Coaching insights & hockey tips
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Circle Pass Pivot Drill - Video
The Circle Pass Pivot Drill is along the same lines as the Figure 8 Passing Drill in terms of skill focus. It's a great drill to develop individual skill in agility, body control, passing/receiving, and controlling the puck at awkward body angles.
Figure 8 Passing - Video
We're back this week with a quick skill development drill video. The Figure 8 Passing drill is an excellent drill to work on agility, passing in awkward positions, and always being ready for a pass.
Heel to Heel - Broken Down
Last week we got lots of great comments on the Heel to Heel transition video. Several people wrote in asking if we could do a slow motion / still frame…
Heel to Heel Transitions - Video (Plus Bonus Video)
Skating transitions are a big factor in races to the puck. Being able to efficiently transition from forward to backward and vice versa is a skill every player should master. In this week's video, we take a look at the heel to heel backward to forward transition.
Leadership Reminder
John C. Maxwell is one of the most well-known authorities on leadership teachings. While surfing for videos, I came across a brief interview he did about one of his books…
USNDP Drills - Courtesy of Coach Nielsen
Coach Neilsen has provided some drills from the US National Development Program. Check out his blog pos
Zone Entry - Board Passes
Getting the puck into the zone can be the difference between creating a scoring opportunity and giving one up. Using a simple board pass play can be one of the most efficient means of entering the offensive zone. In this post, we'll take a look at two different examples of a board pass as well as a video example from an NHL game.
Unstructured Ice Time
The vast majority of information on this site is geared toward the structured practice and implementation of hockey player development. For all the time we spend trying to "teach" the game to kids, we also need to understand the importance of allowing players to figure things out on their own.
Team Building Quotes
Many coaches have expressed an interest in getting some quotes to use with their team. Anyone who knows me, knows I love to use inspirational / teambuilding quotes in the locker room. Here are some of my favorites:
Stat Tracking - Game Video Notes
The march to bring you new features with the Stat Tracking functionality continues. This time around, we're excited to announce the ability to add and distribute notes on game tape to your team!
Defense Transitions Drill - Video
This week's video shows the Defensive Transitions drill. This drill is a quick power skating drill done on a face-off circle, and is used to develop agility, mobility, and transition power in your skaters. It's an especially good drill for defensemen to master.
Quick Tip: Developing Stick Strength
Here's a quick video with a unique approach to developing stick strength in hockey players. The use of a ringette ring forces players to apply downward pressure on their stick while in traffic. This element is essential in tight situations in front of the net and in the corners.