Reply To: Game Intelligence / Decision Training

[hockeygod]

Tom,

I sat down with an NHL coach this summer and we plotted the Oilers schedule, for the 2011-2012 year 'for fun'. I will dig it out – if I can find it – to present how many days were 'good' practice days; how many 'game day skates'; how many 'days off'; how many off-ice days; how many travel days. As you said, there were very few 'good practice' days total! If I had my way I would reduce the number of games to 60 or so and schedule two breaks to allow for rest and recovery – pro- rating salaries – but I digress… The NHL isn't that smart!

While I do agree that there are very few days after training camp to run 'quality' practices, I would make them count and try to incorporate far more competitive situations. This includes keeping track of shots on net per drill – as an example. Pit two teams against each other and the same for the goalies (who makes more saves?) – make sure you hold the losers accountable – that is key.

Without purpose, score keeping and accountability, practice becomes 'just another typical drill to fill the time – busy work' and it wastes the opportunity to make players the best they can be! This adds meaning to even the most mundane and boring drills – such as the horseshoe! More mental engagement and intensity – which is what Alan Bass is trying to articulate in his article above.

I would keep practices short and intense, using the principles of periodization. Rest and recovery would be in the forefront of the practice design because I recognize you can't go 'all out' every practice, every day. But you can certainly practice a lot smarter than what is done now.

I can't list any NHL teams that use and stick to a periodized plan. They are all dictated by the schedule and then in large part, by uneducated coaches / GM's that have no clue about exercise physiology, rest or recovery. The strength coaches take orders from the head coach / assistant coaches. If they try to push their knowledgeable decisions too hard against the people in charge, they will be looking for a new address as everybody wants to be working in the sexy NHL! So fear holds them back; as it cripples a lot of people.

When I went to Moose Jaw as an A/C, we implemented my periodized plan and the guys trained harder than they ever had – on and off ice – but they also had more rest and recovery built in. Some practices / training sessions were designed for recovery; but we could still train with a purpose. We set a record that year for the best Warrior season ever – to that date. The head coach / GM gave me a big opportunity to 'run the show' so far as the planning around the existing schedule and travel limitations, and he still raves about the results that year – almost 16 years later!

I would also look to do more off-ice dryland training to give them a break from the ice. They would still improve their Game Intelligence, athleticism and fitness. Perhaps maybe even do the game day stuff in a gymnasium / outside if weather permits. There are exceptions – such as the goalies might like to get a few shots in the morning (use those who aren't playing as shooters and if someone else wants to go – fine.)

But I think we too easily dismiss the idea of boosting the element of competition in practices and subscribe to the idea that players 'can't' handle competitive practices because they would be too tired to play the games. I remember that people used to think hockey players had a limited amount of energy for the entire season… They had to put their feet up whenever possible to conserve this limited energy so it would last the whole season… Then they would take the summer 'off' to work (make money) to come back to get in shape at training camp.

I think the hockey world is frozen in time and paralyzed by fear. They need to apply today's concepts (science) to their planning. Why doesn't someone try it and see what happens? I know the stakes are high in the pro game, but come on… don't you think these athletes can handle it?

The existing uneducated culture that runs the individual teams might think you are mad – but unless someone (an educated GM / head coach and a supportive staff) tries it to see, and either fails or succeeds, we won't really know if it will work or it won't. I bet it will – call me anti-current-traditional-hockey-establishment (crazy) because in my books, that's a compliment… and that is how people inspire change – most times, it's met with resistance and knashing of teeth and kicking and screaming. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. The NHL continually demonstrates it's insane but I am starting to hear and see a few things changing for the better… be still my beating heart!

I remain firm in my conviction that competitive, purposeful, measureable, accountable practices would be far superior to the typical, wasteful practices I see now. I don't go to the Flames practices anymore because they are outright brutal. And I have seen almost every NHL team practice and I can count on one hand how many 'good' practices I have seen… my brain feels 'detrained' every time I go to the Saddledome to watch!

John and I are working on a long-term project involving HRM's and soccer athletes doing our off-ice training and comparing / contrasting their results to game play. (We hope to add a hockey cohort to our tests in the future.)

Early indications are we train harder than the games (still mindful of recovery) and yet the athletes are greatly benefiting from our training structure – they are performing very well and the teams we train are winning the majority of their matches. According to parents, the teams are overachieving, learning lots of new sport and life skills… while having the most fun they ever had! Isn't that what it is all about?

This is the Spartan Mentality – train harder and smarter – than you play.

I realize it isn't the NHL and the number of games / travel are not the same, but until someone proves me wrong… I remain firm in my beliefs! I have seen it work at the WHL level with my own eyes!

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