ABC Coding System

My diagrams are coded in the ABC format. This is like a library coding to make it easier to find things. Code designed by IIHF Hall of Fame coach Juhani Wahlsten (3 Olympics, 7 World Championships and former captain of Finland National Team)

A - Skating and individual skill

B - Partner skills

C - Game situation drills

D - Games full and SAG

DT - Transition games

E - Shootouts and contests

F – Fitness skating.

G – Goaltender training.

O – Off-ice training.

T - Teaching drills and games where the coach is controlling the situation and giving instruction on individual skills or team play.

The letter tells what is being worked on. The number behind the letter tells what the area of the ice it is being done in.

A1 – cross ice A100 – cross ice with a puck. (ind. Or skating skills cross-ice and then cross-ice with a puck) A3 – around the rink. A300 – around the rink with a puck. Etc.
The same happens with all the drills and games. i.e.

D – Game situation.

D1 – Full ice. D100 – Full ice with extra players on the side or in the box.
D2 – Cross-ice game. D200 with extra players rotating in.
D3 – one cross-ice game and another game from the goal line to the far blue line. D300 with extra players rotating in.
D4 – one zone game and D400 with extra players.
D5 – A D4 game at each end and a D2 game in the neutral zone. D500 with extra players.
D6 – Full ice with two nets on each goal line making two full ice games at once. D600 with extra players.
D7 – ¼ ice games with two nets on each goal line. D700 extra players rotating in.
D8 – Four games at once with two nets on each goal line and two nets near the red line. D800 extra players. (good to have a hose, boards or rink divider along the red line.) Good game formation with smaller players.

DT - Transition Games are coded in a similar way.


Some examples with video links:

D200 2-2 Shoot Either Net – Pro
http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?showtopic=4071&topic=5793#5793

C3 1-1 to 2-2 - D Join F Backcheck-Pro
http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?showtopic=4071&topic=5822#5822

T2-4 D400 Specialty Team Practice - Czech Republic U20
http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?showtopic=4071&topic=4071#4071

D4 Two Pass - Czech Republic U20
http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?showtopic=4071&topic=4087#4087

A300 Shoot-Rebound-Walk In-Walk out - Swedish U20
http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?showtopic=4071&topic=4133#4133

F - B6 2-0 Disguised Skate - Pro
http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?showtopic=6369&topic=6555#6555

B3 Three Lane Shots - Swiss U20
http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?showtopic=4071&topic=4164#4164

D200 - 2 on 1 x 2 Race to Score – Pro

Key Points:

Two on one contests. The attackers must get open, pick, shoot, pass etc. to score and the defender must realize it is really a 2 on 2 and cover the attack or pass to the most dangerous player and give the other attacker to the goalie. Lots of talking on defense.

Description:

1. Play a 2 on 1 at each end.
2. Blue attack at one end and Red at the other.
3. The first team to score gets one point.
4. Switch the players after a goal is scored.
5. Contest is to see who can score 5 goals first (or some other total)

*Making the 2-1 a game gives urgency to the attackers to score and the defender to battle.

http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20130910140300583

https://youtu.be/9wPKabpwB18

https://www.facebook.com/518555930/videos/pcb.723024538607346/10159466603195931/

T3 - C2 Angling 2-1 Wally - Pro W

Key Points:

Defender create an angle from inside to cut the ice in half, deflect the play wide, angle at the back of the inside shoulder with the stick on the puck and finish. Second checker mirror from a little behind.

Description:

1. Coach shoot the puck across the ice on the attacking teams half or dump it softly.
2. Red 1 race for the puck and attack the Blue net.
3. Blue 1 and 2 tag up at the blue line then arc slightly behind the puck carrier to cut the ice in half.
4. Blue 1 close the gap approaching toward the back shoulder with body on body and stick on the puck.
5. Blue 1 rub out Red 1 and Blue 2 pick up the puck.
6. Blue 1 and 2 attack the other way while Red 1 back checks.
7. Repeat with Blue 3 on offense vs. Red 1-2.

* This can also be done as a 1-1 drill to teach the concepts of angling - deflect-steer-angle-finish with body on body and stick on the puck.

http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20130902174459633

C2 Angling 2-1 - Pro W
https://youtu.be/lovH0_urHDg

Observing Players Develop Youth to Pro - 4-4

D100 Pro 4-4 Tournament

I posted this as a demonstration of how the top level players keatb good habits and great technique when they are young. They move the puck to the open man, support the puck and get open, have sticks on the puck and in the passing lanes. They usually bury the puck if they have a good chance. Notice how they face the play with the puck by pivoting and turning so they can see everyone. They move to open ice and really protect the puck with their body.

Lots of other good things. If you go to the videos of the 85ers doing a DT100 transition game you can see the player in blue with the white pad on his back. He still skates the same bent over way and does that Gretzky quick turn to gain ice for himself. I coached them when he was 12-13 for two springs. 40 practices 90 minutes each for ten weeks for two years and we went into two tournaments a year. So I coached them 80 practices or 120 hours. Five of the 9 F were still playing pro last year.

They work out every week day with this format to get ready for the season.
- skate around handling the puck.
- some passing, shooting drills run by a coach.
- play a 4-4 full ice tournament and keep score.
- play 3-3 cross ice and keep score.
- do about 10 minutes of skating.

http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20130824182500255

https://youtu.be/jbrAHM9JQUM

Same player when he was 12. He had a good career in the NHL and played for Canada in the 2018 Olympics. Another small player won the Hobey Baker. He only grew to 5* 6" and had a great career in Europe another drafted in second round and played in the NHL, coached in Sweden and was an NHL head coach and now HC in AHL. Everyone on the team played at least Jr. A. Lots played major junior or NCAA Div. 1 and many played in the minors. They turn 36 this year. A few are still playing in Europe.. The best player was second overall in Bantam draft and quit hockey at 18. They were skilled enough at 12 to do any drill or game that the pro's in the video above can do. Just not as fast.
D100 4-4 - Pro
https://youtu.be/vSn8xg6JiIw

DT100 Continuous 1-1 with 85er's
http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20090726085538618

DT100 Continuous 2-1 - 85er's
https://youtu.be/3USLKJdp3r8

DT100 - Continuous 1-1 - 85er's
https://youtu.be/5c0qnDpWTUM

https://www.facebook.com/518555930/videos/pcb.720165612226572/10159452516725931/

B5 Middle Drive and Cycle - 10 Seconds to Score

Key Points:

The player in the middle lane skate hard to the top of the goal crease. The two players in opposite wide lanes are about a quarter of a zone behind. Force the backchecker to make the proper decision.

Description:

1. Players leave from the red line.
2. R1 pass wide to R2 or R3.
3. R1 skate hard to the top of the goal crease and stop.
4. R2 and R3 follow in a second wave behind R1.
5. R3 pass across to R2 who one times the puck on net.
6. Play a rebound or a new puck shot by the coach and work together to score within 10 seconds from the start.
7. Next group repeat.
8. Create a contest to see how many goals they can score within the time limit.

D200, 3 on 3 Game – Pro

Key Points:

This is a small area game and good habits like facing the play with and without the puck are curcial. Everyone should cover one player on defense and give close support on offense.

Description:

1. Play a cross ice game of 1-1 to 5-5.
2. Extra players line up along the blue line.
3. Shifts 20-30" and pass to teammate coming on on the whistle.
4. Coach put in a new puck on a goal.
5. Keep score.

http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20130820140536720

https://youtu.be/Gcr43Q6HYHs

https://www.facebook.com/518555930/videos/pcb.720140012229132/10159452414605931/

C3 Regroup 2-1 Regroup 3-2- Swiss U20

Key Points:

Face the puck and do everything while skating. Hinge either out on inside or D switch sides.

Description:

1. Blue F1-F2 Regroup with Blue D1-D2.
2. Blue F1-F2 attack 2-1 vs. Red D1.
3. Blue F3 pass to Blue D1 or D2 who hinge and regroup with Blue F1-2-3.
4. Blue F1-F2-F3 attack vs. Red D1-D2.
5. Repeat the other way Red F1-F2 regroup with Blue D1-D2.

http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/filemgmt_data/C3%20Regroup%202-1%20Regroup%203-2%20Swiss%20%20U20.3gp

https://youtu.be/Wzo7jF4eFeY

https://www.facebook.com/518555930/videos/pcb.719037845672682/10159448142240931/

B600 Double Regroup Attack 3-0, 2 F and 1 D - U18 F

Key Points:

Everyone face the puck all of the time. On the regroup give wall and middle support and not continuous crossing (as you should in a game.) Attack with speed and pursue the first rebound before returning to the line-up.

Description:

1. Line up at each blue line with forwards and D together.
2. BF1-2 cross and drop.
3. BF1-2 regroup with RD 1-2.
4. RD 1-2 hinge and pass up to BF1-2.
5. BF1-2 regroup with RD 1-2.
6. RD 1-2 hinge and pass up to BF1-2.
7. BF 1-2 attack along with the BD who passed up ice making it 3-0.
8. Repeat the other way with RF 1-2 regrouping.

*This flow can turn into 2-1, 2-2 or have 3 F's.

http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20130912152511679

https://youtu.be/jy8X5Ret2iE

https://www.facebook.com/518555930/videos/pcb.719028272340306/10159448094080931/

B202 – Passing Options – Sweden U20

Key Points:

Description:

In the B202 Formation the players face each other from the bluelines and across the neutral zone. This is a good formation for skill development and many situations can be created. This is the Swedish U20 Team using this formation for passing and attacking.

http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/filemgmt_data/B202%20Pass%20and%20Shoot%20Options-Sweden%20U20.3gp

B202 – Passing Options – Sweden U20
http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?showtopic=6369&topic=6507#6507

https://youtu.be/PdF8NhLzn7g

https://youtu.be/n7_zZx8WorM

https://www.facebook.com/tom.molloy.5836/videos/10159445485310931

A400 - Puck Handling Skills 4 Lanes - Pro

Key Points:

Handle the puck all around the body. Loosen the shoulders and roll the wrists. Stick handle quietly and softly. You must be able to move the puck side to side, so the stick is too long if you cannot do this and too short if you are too bent over to see up ice. Separate the movement of the upper and lower body moving the puck one way and the body the other way. Use head and shoulder fakes.

Description:

1. Rink is separated into four lanes with one two groups starting one way and two the other. (you can use the offside dots and middle dot instead of cones)
2. Players do each exercise down and back two of the lanes on their side of the ice.
3. Do a new exercise each time with a coach or player demonstrating the new exercise.

Refer to the Russian Big Moves postings for more exercises, especially with Jursinov and Yashin. (Yashin - http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?s=20080722140651119 with much looser shoulders and bigger more quiet moves)

http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20130812222953884

https://youtu.be/hFbPIfp9tGM

A400 - Puck Handling Skills 4 Lanes - Pro
https://youtu.be/1p02iz8rk7Q

A400 - Skills in 4 Lanes - Pro
https://youtu.be/cvAVv219tJA

A400 Skating and Puck Handle 4 Lanes - Pro
https://youtu.be/UMqbXiCMsdc

The new season is approaching. I am in the process of converting the video I have with new practice ideas into the 3gpp format that is much more universal than the wmv. I was using. I have so much posted now that about 25% of it is the same drill or game done by a different group. I will add the link to where it is posted before to give for example my U18 girl's doing a 3-0 weave with a regroup at the far end and add a pro team doing the same thing.

I am seeing a trend with the better coaches. "Less is more." So less whistles - more player engagement, example - the players watch to see when it is time to leave. I also see adding skill or situation components to drills. i.e. the shooter circles back and rebounds for the next shooter or give and go passes from the goal line or instead of a 1-0 with a shot and rebound now the shooter plays 1-1 with the next shooter - this can be an active battle or he simply gets in the way and the attacker has to make a move instead of going in non obstructed. In a 1-1, 2-1 etc. situation drill the better coaches allow them to play it out and the drill ends when the goalie freezes the puck, a goal or the D passes to a coach or a player.

You can see this in the last few drills I have posted. Troy Ward doesn't use whistles and the 2-1 ends when the play is finished and the next players watch and then leave. Corey Cross working with NHL players has a 2-0 with zero whistles and the none shooter circle back for a rebound.

Another thing I see is players move pucks after the drill to where they are needed next. Now the asst. coaches can listen to the key points for the next drill and don't appear like they are servants moving pucks around.

Less military command style teaching and more player involvement. This also frees the coach from being a traffic cop and allows him to talk with the players coming back to the line-up about what just happened.

I am seeing more transition games instead of situation drills and more small area games.

Another improvement is to change the situation drills or transition games and SAG to random numbers. So instead of a player knowing that is is a 1-1 have from 1 to 3 players leave on offense and on defense. Now they have to read the play and communicate.

Something I learned this summer working with former WHA, NHL player and asst. coach was to have a time limit on drills. So on a 3-0 middle drive rush they get 10' only to score or if it is against 1-2 or 3 opponents the same thing. This creates urgency and leads to more 'Deliberate Practice.'

T2-C3 Breakout-Double Regroup 5 on 2 – Pro

Key Points:

Face the puck and time movement with the play. Fill the three lanes and get to the Big Ice in the neutral zone if possible. Attack with a middle drive if D have a good gap.

Description:

1. Coach dumps puck in.
2. Blue team breaks out.
3. Blue regroup with Red D.
4. Red D simulate a neutral zone turn-over and pass to Blue D.
5. Blue regroup in neutral zone.
6. Blue attack Red D 5 on 2.
7. Give 10" from the start of the regroup for Blue to score.
8. Sprint out of the zone on the whistle.

http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20130804170228167

https://youtu.be/27YXsDj_WW4

https://www.facebook.com/518555930/videos/pcb.717101679199632/10159440744960931/

C600 - 2 on 1 x 2 – No Whistles - Pro

Key Points:
One high one low, one fast one slow on the attack. D identify the most dangerous attacker and shots from the middle. No whistles so players have to watch and start toward the open end of the ice.

Description:
1. F's line up at diagonal blue lines and D's at opposite diagonal blue lines.
2. D1 pass up the boards to F1.
3. F1 skate to the middle and pass to F2 who crosses behind as D1 closes the gap.
4. F1-F2 attack 2-1 vs. D1.
5. Coach mirror the play from the high slot. (A player could also do this)
6. D2 pass to F3 and F4 skate back and cross to attack D2 the other way.
7. Finish the attack with a goal, frozen puck or D pass to the coach.
8. Players watch to see which attack is finished and start the 2-1 in that direction.

http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20130717135909954

https://youtu.be/UTa1bQmU_ZM

https://www.facebook.com/518555930/videos/pcb.709671216609345/10159413840235931/

B4 - 2-0 Shot - Rebound – Shot - Pro

Key Points:
Shoot while skating and aim at the far pad. It is really a shot pass off the goalies pad when the shooter sees he has no openings and #2 is going hard to the net.

Description:
1. Start in the B5 formation with the players inside the middle circle.
2. Each #1 leave to the wide lane and get a pass from #2.
3. #1 Skate wide and shoot from outside the circle and shoot low to the far pad to create a rebound.
4. #2 go hard to the far post and be ready to shoot in a rebound.
5. Repeat the other way with each #3 leaving and getting a pass from #4.

http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20121108160612789

https://youtu.be/0HCgSpXnpeU

https://www.facebook.com/518555930/videos/pcb.708090000100800/10159407638455931/

We did this game yesterday and the players were very creative with their plays from below the goal line. I encouraged them to face up ice when possible and move the puck from side to side and use one timer shots. It is great for defenders to practice keeping their head on a swivel and see their man and the puck as well as the goalie tracking the puck by looking over their shoulder. We played 2 on 2 and the play had to be below the top of the circles. In a 2-2 game you have all three game situations. 0 - loose puck, 1 - offense, 2 - defense. You also have all Four Game Playing Roles. On offense, Role 1 - player with the puck and Role 2 - player supporting the puck. On defense Role 3 - player checking the puck carrier and Role 4 - player covering away from the puck. So it is a great game to practice Transition between Game Situations and Game Playing Roles plus all of the individual skills we have been practicing like skating, puck handling, passing, one timers, puck protection, stick on the puck, stick in the lane.
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D4 - Goals Must Originate Below Goal - U18 G

Key Points:
Players learn to protect the puck, pass to themselves off the boards or back of the net and use the net for puck protection. Also change the point of attack. Defenders must see the puck and the player they are covering and goalie must look over their shoulder and move side to side.

Description:
1. Play game situations from 1-1 to 5-5.
2. Situations 3 on 3 or less the players must keep the puck below the top of the circles.
3. To start an attack the puck must be moved below the goal line.
4. When the defenders get the puck they have to get it deep below the goal line before they can score.

D4 - Games of Two Pass with Jokers Behind Net – Youth
https://youtu.be/r2IYt4shHMM