Reply To: Diary of a Season 2011-2012: The Plan

[Tom Molloy]

I will throw in my 2 cents worth here.

I am reading a book called "The Checklist Manfesto-How to Get Things Right" by Atul Gwande. He is a surgeon but gives examples how checklists are used in contruction and by pilots to get things right.

It has to be very specific and step by step when building something like an office tower that needs supporting structures before the floor is put in etc. In rushed situations like before a game a short To Do list is best.

A season plan is more like putting up a building but because it is working with people it is not so linear. Game understanding needs to compliment the skills. So what and how is only going to give you robotic players. Why, when and where need to be part of the plan.

George Kingston who was Dean of PE at the U of Calgary and head hockey coach, has been all over the world and a long time NHL asst. coach is a very inductive person. In his hockey coaching course he had a checklist of all the skills needed by a player. These were skating, puck handling, shooting etc. but not game understanding skills.

The list was down the sheet with check boxes on the right and the date worked on at the top. Each practice George would check off the skills worked on and the list became an easy way to keep track of the things you have done and the things that need to get done.

Maybe we could expand on this idea here by listing the skating skills, checking skills, puck handling skills etc. but also the team play concepts, good playing habits and game understanding needed.

So what are the physical and intellectual skills needed. After this what tools can the coach use to practice these skills. So drills for individual and team offensive and defensive play, SAG's, transition games etc.

What are the age appropriate building blocks?

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