Reply To: Line combos

[TomM]

Tony with 14 skaters u probably have 3 sets of F and 5 D. For 10 year olds most of the practice should focus on skill and good playing habits. You don't need lines for this. As I said before you can have a set of pinnies if you are practicing team play like a pp. I would have 7 in each colour and if I want 3 groups then give one line the pinnies and keep the D in 2 colours; so if you have blue and white as your two colours then have 3 F in green pinnies and one colour of D with them vs 4 whites killing penalties. Have the pinnies for the 3 F's who have some player in both colours.

Most of the practice can be done with just 2 colours.

For the last 10 seasons I have the players in reversable jerseys with the team colour on one side and white the other. I divide the team into the colours. I have done this with youth, college, pro and now my women's team. | usually have the top two lines in opposite colours and the third mixed or if I have 20 or more skaters as in pro or college the 4 lines will be together. Half the F and half the D on each team.

Sometime I have them change colours during practice for specific drills or games or if I want to try different combinations.

I try to find players who work well together and leave them together unless it stops working but more often because someone is injured or sick and you have to change things.