Reply To: Game Intelligence / Decision Training

[Tom Molloy]

Dean in pro hockey you play so many games that the only time you really practice is in training camp. You can't tire players out in game day skates; so too many competitive drills and games would be counter productive. When you have a few days off you can add competition but most of the time you want to make sure everyone understands their role in team play.

College or AA-AAA, high school is a different animal and you should have a lot of competition because you only play a few games a week. Major junior is the same as the NHL with 3-4 games a week and you can't ask too much in practice because 48 hours is needed to recover from a really hard work out.

So it is important to have a lot of competition in skill academies like you and John run because the competition gives meaning to the activities that you are doing but the more league games the players have each week the more you have to tone down high intensity practice. You need energy for the league games.

Most players now are done for the season and the summer programs should have the kind of competition you are talking about to increase intensity and teach the players to do things at game speed.

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