Day 4 the players got 1.5 hockey and 1.5 sessions of skating. They started with one hour of skating and we split the next session with 30 minutes of each and finished with a one hour hockey session followed by 45 minutes of dryland, supper and then swimming.
I searched around the rink and found 45 m. of 2×4 boards which I put lengthwise down the middle of the neutral zone and then used a bunch of pylons to divide the ice into two halves the length of the ice. We had one net at each end of each half. This is the D6 formation and allows the players to go the full length of the ice.
30 minute session
We had 12 older players on one side and 15 on the other. We played 2 on 2 with 60" shifts where you pass to the teammate coming on from a lineup against the boards when the whistle goes. We also played 3 on 3 with the older kids and 4 on 4 with one line and 3- 3 with the other in the younger group.
– Passing Rule: – I didn't make any rule but encouraged them to carry the puck if they are in the best position and pass the puck if someone is in better position than them. I wanted to see how aware they are. The offside rule was in effect.
– It ended up to be two fast paced games and a great workout. The kids really liked it.
– rule: when you score you must touch the red line before checking the puck.
60 minute session – Ice still divided into two full length areas.
– 5 minute game of soccer on one side and ringuette on the other with eveyone playing. After 5 minutes switch the soccer and ringuette ball and ring.
– 1 on 1' on both sides. We started with a quick review of how to play a defensive 1-1 and stay on the D side, eyes up, elbow back.
– Drill – Attacker and defender both leave from the red line and skate back to their blueline and then forward. The attacker keeps going toward the opposite net and the defender must tighten his gap skating forward and then do a transition to backward skating and stay on the D side. When they cross the blue line the next two start and attack the other net.
– 2 on 1 – Now 2 attackers skate back to the blueline and forward vs one D who does the same thing in the opposite direction.
– 2 on 2 game of 60"
– 3 on 2 game of 60" with the teams alternating between sending 2 and then 3 players.
-2 on 2 transition game.- 2 attack and get passive support by 2 players when puck enters zone. On a goal or when defenders gain puck they attack the other way vs the new players on the point. Rotation goes one end to the other with the offensive team always getting support.
We moved to the D7 Formation which uses only one net. So 4 games happen at the same time.
– Game one – Quick transition game of 2 on 2. The groups were 2 of 6 and 2 of 7. Rotation is attack-defend-pass quickly to the players waiting at the blue line – rest.
– Game two – Resting players move back to the red line and the defenders must BREAK OUT OVER THE BLUE LINE before passing to the next players who attack the original attackers. This adds breakout skills to the game.
They are on the ice with Gaston now having the last skating session and we will finish with a full ice regular game this afternoon and then the beautiful drive past the Columbian Ice Fields and thru Banff National Park back to the big city.
When I get home and have my laptop with the drill drawing program I will attach diagrams of the games and drills.
'The Game is the Greatest Coach'
'Enjoy the Game'