Reply To: Raising Practice Tempo

[Stef]

Hi –

What is driving this idea? Is your team flagging in games or do they seem listless in practices? Do you have the personnel (i.e. numerous, fit coaches) to crank up the intensity and challenge the players? Are there hard dryland sessions that may be sapping the team energy?

Anyhow, my experience is that, for peewees, it's important to get the intellectually-demanding stuff out of the way early (or exclusively in the 2nd practice of the week) and to turn up the tempo with SAG's, battle stations and full-ice continuous drills, keeping a 1:2 work:rest ratio. Competetive 2-team relay-type drills to finish up with small rewards (eg. don't have to pick up pucks) for the winners keeps these players motivated 'til the Zamboni door rises.

Players need to do any drill correctly first before turning up the speed. Coaches inserting themselves into the drills helps for our team – the stronger kids love the challenge.

There are ebbs and flows in every season, of course (right now, no one is really focussing with seasonal distractions). In the end, you can measure your progress by the sweatiness of their brows!

Good luck, hope that helps