Reply To: Pee Wee Breakouts

[Peter Brenner]

My $0.02 worth. Current coach of a high school girls team, but I applied the same philosophies when coaching Bantam boys and I think the same could apply to a competitive Pee Wee team

Points:
-Try to break out on weak (non-puck) side. This requires weak side D to recognize when partner has puck and make him/herself available for d-to-d pass
-C should not get ahead of breakout wing. C needs to stay low, this aligns with my defensive strategy of C supporting the puck.
-Weakside W needs to get over to side they're breaking out on to stretch the ice as well as provide support for an off-the glass breakout

When the D has the puck they have options (in no particular order):
1) Pass to wing along boards
2) Center breakout
3) Skate it (preferably up the dots)
4) off-the-glass

If pass to wing along boards, options (again no particular order) include:
1) Skate, if time and space permit
2) pass to C, who has speed
3) Pass back to D (trailing play in support position)
4) Pass to weak side W at middle of blue line
5) pass off glass to weak side wing (again, reason why it's so important weak side comes over to support)

I emphasize the number of options we create in this alignment and do drills that practice each option. Some are position specific and others are just basic breakouts forcing team to using any of the 5 options above.

Hope this helps and good luck to you all!!