Reply To: Game Intelligence / Decision Training

[hockeygod]

DaveM wrote:
Dean – How would you correct the habits of turning your back to the puck and not having your stick on the ice / presenting a target? These are pretty tough things to quantify & track for me, but I know they make a difference in our play. Any ideas?

Thanks,
Dave

Get the team to identify that this is a problem that needs to be rectified; and would they like the assistance of the coaching staff? They need to realize that facing the puck and showing their stick will benefit them individually and collectively.

Lead them towards similar punishments I have outlined below and get them to agree to it. This is a sales job – how you present it is up to you; keeping in mind your age and skill category. In the opinion of the group, you need to be a respected coach; they need to know you genuinely care about them (you aren't some crazed maniac looking to kill them with punishment!)

You (and your assistants) will watch for it and punish the entire team (goalies included) when you see it happen. Be consistent – don't ignore any occurances and don't favour people.

You are doing this because they want to get better; they asked for it. You care for them and want them to achieve their goals. You are holding them to their standard. (This is important!)

Standard 1: I would create two teams of skaters – by jersey colour. Then implement a scoring system that awards 1 point for 'doing it right' and if someone does it wrong, that resets that teams' score to zero. Identify (loudly while the drill goes on) who the wrong-doer is. After a predetermined time for the activity (5-10 minutes), which team wins? Winners get a water break; losers do pushups / situps or skate or whatever punishment you want.

If this doesn't work… progress to a higher standard… Standard 2.

Each time it happens… You don't have to raise your voice. Stay calm…

Coach: Whistle… "STOP! Everybody (including goalies) give me 10/10 (pushups and situps)!"

After they are done, ask the group why they did 10/10.

Players: "Because DAVE M turned his back / didn't have his stick on the ice…"

Coach: "Right. Thank you for screwing up, DAVE M, and helping to remind us to face the puck / keep your stick on the ice. This will make us better. Now back to the activity. Next time someone tries to help remind us, it will be 20/20!"

Repeat as necessary up to 40/40. Then you go to 5 minutes of wind sprints for the whole team. Then 10 minutes. I have yet to see it go past 5 minutes of sprints; usually the pushups and situps are enough… but apparently it happened once. From 10 minutes to 30 minutes (which was the end of practice.) John the Colombian said it got their attention (U18 boys) and the behaviour practically vanished… only happened the odd isolated time at practice and then it was back to 10/10 for the team! Int he future, they remembered…

Players: "Jesus DAVE M, remember last time this happened and we did all those bloody pushups and situps and then puked doing wind sprints during practice? Pull your head out of your a$$… we don't want to do that again."

DAVE M: "Sorry boys, won't happen again!"

Peer pressure works wonders when the coach holds the group to the highest standard!

Sounds easy, but it works. It's how you 'set it up' and how you manage it.

Good luck, Herr Dictator Dave M… don't forget to wear your mustache!

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