our game and we never worried about the height of the mountain, we just kept climbing.

This game was a testament to how our team has progressed throughout the season. We went out and played hard, smart hockey without being overwhelmed by the situation or the environment. The game was easy to play and fun to coach. Over our last eight games, our seniors cemented their legacy on a 4-2-1 stretch that showed our team what it means to play hockey at Colby College. They have left a solid foundation in place for the future and should be incredibly proud of their perseverance and dedication this season. It would have been easy to fold up the tents in mid-January but they righted the ship and directed us to a strong finish.

We now must attack the off season with the same vigor and determination as we attacked the last five weeks. This is the opportunity to put the pieces in place for a great season in 2013-2014. We must improve as individuals, as players, as coaches, and as a team. Every day must be spent getting better and focusing on what needs to be done to make Colby Hockey the best that it can be. I am excited for the future and I cannot wait for the puck to drop on November 1, 2013.

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Stick on Puck

February 5, 2013 Leave a comment

Defensive hockey is all about two things, stick position and body position. How you position yourself and your stick will dictate what your opponent can and cannot do. The single biggest teaching point when coaching defensive hockey (whether forwards or defense) is stick on puck.

Bringing your stick to the puck applies pressure on the offensive player. It takes away his or her immediate options. It eliminates any passing lanes that may have been available. It forces the puck carrier into a puck protection situation or creates a turnover. It allows you to position your body to hit/pin the offensive player. Stick on puck effectively shuts down the puck carrier.

The timing of stick on puck is critical. One on One situations call for stick on puck. A defenseman playing a rush should not use stick on puck. A forechecker finishing his check should look to come in stick on puck. A forechecker looking to cut the ice in half should not.

Stick to puck needs to be strong and firm, it should not be a sweep. The player should attack with his/her stick out and a strong wrist. A sweep to the puck will open lanes and options as the stick moves. With the right timing and pressure, stick on puck is the most effective defensive technique for shutting down an opponent.

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The Time is Near…

October 22, 2012 Leave a comment

As a NESCAC Hockey Coach, one of the challenges of my job is the limited amount of time we have with our players. November 1 is the first allowable day of practice for Winter Sports in the NESCAC. It is a day that has seemed to be far off but now we are down to 10 days until liftoff. With such a limited timeline, preparation and execution are key, both for the coaching staff and the players.

As a coach working within a limited schedule, it is imperative that you make the most of your time with the team. Understanding how to convey your message and best reach your team is critical to your success. The question is, How?

One of the best parts of the extended time period prior to the season has been the opportunity to ask questions and learn from other coaches. Calling around and asking questions about processes and systems, as well as teaching methods has been an integral part of my development and learning. Not only has this made me a better coach, but it will make my team better this season. With every coach, I always ask about the nuances of what they are trying to do, as well as how it is taught and delivered to the team.

As we have formulated our systems and methodology for this season, another important process has been asking questions about every thought or idea. The key ones being: Why? What are we trying to accomplish? and How will this help us win? This way, our explanations can be well thought out and sincere, as well as pointed towards our long term goals.

Overall, this period before the season starts has a tendency to drag on and feel extremely long. However, when used correctly by the coaches and players alike, it can set in motion critical learning and preparation for a great season.

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