Reply To: Game Intelligence / Decision Training

[hockeygod]

Ahhh Dave, you aren't the whipping boy – just inspiring me to write something original! You pushed my buttons, that's all and I thank you for that.

With two kids and teaching skills academies, the book is on the backburner… I am pecking away at it. I will let you know when it's ready! Might take you up on your offer as a proofreader!

Glad to hear of your coaching evolution… one day you will see the light…! 😉

And thanks Rookie Coach for your comments. Me being me, I would start with lots of 1 vs 1 games. I have a ton of them – they can be played in all areas of the ice. I now don't worry so much about C, W, D… learn to understand the game (it is fluid, after all) and work on skills and understanding for all positions. Perhaps you can look at some of Tom's games and start the puck with the defensive team, deep in their zone? You might modify the game; when the defending team successfully breaks it out, they dump it in at the far end, so the new defenders have to break out from deep inside their zone… while the team that broke out and dumped forechecks? Set up a rotation so you break out, forecheck, come off. Keep 'score' of successful breakouts, etc.

I was thinking about a new game today – a good one if I do say so myself! When I showed it to The Colombian, he agreed. We will refine it, test it and perhaps post it. It is a small space battle. When you think about it, hockey is a game of 1 vs 1 battles all over the ice; along the boards, below the net, in open ice, etc.

Essentially, this game uses all of the faceoff circles as battle zones – 3 or 4 people at a time controlling a puck inside, trying to knock other pucks out. (need 3-4 people waiting outside each circle in a line, with pucks… so 6-8 people per circle). If they are successful, the person who lost the puck leaves the circle and goes to the back of the line… a new puckcarrier enters so there are always 3-4 people inside. Every man for himself. Set a time limit; say 10 minutes. We are working on a scoring matrix (a +/- system) so the game is measurable / provides for accountability. Forces players to keep their heads up, control their puck.

More thoughts later…

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