Reply To: Aerobic Vs. Anaerobic – Training in practice , preparing for game situations

[hockeygod]

Thanks RK! 'Twas nuttin'!

I agree with your comment regarding the need for every coach to have a rudimentary understanding of energy systems and how / when to train / maintain them.

Bag skates should be outlawed. They serve no physiological purpose – just an example of a frustrated, uneducated coach bullying his players… because he doesn't know 'how' to coach them properly! Dummies…

If more coaches played my Smart Transitional Games (etc.), they would find that conditioning is built in (disguised) and the kids play hard and smart, bust their a$$e$ and develop positive game habits. No need to bag skate.

If I wanted to 'mentally and physically challenge' my players – but not because they played bad – I would invoke the "Punisher Rule of Engagement"… then they would understand how to elevate their comfort zones!

The "Punisher" 1 v 1 – you can't leave the game until you score. If you get scored on, you face a fresh opponent. People have been known to quit and leave the ice surface on this one… only for older kids who understand the reasons behind it… and you need to build up your level of trust / respect and have outstanding communication with the kids. I would only do it once / month at most; this is after I have had the kids for a year or so.

It is based on Tarasov's alleged training of Valeri Kharlamov. The story says that Tarasov saw something special in Kharlemov. Becasue he was so good 1 v 1, Tarasov told Kharlemov he had to go away (to Siberia?) for a year and train 1 v multiple opponents until he mastered the 1 v 5; at which time he could return and resume training with the team! So a 1 v 1 drill for anyone else became a 1 v 2 drill for Kharlemov… then a 1 v 3; 1 v 4; 1 v 5! He trained for a year, then came back.

I have done something similar for a midget aged player who was really good. Last year, after I saw how good he was, I sometimes had him play 1 v 2 when others played 1 v 1. He still did pretty well. He had the right mental make-up – he loved a challenge. A Latvian, he is re-habbing from shoulder and knee surgery; otherwise he would be playing in the World Championships in Calgary this year.

Coaches should be judged on how well they develop PEOPLE – not just their skills – and the Win / Loss column should be the last thing anyone looks at. I might start another thread discussion on Positive Coaching. Thanks for firing me up RK!

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