Reply To: Practice Tempo

[Tom Molloy]

Tony, sounds like you are doing a lot already.

Just some thoughts. Maybe I am totally wrong but maybe there is some value in them.

Have one or two Overspeed drills. Also incorporate Mental Overspeed. In my hockey class today we spent the last 30 minutes playing games with mental overspeed. i.e. you must take three hard strides when you get the puck and then you MUST pass or shoot. Another that is almost the same. 1" with the puck but you aren't allowed to pass when standing still. – we did this one cross ice and full ice.

———————————————–
In my retired guys game today there were 3 former NHL 1 former WHA, 4 old American league players. It was a skilled group. The difference between these guys and the rest of us who maybe played jr., college, low minors etc. is that they do eveything while moving and make plays when they are there, i. e. don't wait until the player is no longer open. It isn't skating faster or even better with the puck rather it is playing the game at a high Mental Tempo and that is what I think we need to teach players in practice.

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