Reply To: Games to teach the 4 Game Playing Roles

[Paulie]

TomM,

Each day I've gone to the rink this year I've seen novice, atom, and peewee aged players doing practices that were in vogue thirty years ago, when I first started to coach. (Skate the five circles; zig zag skate; horseshoe)

One or two players active with the remainder standing in line. Very sad. (I once watched a tryout where I timed a player standing in line for 15 minutes. It was a one on one drill, one way down ice. When his time came the D fell and he skated full ice and shot.)

Personnally, I aim for 42 mins of activity, which leaves 18 mins for rest and instruction. I design my practices around that. To me this is ideal, because with the limited practice time we have in Canada–as opposed to Overseas–I want to foster Intensity and Game Purpose, which means that rest is vital. To me, a skill practiced without pressure is a skill un-practiced. It is a motion that can be done off-ice.

art,

Do as Tom suggests and time the activity of a single player during practice. You'll be amazed by the amount of time that player has practiced "not playing".
Better yet: have a couple of parents control the stopwatch for a few practices. You may get a few converts.

Tom, I'm recognized as a very good coach. You are a major part of that. I will continue to visit this site for it's marvelous spirit of mentoring and generosity.

Cheers

Paul