Reply To: Good Habits at Practice? The Art of Coaching!

[hockeygod]

SKILL DEVELOPMENT IS EQUAL PARTS OFFENCE AND CREATIVITY (Courtesy Hockey Calgary)

1. OFFENCE

• Read and react is the most important skill – do it quickly, it’ll make an average player a great player.

• Support the puck carrier by moving to open ice.

• Create an attack triangle – support the puck carrier on two sides.

• Communicate to your teammates.

• Protect the puck with your body; shield it away from your opponents.

• Keep control of the puck, don’t just give it away.

• Use the boards to pass to yourself and to your teammates.

KEYS TO OFFENCE

• Slow down to a speed where you can think (create).

• Don’t limit yourself.

• Have the courage to make mistakes.

• Let the puck do the work.

• Support.

• Move to open ice.

• Have desire and passion for playing instead of winning.

OFFENSIVE TEAM PRINCIPLES

• Play for possession.

• Use everybody on the attack.

• Use lateral and circular skating patterns versus linear.

• Be in constant motion and vary your speed.

• Move with purpose (support position).

• Be an option more than once.

• Be at the right place at the right time.

• Always think one pass ahead.

• Be deceptive and creative, not predictable.

TIPS FOR AN OFFENSIVE PRACTICE

• Increase the number of passes in each drill.

• Play “keep-away“ style games with purpose.

• Have segments in practice where players just play, no instruction, only positive feedback.

• Work on puck control skills every practice, to increase their confidence (Drills out of their comfort zone).

• Have give away rules, so the players get used to playing with possession.

• Praise the offensive play, when a goal is scored – not the defensive mistake.

• Have at least one flow drill in each practice, emphasizing timing, passing and support.

2. CREATIVITY

• Practice being creative during practices and free time – i.e. puck handling, 1 on 1’s, 2 on 1’s, 2 on 2’s, 3 on 2’s etc.

• You never know if something works until you try it.

• Have the players challenge themselves – if it doesn’t work the first time, keep trying; don’t quit!

• Use the whole ice surface to your advantage – boards, back of net.

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