Just an update to share:
We seem to have somewhat reduced the turnovers in our zone but not entirely. It looks as if our players revert back to "panic form" when under pressure. We have only had a couple of practices and games to re-enforce the methods we want to employ such as the D moving to open ice and making a tape-to-tape pass. The forwards seem to struggle with facing the D during defensive zone coverage and re-groups.
My players really like the transition games I have introduced with the help of this site. Can you suggest a game we can play that would help with some of the issue we have? Or perhaps introducing a rule to some of the games? Our next practice would have a goalie trainer using 1/3 of the ice for the first hour and then the next 20 mins would be full ice.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
When the goalie coach is working at one end I would play some games and do a few movement drills.
Have about 5 or 6 players around each circle and have them pass with eye contact and with everyone giving a target. Then pass one puck and follow the pass, then repeat both with 2 pucks.
Break into groups of 2 on 2 or 3 on 3 and give each group an area of the ice to move in. Play keepaway where a team gets a point when they make 5 passes in a row. Rotatate groups every minutes and change the rules. i.e. only forehand, must take at least 3 strides before passing, only 2" with the puck, must pivot (all the rules require them to move before passing.
Do the Detroit regroup drill with everyone (I posted how to do this about two weeks ago where 2 skate and regoup with opposite 2 at the far blueline. They hing and pass back then get a pass and do the same the opposite way. You could shoot into the empty net at one end.
when you get your goalies play full ice 3 on 3 or 4 on 4 with the rule that you must take at least 3 hard strides before passing and can't rim. Another rule is that you can't pass until you have beaten at least one player, then at least one pass per zone. You can also play that one pass per zone is needed but you can't pass until you have carried over a blue line and only one pass is allowed in the offensive end.
'Enjoy the Game'