Reply To: 2011 Spring Teams

[Tom Molloy]

The best habit a player can have is to skate to open ice when they get the puck. Most players skate if they are going to try to go through everyone and stand still with their legs apart if they are going to pass. This lets everyone know their only option is to pass and causes lots of turn overs.
Encourage the players to play the game with their feet moving. It can be forward, backward, tight turn etc. Just go away from pressure and protect the puck.
We did a full ice game requiring at least one pass in each zone and then 2 pucks at once as a nevous system overload to warm up.
There was a goalie coach there so we worked on moves in the nzone with 5" at full speed intervals. Escape moves and puck protection moves. We then played puck dog stopping at the top of the circle at one end so the goalies could continue practicing.
We used overspeed in the nzone finishing with a shot and used a 1:4 work rest ratio
Two games had the rule that they must take at least 3 strides to open ice when they got the puck. Probably the most important modifide rule a coach can use.
Finished with a change on the go shootout.
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10 min.
D1 Game with at least one pass in each zone.
Half the players wear pinnies and everyone plays including the coaches who model the rule.

10 min.
-Goalies at one end with goalie coach.
A3 – B500
-Handle 2 pucks at once keeping them under control and progress to one on the stick on one in the skates.
-Puck protection in nzone. Chaos shield the puck, use escape moves, head and shoulder fakes. Fast on whistle.

5 min.
A2 Puck Dog
One game of puck dog. One player is the puck dog and the goal is to be the last player to lose the puck before getting to the end of the rink.

5 min.
B5 overspeed.
– 3 leave at once and full speed making moves for 7” then go in and shoot.
– 2-0 passing for 7” then attack –shoot.
– 3-0 passing and a shot.

20 min. Two ten minute games with a break between. Switch teams after 10”.
D4-A game at each end where you must get onside. Rule “the player must take at least 3 hard strides to open ice before making a pass or taking a shot.” The other team gets the puck if you don’t.
-You must take the puck over the blue line to go on offense and all get onside.

10 min.
E1 Shootout – change on the go.
Players are in the box and one puck on each blue line for every player.
Player from each team leaves the box and tries to score. If they score they race to the box and touch the boards and then the next player can leave.
Max 3 shots and then they must change of the go with another player.
First team to score with all the pucks wins. It works better to put the pucks on the blue line than in the middle as in the diagram.

Attachments

• 02 Skate to Open Ice Practice.pdf (284 KB)

'The Game is the Greatest Coach'
'Enjoy the Game'