This mornings session. One goalie and 13 skaters-6 younger group and 7 older group. We usually have 2 goalies. I layed one net down and goales are scored by hitting only the mesh at the top of the net - any metal then no goal.
Theme of Practice: Puck protection, slip across move, BACKHAND PASSES WITH EYE CONTACT, creating 2 on 1's, taking the ice behind, close support, winning offensive 1-1's.
-10 minutes. - Individual work on shots or moves. I just monitor and give some individual tips.
-5 minutes - I demonstrated how to set up the defender for the slip across in front of the toes move. Key points; Fake going inside and the defender witll collapse to the middle then go outside. If he tries to check you by moving outside then slip the puck in front of him and gain the inside. They practiced this with a partner for a few minutes.
-5 minutes - goalie coach at one end. pucks spread out around neutral zone and we did chaos stickhandling. I stress protect the puck when you approach anyone. Avoid other players and the puck. 5 " full speed burst. Added make escape moves or going backward, sliding sideways or tight turns.
10 minutes. - Goalie coach took the younger 6 players and they lined up along the blue line. He passed to them and they went in on the goalie alone, then skated had to the red line.
- I took the older 7 and reviewed puck handling technique then did a 1-1 drill where 2 players leave from the middle and skate back to each blue line. The offensive player now turns attacks vs the defender who has transitioned skate from forward to backward. I stressed to make hard fakes and then take what the defender gives you and protect the puck.
10 minutes - half ice game at each end with the rules: A. at least 3 passes. B. all passes and shots must be on the BACKHAND ONLY.
10 minutes - Full ice game of 3-3 and 4-3 (2 groups) Rule: all passes and shots must be on the BACKHAND ONLY and at least one pass in EACH ZONE. The scoring team gets the puck and goes the other way (one goalie and one net face down with the top facing out and goals count if no metal is hit. One minute shifts and switch directions each shift.
15 minutes: - Full ice with everyone playing so it was 7 on 6. Same rules of at least one pass in each zone. Only Backhands allowed and the scoring team gets the puck and goes the other way while the other team must touch the red line before checking them.
I stopped them a few times during the game to encourage creating 2 on 1's, passing and then taking the ice behind (I used the Sedin twins as the example, giving close support and dangling with the puck to create space so they could make BH passes with EYE CONTACT) At rhe end we talked for a minute about what worked and what didn't and the kid's said the game was fun.
About half the skaters were there. Only 2 from the advanced group and 8 from the younger plus a goalie with each group. Many have left for warmer spring break weather with their families.
I will paste the video links to the games and shootout. Remember about 4 of these kid's don't play on any teams and 3 just started playing in September.
- Ten minutes of individual skills that the players want to work on. Some shoot, some pass, some play 1-1 or 2-2. I go around and give ideas on technique.
-10 min. we worked on the saucer snap pass while the goalies worked with their coach. I demoed how you can pass within the stickhandling by snapping it from the heel towards the middle with the top hand moving like when you throw a frissbee. We just did short passes over the blue or red line with partners. Most players have trouble with this and dip the inside shoulder trying to lift the puck tooo much. It is the most effective pass to clear the sticks in the passing lane and land flat. I demonstrated it many times to give them a picture and moved around helping them.
-10 minutes- Chris the goalie coach ran the big horseshoe. First 5 min was with shots from the top of the circle and the next 5 min. was with dekes. 2.5 min. each side.
-15 min. D1 full ice game of 5-5. Rule: a. that there must be at least one pass in each zone (puck support and on ice vision) b. after you score the entire team must score until you can score again,(so the older kid's must look around and younger ones support) c. scoring team get the puck and go the other way while the other team must touch the red line before checking. (one goalie is a first year goalie)
http://hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=2011032414361323
-12 min. D1 full ice 5-5. New Rule: you can only have the puck for 2". Other rules the same. This makes it critical that you get close support.
http://hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20110324143851598
During these games I blow the whistle and everyone stops and I comment on things like creating offensive 2 on 1's, giving close support, calling for the puck, protecting the puck, skating to open ice with the puck, etc. I do this every 3 or 4 minutes. This is trying to teach them how to use the skills effectively and how to Play the Game.
-8 minutes - 2 shot shootout. Shoot on each goalie. Zero goals = 2 laps, One goal = one lap, 2 goals = 0 laps.
http://hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20110324144209198
The players then pic up 3 or 4 pucks each and put them in the puck bag. (takes about 30 seconds; they use them; they pick them up)
'Enjoy the Game'