Reply To: A little help with my power play

[hockeygod]

TomM wrote:
Rookie Coach, practicing 5-0 is certainly not the only thing we do to practice the power play but it is an effective way to review the options in the middle of a tournament when you don't want to get too tired practicing. The pressure is from the shot every 3 second rule and this creates if nothing else a great passing drill while moving with a purpose.

We have drills where we pass to the point and then screen, or pass and rush the point to create pressure. We also work all of the options into the same drill from the corner.

We play half ice and full ice games of 5-5 where the pk team leaves one or two players in the nzone to create odd man situations.

So far this season we have arranged 4 team play scrimmages with other teams at our level and we take turns with 12 minute 5-4, 4-5, 5-3, 3-5, 4-4 and 5-5. The team meets at the bench the first three minutes to go over the situation and then we play 9 minutes and the buzzer goes for the next situation.

So 5-0 is ONE of the many things we do to work on the power play during practices. I rotate practices between the themes of Role one-individual offensive skill (this is where we isolate small situations like a 2-1 out of the corner, in drills, games and transition games) We do the same thing when we practice Role three – individual defensive skills (drills, games, transition games focus on the dside of the puck) Role Two – Team offensive skill, was half of last nights practice that is where the group has to learn to move as ONE. Role Four – Team defensive skill also requires all to move as one. We play 'Total Hockey' where everyone starts out at the faceoff in their 'Home Position' and read 1-2-3-4-5 after that within the system we have agreed to play together. Everyone has to understand the system in all three zones on offense-defense and loose puck situations. There has to be a level of 'Clarity' so that when you score eveyone knows why and when you get scored on everyone knows why.

The game isn't just a couple of players working together but everyone on the ice working together. The individual offensive and defensive situations up to 3-3 are the building blocks for Team Play. A coach has to practice ALL of these situations because the GAME has all of these situations in it.

It isn't an either-or thing. You need to practice everything on offense-defense and loose puck situations. They need the TOOLS of individual and partner skills in order to accomplish Team Play. As Harry Neal would say 'It is no use having the tools if you have no 'Tool Box.' Skills are important but so is Game Understanding. You need it ALL and that my friends is the 'Challenge of Coaching.'

Well put Tom. I took RK's comment to point out the requisite need to build skills before systems; or else the coach (and players, parents) will be frustrated by the lack (or actually, inability) of performance. "You can't skate before you can crawl… stand… walk… run…!"

Time pressure is an important component when simulating the realities of a game. It harkens back to the days with Stewart Behie recording passes (good vs bad decision / turnover) with the Dinos men's team. I would love to see you start a thread explaining what Stewart did (I know you have alluded to it on here before and in conversation with me.) I think it could be Hockey's version of a "Moneyball" characteristic!

I remember Harry hosting Roger Nielson's coaching clinics back in the 1990's… he had a great wit and often talked about 'the toolbox'… or lack thereof…!

RK, Not sure what exact stats you are asking for; beyond what I posted? Do you have any specific requests pertaining to the data?

Let me know and then I will look back at Bjorn's study and see if I can provide any more clarity for you…

Dean
M.Ed (Coaching)
Ch.P.C. (Chartered Professional Coach)
Game Intelligence Training
"Great education depends on great teaching."