Statistics – Used for critical area’s on the ice

RookieCoach wrote:
Coaches,
We all hear about statistics such as SOG, PPG, GF,GA.etc. These are the statistics that I want to stay away from in this post.

I want statistics that will help coaches understand critical area's and strength and weakness on the ice. We all see mistakes that players and teams make , but how many times are these mistakes made consistently and what is the percentage of a scoring chance because of these mistakes.

On the flip side , percentages for goals being scored and where they come from.

Example- 70-80 % of goals are scored from a rebound or second chance. ( if that stat is accurate ).
– 85-90 % of shots off the outside pad of a goalie (low ) will have a rebound out in the slot.

Can anyone answer the following statistics.
1- Turnovers at the blue off the rush ?(Offensive) . What is the percentage of scoring chances create from these turnovers?
2- Turnovers 5-8 ft from the defensive blue line on the breakout (failing to get the puck out) ? Scoring chances from these turnovers.?
3- Percentage of goals or scoring chances from uneven numbers at defensive blueline? (Poor back check)
4- Goals or scoring chances created from the quiet zone.?
5 – Point shots ?

If anyone has the answers it would be neat to start a list . Any coaches that have any statistics that or want to know statistics from certain area's of the ice. Learning where the high risk area's are , would be a first step in fixing them.

Thanks in advance
RookieCoach

Hockey is a TRANSITION WORLD… we gotta adapt and play in it!

A turnover must be capitalized upon within 3 seconds! This is why the principle of TRANSITION is so important. The game is comprised of 100's of transitions per game. Look at Kai's video of Detroit with the Red, Yellow, Green highlights indicating the other team has possession / loose puck / your team has possession (a '0-1-2' situation).

The answers to these questions are found within Bjorn Kindling's study "Transition", using the 1990 World Championships (Men) and World Cup 1994. His presentation, in it's entirety, can be found (purchased from Hockey Canada) in the 1994 Advanced 2 Proceedings. Also try Googling it…

There might be additional data / studies available since, but I can't find them right now. Of course, you could record some current NHL or age-appropriate games yourself and code it yourself… if you have time!! (Not likely…!)

Understand that the level he used to study mirrored professional play, with the rules, skill sets and philosophies of the early 1990's. Things have changed… rules, player fitness, height, weight, overall skills, philosophies, etc! So take this info with a grain of salt. It is 20 years old!

A few quotes from Bjorn:

"In top international play, for instance the final game of the 1994 World Cup, puck possession changed from one team to the other 7.7 times per minute. There's just no time to get the whole team 100 percent into defending before there's a chance to attack again… you are constantly playing "transition hockey" "

"In 1990, I studied and analyzed the transition in 'modern' ice hockey. The study included games from the World Cup Pools A and B, the Swiss and German playoffs and the NHL. The result showed that 60 percent of all goals were scored on the transition, which means, that almost three times as many goals are scored on transition as on the power play (23 percent). But how many teams practice transition three times as much as they practice the power play?"

"If we focus on play with equal numbers of players on both sides, then 88 percent of all goals are scored on transitions… 94 percent of all first class scoring chances are created on transitions."

"…if you want to be good in the game of hockey you have to be great in the game of transition."

"FACTOR 1: TIME. Approximately 88 percent of all goals are scored within 10 seconds after the transition has taken place. But your advantage at the transition moment only lasts for about three seconds. Three seconds is the time a top level team needs to regroup from O to D.Your advantage depends on whether you can surprise your opponent by attacking while they are still in an offensive position. This means, you have a three second limit to make a decision which will determine the success of the whole attack."

"FACTOR 2 – FIRST PLAY. The first play has to go forwards or sideways…"

FACTOR 3 – SCREENING. [No longer allowed in today's rules!]

"FACTOR 4 – THE GOALTENDERS. Your GT is the player who can most often start an attack on the transition from your end."

[Do you include the goalie in passing skills / activities where they must handle and pass the puck / be part of the play? If not, you are way behind the times, my friend! Soccer has been including their goalies for years!]

"FACTOR 5 – POSITION OF PLAYERS. As the game is shifting back and forth from D to O there's no time for major changes of position to either start an attack or to get going with the defensive duties. Each player's O position should therefore be as identical as possible with his / her D ones."

I can't replicate his diagram of where his numbers are on a hockey rink… so try to follow me.

Looking 'down' at a rink. Left hand side is your zone (DZ) and right hand side is the O zone.

Bjorn draws a line in the zone to separate the prime scoring area, but makes it go from the both posts, to both end zone faceoff dots, straight out (90 degrees) to each wall and all the way up to the blueline. From the side, it looks like a "V" with wings.

Both corners of your DZ, connected behind the net (1 large area) are 35%.

The rest of your DZ (the "V" with wings) is 46%.

Blueline to blueline is 30%.

Opposite end zone (OZ) "V" with wings area is 29%.

Opposite end zone in both corners connected behind the net are 13%.

"Figure 1 shows the relationship between transitions and the percentage that led up to an O benefit such as a goal, a scoring chance, a shot on goal or a power play."

If you are still interested, I suggest you find / buy the article / proceedings as I can't type it all in; or do justice to the diagrams!

Hope this helps…

RookieCoach,

Here is another article on Transition that refers to Bjorn's study. The drawback: does the author definitively state 'how' to increase the amount of transitions in practice? He refers to drills containing transitions (which is a start) but for best effect, one should use games! (I taught this fellow how to skate as a U5… now he must be 30 something. Time flies! Nice kid!)

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Hockey is a game in 'a constant state of transition'

Posted in Alberta Edition, http://www.hockeynow.ca, March 02, 2009
By James Poole, director of hockey operations, National Sports Development

Although, it has been used to describe many different parts of the game, TRANSITION can be simply described as the instance the puck changes possession from one team to another.

It is a simple concept, but many good coaches often neglect the importance of being a good transition team. Well, here is a tip to successful coaching: to be good at the game of hockey, you've got to be great in the game of transition.

It is often said that stats don't lie, well think of it in these terms: the puck changes possession on average up to 450 times in a hockey game. Also of note, in an average shift of one minute, there will be eight turnovers that take place; furthermore, a turnover occurs, on average, every 4.7 seconds during a hockey game. These numbers were accumulated in a study done by Bjorn Kinding.

With this in mind, it could be stated that hockey is a constant state of transition. As a team, you are constantly transitioning from offense to defense, and defence to offence. There are many skills involved in transition hockey that coaches can teach their players, but even more important is teaching proper transition habits & instincts. At the highest levels of hockey, it takes a team three seconds to recover from a turnover and set up their defence no matter where the turnover occurs, whether it be offensive zone forecheck or defensive zone coverage.

So conversely, a team has three seconds to attack after a turnover before your advantage is negated. If you can teach your players the right habits in those three seconds, you're going to be a successful hockey team.

Your job as coach is to teach your players the importance of attacking immediately after turnovers. This habit is all based on attitude. Teach your players to immediately go forwards or sideways, never back, with the puck as the same study shows that 88 per cent of goals are scored within the 10 seconds after the transition has occurred.

Even tougher to teach, is the habit of your players transitioning from offense to defense. Every coach stresses to their players the importance of limiting turnovers, but do you also stress the importance following a turnover of limiting the time before you recover to your forecheck or defensive zone coverage? If you can cut the other teams advantage after turnovers to three seconds or lower, you're well on your way to being a good defensive hockey team. Many coaches work on defensive zone coverage, offensive zone fore-checks and wonder why these systems falter in games. The majority of your problems are because your players are slow at reacting in transition and the opposition is attacking before your team is defending.

When dealing with high-level teams from Peewee upwards, run multifaceted drills that simulate turnovers and teach your players to read & react accordingly. In hockey, good teams maximize their time with the puck and limit the opponents – great teams accomplish this plus also have a mental plan for transition. Best of Luck!

James Poole is currently director of hockey operations at National Sports Development and head hockey instructor. James also is in his second-year as head coach of the Calgary Midget AAA Buffaloes, leading them to the 2008 AMHL and Pacific Regional Championship, and most recently the 2008 Gold Medal Mac's Midget Championship.

(Poole is no longer with NSD but the head coach of the Okotoks Oilers of the AJHL)

Kai, I think this is a good place for this discussion.

Playin transiton games in practice has players going through all 4 game playing roles. In drills like a 3-2 you just play offense or defense and don't go from defense to offense or visa versa. Also doing games, drills and competitions that require quick decisions such as 2 touch, Baggo, 2" with the puck only get the playes used to quick decisions, close support and sudden role changes.

As far as systems to me it seems logical to pressure all of the time in order to cause the opponents to play out of their "comfort zone." If 22.7% of the time you get a scoring chance out of offensive zone turnovers then it also seems logical to me that your team should pressure in that zone and not fall back into the nzone and trap.

I have known Bjorn Kinding for a long time. He is now the Head Master at a sports school in Quebec. When I talk with him he says it takes 2" and not 3" for a team to transition from offense to defense and visa-versa. I was at the conference he gave that presentation.

The biggest difference that separates players is how quickly they transiton between the 4 game playing roles, 1-with the puck, 2-support the puck, 3-check the puck carrier, 4-cover away from the puck and the game situations 0-Loose Puck, 1-Offense, 2-Defense. Good players can skate, shoot, pass etc. just as well but they don't change roles as quickly or as seamlessly because they don't 'anticipate' the 'next play' but instead 'react' to the next play.

A lot of this antcipation is learned 'tacit learning', that we get through experiencing situations; such as playing many regular games and practicing game situations.

hockeygod wrote:

Kai K wrote:
This is interesting topic.

The question is; do you play fast forward to attack 1vs3, 2vs4, 3vs5 etc. where the risk of opponents turnover is high. Or do you pass backwards to regroup attack 5 vs 5?

But maybe I should continue with this subject in a Game intelligence thread.

Kai,

You could continue to talk about stats here; or about Transition itself in Game Intelligence. No worries either way!

How I understand your comment: do you attack even when outnumbered (high in the opponents zone) or do you pass backwards to regroup 5 v 5?

I believe the stats would say, "yes – attack sideways or forward immediately" – if your team recovers the puck after a turnover in this zone. Move the puck sideways or forwards right away as you have 3 seconds at the highest / most skilled levels. If you move the puck back (especially if you have already gained this much ice), you negate the critical "moment in transition" where the team who has lost the puck is in /no-man's land'. By moving the puck back, you give them time to adjust – and might have to wait for your team to get onside too!

Besides, in minor hockey, you would most likely have more time… maybe 4-5 seconds – to take advantage of the turnover (in the critical 'moment in transition') – even if your team is outnumbered on the rush / attack!

This is based on how I interpret the stats, discussions with Bjorn and my personal experience as a player and a coach.

Hope I have interpreted your question correctly? If not, please advise…

Yes Dean, you interpreted it correctly. (i'dont mean in OZ, but in DZ or NZ)

There has been great debate over this " fast to north or regroup when outnumbered" here in Finland for few years.

At first I was really sceptic about this puck possession style of the game, where teams if outnumbered would regroup. But I'm starting to see the idea behind it.
Firts option is to win space towards the opponents goal. which is passing or skating forward.
Second option is (if we cant play forward) to create space to win the space, by passin the puck sideways or backwards. So opition one (win space) if we can create even numbered attack (1-1, 2-2, ,3-3) or a odd man rush (2-1, 3-2, 4-3, 3-1). Option two (create space) If opponent outnumbers us .

So as I understand this philosophy, we are trying to minimize the opponent's chances to turnovers. Because if we attack unoranized when we are outnumbered the risk of giving up an odd man rush is high, (our player are out of position or distances between the players are too big.). But when we regroup and gather the five players we can control our distances and we are more likely to be in postion or inside the game if we loos the puck. " good attackin produces good defending".
And it works in defense too, good backchecking keeps the five players tight and allows fast short passes.

I hope english isn't too painfull to read and this makes somekind of sense to you, if doesn't make sense please ask, I'll try to explain my self better.
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What I teach is a 3 options.
1. Get the puck and make a play i.e. carry or pass.
2. If there is no play in front of you, you are outnumbered etc. then Regroup.
3. No play or regroup is possilbe then gain a zone. i.e. dump it out, get it in deep.
Tom
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TomM wrote:
Kai, I think this is a good place for this discussion.

Playin transiton games in practice has players going through all 4 game playing roles. In drills like a 3-2 you just play offense or defense and don't go from defense to offense or visa versa. Also doing games, drills and competitions that require quick decisions such as 2 touch, Baggo, 2" with the puck only get the playes used to quick decisions, close support and sudden role changes.

Further support to Igor's results –
• While improving offensive game activities of individuals in typical 1 on 1 game situations, game exercises and preparation games should be applied under conditions similar to matches.

As far as systems to me it seems logical to pressure all of the time in order to cause the opponents to play out of their "comfort zone." If 29% of the time you get a scoring chance out of offensive zone turnovers then it also seems logical to me that your team should pressure in that zone and not fall back into the nzone and trap.

Especially against teams with equal or less skill – even skilled players take time to adapt to pressure when they don't face it on a regular basis! Pressure reduces time and space, so closing the gap quickly, getting bodies in the way, sticks on the ice to close passing lanes, taking approaches from the middle to steer / influence them to one side of the ice… all are effective in helping create turnovers!

I have known Bjorn Kinding for a long time. He is now the Head Master at a sports school in Quebec. When I talk with him he says it takes 2" and not 3" for a team to transition from offense to defense and visa-versa. I was at the conference he gave that presentation.

(14 Jun 2011 – The Fort McMurray Jr. A Oil Barons (AJHL) are pleased to announce that they have added Bjorn Kinding as an Associate Coach effective immediately.)

The biggest difference that separates players is how quickly they transiton between the 4 game playing roles, 1-with the puck, 2-support the puck, 3-check the puck carrier, 4-cover away from the puck and the game situations 0-Loose Puck, 1-Offense, 2-Defense. Good players can skate, shoot, pass etc. just as well but they don't change roles as quickly or as seamlessly because they don't 'anticipate' the 'next play' but instead 'react' to the next play.

100% agree! Quick decision-making (hockey sense or game sense) separates great from good players…

A lot of this antcipation is learned 'tacit learning', that we get through experiencing situations; such as playing many regular games and practicing game situations.

I agree. Implicit learning through experience (tacit learning) – the game teaches the game – is the best way to create long-term Game Intelligence!

Interesting topic. Thanks for all the posts. Here's another look at modern puck "possession," really puck retrieval, using the red wings and canucks as examples:

(Attached as PDF since it was detected as spam….it's not, I swear!)

I would argue that anticipation plays a huge role in puck retrieval and transition play too. The question I'm battling with is how to teach anticipation?

Thanks,
Dave

Okay I'll try to answer to this first….

hockeygod wrote:

The puck carrier (and their teammates) need to understand the 'where and when' or 'time and space' or 'risk vs. reward' and be able to respond quickly (within the critical 2-3 seconds for pros) depending on the outcome (either offensively or defensively). Maybe this is what you mean by 'good attacking produces good defending?'

Yes… it's defensive readiness when attacking… I don't know if if this is good example but I'll try.
Here is a diagram of quite typical Finnish "delay" or controlled break out.

Here's how it continious to NZ. F1 (with the puck) should keep the puck to draw the opponents Ds closer to him and then pass to F2 or 3

This is how they enter the OZ wide, with good balance (3 lanes) now from here we are ready to use that 3 seconds if there is a loose puck from shot or from goalie's save and we are allso ready to react and give pressure if we have to defend. It's too bad i made these diagrams for another subject so it doesn't show Ds movement.
D1 plays to the high slot

It's getting late here, I hope it makes some sense.