LESSON WORKBOOK

MIKE SULLIVAN

AGES 14 AND UNDER

Teaching Fundamental Team Concepts

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Teaching Fundamental Team Concepts

The coach is responsible for creating the optimal learning environment where players are active participants. Exploration, discovery and problem solving should be emphasized in concept learning. Everything you do on the ice, as a coach, should be geared towards fueling the passion that young players have for the game. One of the greatest gifts you can give your players is to help instill this passion.

As coaches, we need to create a practice environment that imitates games as closely as possible. Skills developed in practice need to transfer seamlessly to game situations. By fostering realistic practice scenarios, we will better prepare our players for success.

Transfer of Training • Alignmentinsports–occurswhentherearemanysimilaritiesbetweenthepracticeenvironment

and the real game.• Themoresimilaritiesthereare,themorelikelythepracticetrainingwilltransfertothegamescenario.• Althoughisolatedpracticehasaplaceinlearningtechniques,itisimportanttoincorporate

realistic practice scenarios. • Ifwecreatefalseenvironmentsinpractice,wecan’texpectthetrainingtotransfertoa

completely different game environment.

14U Considerations• Practiceindividualskillsandteamconcepts

under game-like conditions with increased speed and resistance.

• Tacticaldeceptionplays(delays,scissorsplays) can be further developed.

• Encouragetheuseofindirectpassesandmovingthe puck to open ice.

• Thereisafinelinebetweenover-coachingandallowing players to be instinctive and creative.

Methods for incorporating team concepts into training• Fundamentalskillsdrillsthatincorporate

team concepts.• Smallareagames–coachescanimposerules/

restrictionstoworkonspecificconcepts.• Orchestrategame-likescenariosandsituationsthat

occur in real games.• Videomodeling–kidsgrowupsurroundedby

technology.VideohighlightsofNHLorcollegegames can be used to show successful execution of skills and tactics.

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Teaching Fundamental Team Concepts

Offensive ConceptsDeception• Individualdeceptionisafundamentalcomponentofinstinctivegames

likehockey.Thisisthepuckcarrier’sabilitytodisguisehisorherplaysthrough fakes, dekes, changes in speed or body language in order to create offensive opportunities.

• Presentingfalseinformationtotheopponenttocreate a competitive advantage.

• Isolatinganopponentbycreatingnumericalsuperiority around the puck.

• Usingthewidthoftheicetocreateseparationinorder to gain space.

• Movementbothwithandwithoutthepuckcanbeused to create confusion in opponents.

• Thegive-and-goplayisanexampleofatacticaldeception concept. An offensive player moves the puckandthenquicklymovestoopenice,creatingconfusionandindecisionindefenders.A‘scissors’play can be introduced at this level. This occurs when a defenseman jumps into the play from the offensive blue line.

Support• Thisisanimportantconceptneededtomaintainpuckpossession.• Spacing–Howclose(orfaraway)doyouneedtobetothepuckcarrierinordertoofferpropersupport?• Timing–Whendoyoujumptoanareaofopenicetobeapassingoptionforthepuckcarrier?• Presenting–Thisinvolvesgivingthepuckcarrieratarget.Doyoushowforehandorbackhand?Thesupport

player should make it as easy as possible for the puck carrier to make a pass. The puck carrier should clearly see the support player and where he or she wants the puck.

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Teaching Fundamental Team Concepts

Triangulation• Widthtoattack–createstheabilitytochangethe

point of attack.• Depthtoattack–thepuckcarrierwillhavemore

than one passing option and creates the ability to change the point of attack.

• Playersformatriangle,withonemanhigh,upon entering the offensive zone.

• Playerscanchangethepointofattackandareinsounddefensive posture if the puck is turned over.

• Becarefulnottoover-coachthiswhile allowing for creativity.

Transition • Thisisacounter-attackopportunitythatresultsfroma

change of possession. Great offensive opportunities come from transitions because the defensive team is vulnerable.

• Speedandtimingarecrucialelementsbecause every second allows the defending team the opportunity to recover.

• Helpinstillamindsetofopportunisminyourplayers. Therecognitionskillisveryimportant.Playersneedtoseekout and take advantage of transition opportunities.

• Encouragefastexecutionwhentransitionopportunitiesarise.• Atthe14Ulevel,playersshouldbeabletofurtherexploittransitionopportunities.

The Rush• Manyoffensiveopportunitiescomeoffoftherush.Simpleplayslikethemiddlelanedrivearedesignedtoback

defenders off the blue line. • Encouragefourthplayerinvolvement,whereadefensiveplayeraddsanadditionaloptiontotherush.• Thethirdforwardshouldenterthezonewithcontrolledspeedandpropertiming.• Don’tover-coachtheoffensewhileallowingtheplayerstobecreativewiththepuck.

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Teaching Fundamental Team Concepts

Defensive ConceptsPositioning• Ingeneralterms,thisisplaywithoutthepuck.• Inbasicpositioning,thedefensemenandcenterplaylowinthedefensivezonewhilethewingscoverthehigh

part of the zone. • Positioningshouldbebetweenthepuckandthenet.Thedefensiveplayerwantstostayontheinsideofthe

offensive player. The offensive player should have to go through the defensive player to get to the net.

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Teaching Fundamental Team Concepts

Puck Pursuit• Anticipationandanglingskillsarekeywhenpursuingthepuck.

Angling is also a key part of the proper body contact progression. • Ingeneral,theplayerclosesttothepuckcarrierpursueswhile

taking away time and space. • Forecheckersshouldusewidthanddepthintheirpursuitofthe

pucksoonepassdoesn’tbeatmultipleplayers.

Time and Space• Asadefensivetactic,playerswanttominimizethetimeandspacethat

is available to a puck carrier. Taking away time and space will minimize thepuckcarrier’soptionswhiledisruptingoffensiveopportunities.

• Anglingisatacticdesignedtoinfluencethedirectionofthepuck.

Stick-to-Puck• Thisisafundamentalaspectrelatedtodefensiveconcepts.• Itisdesignedtodisruptpossessionofthepuckandcreateturnovers.

Defending the Rush• Defensiveplayersneedtorecognizesituationsandattempttodefend‘insideout.’• Defensiveplayersneedtodevelopgapcontrolskills.Insimplestterms,gapcontrolisthedistancebetweenthe

defender and the puck. • Agoodgapwilllimitthepuckcarrier’stimeandspace.

Backchecking• Backsidepuckpressurewillforcethepuckcarriertokeepskatingnorth/south.• Solidbackcheckingwillhelpdefensiveplayersmaintainpropergapcontrol.• Awarenessawayfromthepuckwilleliminatepotentialpuckreceivers.

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Teaching Fundamental Team Concepts

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