Reply To: Games to teach the 4 Game Playing Roles

[Tom Molloy]

I have uploaded about 16 videos that show how small area and full ice games can be used to practice skills, good habits, game understanding and team play.

Young players should be playing and not standing in line. The average drills practice has the players standing in line or watching the coach draw diagrams for 49-53 minutes out of each 60 min..

It isn't a lot of fun. It isn't effective use of the ice and there are very few puck touches.

With young kid's drills passing should be done in pairs and not line ups, they should have one puck each while practicing stick handling (more than one for overload).

The goal should be 80% movement, 10% instruction and 10% organization. At the moment it is 80% instruction and organization.

Using games to teach the game is an effective way to maximize the activity, create fun, creativity and fitness.

Drills need to be efficient and after teaching the basics of a 2-1 etc. the coach should move to transition games with ONE puck to practice offensive and defensive team play.

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