2011 Spring Teams

This was the kind of practice that teaches the players "How to Play the Game." It was my skills class and we will do a similar session with the 02 born team. The goal was to promote close puck support but also to practice good technique and options with the puck. Each game took about 10 minutes which includes the 2 minutes between to get a quick drink and listen to the rules for the next game. The coaches role in this type of practice is to make sure they are following the rules and keep track of wins and loses.
The playes loved this practice and where dripping from sweat after.

With this school skills group I can get a lot of things done without wasting time. They are used to the various games and the Tony the teacher who is on the ice with me is a good player who I coached at the U of Calgary and he played the games in this practice. I will probably have to play one less game with the skills group because they are younger and the asst. coaches have little experience with games in practice.

We are coaching a Game and not teaching players to do drills. Individual skills can be worked on with drills but Role 2 of puck support and Role 4 covering away from the puck require drills and a lot of game situation. Role 1 of puck carrier and Role 3 of closest checker also need to be puck into game situations where the PLAYER makes the decisions and everything isn't scripted as they are in drills.

So both Drills and Games are need for Effective Practices:
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B500
10 min. Individual choice practice.
Players work on the skill of their choice, such as puck handle, shoot, keepaway, small game, pass, etc.
Coach skate around and give individual help and keep activities on task and safe/

B6 Small Horseshoe 1-0, 2-0
7 min. Warm up the goalies and work on timing.

Tournament of 8 minute Games – Greens vs Whites. At the end of each game give 2 points for a win and 1 for a tie.
Game 1: D4 Game of 2 pass.
Game 2: 2 pass – only forehand allowed.
Game 3: 2 pass – must use and escape move when you get the puck.
Game 4: 2 pass and only 2” with the puck.

D100 – Full Ice Game of 2” Only
– One minute shifts and pass back to the goalie on the whistle.
– Beginning goalie at one end so the scoring team get the puck out of the net on a goal and attack the other way. Opponents must touch the red line before defending.

D1 Game of 6 on 6 no Whistles 2” Rule
– Everyone plays.

E1 Shootout – Change on the go and 6 pucks.
Players get a maximum of 3 shots and if they don’t score they put the puck back on the blue line.
After scoring they must change on the go and the new player can’t leave until teammate is withing a stick length of the bench.

E1 Two Shot Shootout
Shoot at each end.
– 2 goals 0 laps.
– 1 goal 1 lap.
– 0 goals 2 laps.

This practice was the first day of a long weekend and many families went out of town so only 6 skaters and one goalie was there. We worked on shooting skills for the first 30 minutes while the goalie coach worked with the one goalie.
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Shooting Technique Practice

Goalies worked at one end while the skaters

Worked on shooting skills.
30 Minutes B300 Shooting Instruction and Practice Key Points:
Stress shooting out of the stick handling motion while skating.
Start stationary and then skate back and forth across the ice.
Shoot the wrist and snap shot off the inside foot and the slap shot off the outside foot.

Four Phases of Shooting:
a. Wind-up
b. Force Production
c. Release
d. Follow Through

Description:
1. Demonstration with the players watching while standing on the blue line.
2. Players spread around the rink and shoot at the boards.
3. Players skate across the ice and back and take a shot on each side and follow the shot for a rebound.
4. Progress through the shots in this order.
1. wrist shot.
2. snap shot
3. slap shot
4. Backhand.
5. Partner pass and shooter receive and shoot as quickly as possible.

Coaches give individual help and the players gather to watch a demo as each shot is introduced. Goalie Instruction at one end.

23 Minutes
D4 Game with Jokers
Play a game with the rule that a joker must be passed too when the defense gains the puck.
3 coaches are the jokers and pass to the team that passes to them

7 Minutes
E1 Shootout Race 1 on 1
Start with one skate over a face-off dot and race for a puck in the middle.

14 Skaters and 2 Goalies

Goals: Puck Handling with loose shoulders all around the body. Backward skating. Breakout options. Scoring.

10 min.
B500
Players practice their shot or moves while coaches give individual help. Players choice of activity to work on.

15 min.
B6 – Crossover figure 8’s. We started from diagonal corners. Each zone a different activity. Carry a puck-finish with a shot.
a. forward with fast hands and fast feet.
b. Backward, two hands on the stick.
c. Transition skate facing the far end forward to backward then shoot.
d. Carry the puck only on the forehand side of the stick.
e. Carry the puck only on the backhand side of the stick.
f. Transition skate F to D and shoot.
Goal of exercise – Cross over forward and backward loosen the shoulders and roll the wrists.

15 Minutes
A2 Backward Skating Instruction.
– Review backward skating technique while the goalies work at one end.

8 min.
D4 Backward Skating game at each end. Players can only skate backwards and must clear the zone and get onside before attacking.

7 min

C2-D4 Jursi Backward Skating Game of Tag
3 players leave in each half of the ice. One skates backward and 2 chase. Whoever tags the player is now IT and skates backward. Idea is not to get tagged.

7 minutes
A2 Nzone Overspeed with a shot.
Players make moves, dekes, fakes at top of top speed and finish with a shot. Whistle every 7” and they go in and shoot while the next players start.

10 Minutes
T2 B5 5-0 Breakout Practice
5-0 at each end with 4 reps. Pass to the coach in the middle after each rep.
a.1-D wheel behind and to wing.
b. other D wheel and to wing.
c. D to D to C
d. other D to D to C

10 min.
D100 Game of 5-5 extra players on the bench.
Rule is there must be at least one pass in each zone and the players are to focus on being in position for breakout passes.
Change on the fly.

7 min.
E1 Shootout 2-0 Both Must Score
Key Points:
Goalie vs Goalie and Team vs Team. Attack with speed and shoot to score. Goalie focus on the shooter then play the pass or rebound. Keep the puck alive after it is frozen.
Description:
1. Two players leave from each team.
2. Only one pass is allowed in the offensive zone.
3. Both players must score.
4. After the first goal get a new puck.
5. Stay in the zone until you score. Goalie shoot frozen pucks to the side.
Rule: Score on first shot then no laps. Score on second shot one lap. If it takes three or more shots to score two laps. Losing goalie one lap.