Reply To: Game Intelligence / Decision Training

Thanks Dean & Tom, for making me think…….I thought I got Sundays off!?

Teaching anticipation – Hopefully players have a general understanding of anticipation meaning something like "being ready for what comes next before it happens," but I would ask them to explain what it is and why it matters. Simplifying the game into 3 possible situations (loose puck, they have it, or we have it) is important here as the transition from one to the other is what we are trying to anticipate better. Using some examples from recent games or even other sports could help establish relevance too…..think of a shortstop in baseball turning a double play. This play does not happen unless the shortstop and 2nd baseman size up the situation first and then react properly and quickly. This is the kind of reaction we are looking for, only on the fly over and over again in hockey…….making proper reads and reacting to the ever changing state of possession, and it needs to happen with ALL 5 PLAYERS, not just the ones closest to the puck. That is why I really like Kai's video of Detroit with the red, yellow & green indicator on the screen…it is a great example of all 5 players doing just that.

In order for anticipation to happen properly players need to read visible cues that indicate the level of puck possession by either team, and I would next switch the focus to this. I would ask players to indicate what those cues might be and how it might affect their positioning on the ice (assuming they have a basic understanding of d-zone coverage). Playing even strength transition games should help demonstrate the need to be ready for changes in possession, and I would gradually add players (D2, F2 & F3) until we have built up to full 5 v 5 situations. Playing games with modified rules, like only 2 sec. for puck possession before passing or shooting, would help re-enforce the concept. If I had a little more tech savvy I would look at video of our own team play in the same way that Kai looked at the Red Wings and ask players to evaluate how we are doing, and I would keep the concept front and center through all the areas of the game for the season.

Thanks for making me think it through. I could write more, but I didn't anticipate having to do so much work on a Sunday. (Actually, I slammed my finger in a car door today, so it's going pretty slowly!) How did I do?

Dave