Episode 1 -- Show Notes
- Hot Topic: Adapting to new rule interpretations
- Promises for "Coach Chic's Hockey Secrets"
- Observations at a tennis tournament
- Gap control in the defenseman's 1 on 1
- Tip: Taping the butt-end of a hockey stick
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6 comments:
"Coach, have you changed your approach to teaching body checking since the change in interpretations?"
TIA,
John
Ohio
I'm glad you asked that question, John. It's surely one I'll have to discuss in more detail in an upcoming Coach Chic's Hockey Secrets show.
You should know that I really wrestled with how to handle those changes from a coaching perspective.
The first thing I decided to change was my players' in-close technique. For, while I previously taught them to use one hand on their stick (like along the boards) -- to trap and then tie-up their man, I now have to teach them to handle a puckcarrier while holding two hands on their stick.
I've also gone to many isolated games of tags in my hockey practices. These, I think, give my players the agility to react quicker with their feet and their bodies.
Oops, it just struck me that I should add something to my last post...
I really don't have a total grasp on this area yet. So, as I'm still feeling my way, I'd surely enjoy hearing what other coaches are experiencing and doing when it comes to dealing with the new body-checking interpretations.
Coach Chic,
As a coach at the Bantam/Midget level I have been trying to teach gap control from an attacking forwards standpoint, but hearing you describe it from a defensive standpoint is a bit new to me. My main question is with youth hockey practices we only get half the ice, so how would you suggest that I work on gap closure in the neutral zone when I don't have a neutral zone to work with.
Derek,
Ann Arbor, MI
Derek:
If these posts only allowed me to stick-in a Smiley here!
You're right, of course, in that there's some difficulty associated with running half-ice practices.
At times, you might just start your attackers and defenders fairly close to each other, out near the red line. There won't be much room before the rush nears the blueline. But, this might be a good thing, in that a "D" can have a little bit more control of the drill (too often forwards take non-game-type liberties when they have a lot of extra space).
Then, years ago, I used to once in awhile make deals with other coaches when we shared ice...
When it came to needing a little more space out on the ice, I'd ask the other team's coach to split the surface lengthwise for about 10-minutes, or I'd ask if we could take turns using the entire neutral ice area. I've even made arrangements whereby my team would stay in the lockerroom for an extra 10-minutes while the other squad used the whole ice, and then they'd leave early to let us finish the practice on a full sheet.
Be creative, coach; that's a huge part of the "artful" side to what we do!
Coach Chic,
Thanks for the great advice. I look forward to your other episodes.
Derek
Ann Arbor, MI
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