Reply To: The Art and Science of Coaching

[Tom Molloy]

Team Identity and style of play.

Once you have your players, coaching staff and team covenant in place it is time to decide an effective style of play for your group.

I believe that it is important to start with the Big Ideas like defensive zone coverage, forecheck, back check, power play, penalty kill, rushes. Teach one each practice and play some kind of game that uses the style you want. Put all of these things in place in the first couple of weeks. You can walk through them in the parking lot or a gym, give handouts and video links etc.

After the Big Ideas are in place it is time to start working on the details like angling, dside, offensive triangle and box, stick on stick and body on body etc. Have drills, games, transition games that emphasize these details. Work on the individual offensive and defensive skills and methodically cover all of them as the season progresses. Your games will tell you what need to be worked on but you also have to have a master plan of covering everything.

If you can get a similar level team to have team play scrimmages with you and work through the various situations it is great. We have done this and have 12 minute segments of 5-4 etc. Start with 3 minutes at the bench and then one team gets a pp for the next 9 minutes. Go through every situation.

So the season plan is Deductive working from the Big Ideas to the small Details.
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These are my opinions which have worked for me. I would like to read what has worked for other coaches.

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