Tips for Coaches (by John Shorney - Hockey Made Easy)

Tips for Coaches to improve your play for Team Success

The regular season is about half over and your team is either playing above ..500 or below ..500. If you are the latter, or are starting to lose a number of games but want to turn your season around, there are a number of constructive changes you can make during the second half to improve your chance for team success.

Look at what has been your problem during the first half.

Did you take too many penalties?
Did you give up too many quality shots or rebounds from the slot area?
Did you give the opposition too many odd man rushes, 2 on 1’s or 3 on 2’s?
Did your players run around in your own end and not cover specific locations?
Were the Shifts too long?

If the answer to any of the above is yes, you can do something about it to try to change your future games outcome.

First, Coaches must convince their players that by buying into a better defensive system and eliminating odd man rushes, quality shots and lowering your goals against you can become a far more competitive team.

You don’t need superstars to be competitive, but you do need hard work and a commitment from every player.
Also try, short 45 to 60 second shifts and on ice discipline for positional defensive play in your own end and you will become more successful.

Call a team meeting and discuss the need for change if you want to improve in the standings.

Get input from your players, if they agree and make the changes necessary you will have a better second half and challenge the top teams in the playoffs.

It is also imperative during a game and practice that coaches EXPLAIN to their Players what should be done on the ice to prevent goals against. Keep a small black/white board on the bench so you can show the players where to be positioned. A picture is worth a thousand words and is much easier for young players to understand.

As far as I am concerned, the secret to team success begins by Executing a 2-1-2 forechecking system. I truly believe that if the two closest players in the offensive zone swarm their puck carrier and your 3^rd forward stays high but ready to go after the loose puck, go to the net, or forecheck if the puck was passed to another receiver, you will disrupt the opposition so much they will give the puck away or cause a turn over which could result in a quality scoring opportunity.

The second secret is backchecking and covering the opposition in your defensive zone.

Don’t expect your goalie to stop point blank shots from the slot, or the 2^nd or 3^rd shot from rebounds. Even if you had Patrick Roy in goal, he couldn’t stop all those quality shots. You must play your position and cover the prime shooting lanes, the slot and the points, and any rebounds must be covered or cleared into the corner or out over the blue line. Don’t get caught running around in your defensive zone as this will only leave someone open.

Start by playing the box as if you are penalty killing and keep the puck carrier to the outside. Keep the man in the slot covered and you are on your way to a lot less goals against and a more competitive game.

The third secret is giving your players positive feedback and a pat on the back after every shift, keep up beat, get your players to work hard by giving 100% every shift and team success will be just around the corner.

Hopefully these tips will help your team become more competitive.