Reply To: Diary of a Season 2013-14

[Tom Molloy]

I broke down the video of our 3-2 win on Sunday and here is what I recorded and planned for the next practice.

The D did a good job on the breakouts but the F's don't take the passes well. When the D pass to each other behind the net they tend to rim instead of bounce it off the backboard and then they have to dig it off the wall which allow the checker to get there. Forwards tend to stand still instead of break and lots of passes are in the feet.

We played an ex game vs. a team from BC and won 7-2 and then beat St. Albert 3-2. Our defense is good when they adjust their gap and we take sticks in the slot pretty good so the goalies usually need to make only one save. We make the game much harder than it needs to be because of give-aways.

I watched the video of our last game and we got the puck 262 times and made plays 93 times but gave the puck away with bad passes, missed passes, panic rims 169 times. This means we keep giving it away, getting it back, then giving it away again. It resemble ping pong more than hockey (a pro game has an average of 180 possessions and Mud says if you make plays 65% of the time you usually win) We are making plays 36% of the time.

Games to Teach the Game

I scrapped my practice plan and did games all practice. Half ice games where they needed to use good habits. So a skill for each game and tried to have them continue that skill and add another.

I changed the rules of the game about every 5-8 minutes.
-First skating games. Skates on the ice scootering and then only backward skating.
-Escape Moves -make a tight turn before you can pass or shoot, skate backward with the puck facing the play.
-Three hard strides when you get the puck.
-Shoulders must face the play before passing (over half their passes tend to be backhand and blind). On the backhand you see only 90 degrees when you face the play you are in a strong 'triple threat position' and see 270 degrees. More information equals better decisions. (think of how Crosby always gets into a balanced triple threat position)
-Crosby turn (heel to heel).

The whole concept is to treat the puck as a friend and not as a hand grenade. To see as much of the rink as possible. Give close support. Use escape moves. Skate to open ice away from pressure. Force the opponent to commit one way and then go the other way. etc.

We then played full ice with everyone playing with the rule that there must be at least one pass in each zone (they usually try 1 on 5 and only pass when they run out of room) and then added goals only count after a give and go.(they tend to pass and watch instead of pass and go)

The players enjoyed it and it was one of the most productive practices of the year. (I stopped the play to point out things like puck support or why getting into a position where you can't see the ice makes the game very difficult.)

I find they have the basic skills but very little game understanding. If you learn by going around pylons for 5-10 years I guess we can't expect much more.

We will continue on the same theme at tonight's practice but add some passing drills.

I really like the USA Hockey Development Model which is basically copying what the Europeans and soccer have been doing for years. Smaller areas, smaller nets, (should be lighter black pucks which are shaved down a little) Cross-ice games. Lots of pucks for skills drills with lots of reps. You can't expect creative decision makers on the ice if you only practice robotically.

Juhani Wahlsten and I have been promoting this model for 30 years. It is nice to see the Americans catch on that 'if you are going to learn a game you must play the game.' Our country has been stuck on this 'whole part whole model' since the 80's but they don't realize that the 'whole is the game'. It isn't to teach drills and hope that somehow this will translate in to learning 'how to play the GAME'. (the drill and practice model was thrown out of the educational system in the 70's and replaced by Whole Learning)

Maybe in another 30 years. Who knows.

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