Skills

Skills



Skating



 Dr. Gaston Schaeffer Teaches About Skating

Dr. Gaston Schaeffer talks about important principles in learning to skate.

 Gaston with and on ice skating demonstration

Gaston and Gaston Jr. demonstrate skating techniques. -forward stride -backward stride -turning -stopping -

mohawk turning and mohawk power drive

 Swedish Skating Exercises

Video and diagrams of skating exercises from Sweden.

 Skating Skill from Finland

Skating and balance exercises done in Finland with a skating coach.







Individua lOffensive Skills



 Forward skills on the attack

Rookies work on reading pressure, going to the net, battling for the puck and skills needed in cycling the

puck low.

 Practices for individual offensive skills

Model practices for practicing individual offensive skills and habits.

 Skill development from Finland

Skill development from Finland. Individual skills.









Passing



 Passing B3 Drill

This is a basic passing drill using the B3 formation. Multiple passes can be made along with various moves.

 Passing Technique the Basicsh

The main concepts of the wrist, snap, backhand and saucer passes are demonstrated. The key is to pass

within the stickhandling motion.

 Two on two keepaway with rules

Play 2 on 2 or 3 on 3 keepaway. Have skill rules like only forehand passes, only saucer or have the players

use escape moves like skating backwards with the puck or pivoting away from pressure. Give a point for 7

passes in a row etc. All four game playing roles are practiced.

 Skill Routine

This is a skill routine where the players practice moves, overload their nervous system, make many passes.

It is a very good way to get a lot of repetitions









Czech Skills

http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/filemgmt_data/files/Czech%201-1%20skills.wmv



Video on developing 1 on 1 skills from the Czech Republic.

Shooting Skills



 B2 Shooting and Skating

Using the B2 formation to practice shooting while skating. This is good for technique and goalie warm up at

the older ages.

 B200 Pass and Shoot

The B200 formation can be used for individual skills ending in a shot. A skill is practiced in the neutral zone.

It can be passing, a move, checking, etc.

 B5 Shooting After Circling Centre

The players shoot at each end but do puck handling and agility skills while skating. This formation can be

used for skills and team play concepts.

 B5 Shooting from 3 Lanes

B5 can be used for shooting skills and goalie warm up. Here you shoot from one lane at a time. Add a pass

or a skill with the puck. In the diagram you alternate lanes.

 Dany Heatley and shooting to score

Dany Heatley, Jamie Huarte, Jim and Tom shoot, play some 2-2 and then Dany talks a little on shooting to

score. Dany and Jamie were getting ready to go to the World Championships. The game video isn't great

but you can see how he handles the puck.

 Defenseman Skills in Offensive Zone from Filand

Ari Salo and Reio Ruotsalainen demonstrate and then run some drills with offensive zone skills for

defensemen.

 Defenseman technique

Defensemen work on offensive techniques at the Flames rookie camp. Jim Playfair is the coach and is

terrific at teaching skills and good habits to D.

 On ice warm up and shooting drills

Shooting drills for timing and cutting in and team warm up.

 Shooting from the point

Techniques for shooting from the point are practiced. Diagrams of drills are in Thumbnails.

 Trick Shots

Coaches from the Edge School for Athletes do some trick shots. = Drag between the legs pick up and

lacrosse shot. = Fake backhand and between the legs forehand. - Switch hands and shoot.





Puck Handling Skills



 B7 Puck handling skills: Nervous System Overload

In the B7 formation the players do individual skills or partner work. In this activity the players overload the

nervous system by handling multiple pucks and balls, they have to use their hands and feet and avoid

running into other players. Add escape moves, speed variables. Handle the balls and pucks all around the

body.

 Basics of Puck Handling

Tom Molloy and Jeff Hill go over how to hold the stick and then an on ice demo of the basic moves while

stationary.



 Escape Moves with the Puck

Examples of moves to escape checking pressure and gain more time and space.

 Figure 8 skating and puck handling

Louey Grant demonstrates how to work on alll the edges and puck handling skills while skating small figure

8's. Forward, backward, facing forward. Passing to a stationary or moving partner can also be added.

 Finnish Dryland Puck Handling

Most of these exercises are done at the training centre in Vierumaki Finland. A wooden ball is often used for

a puck. Multiple pucks, balance exercises, obstacles are all used to develop the ability to handle the puck all

around the body and isolate the movement of the upper body from the lower body. A golf ball is also good

to use.

 Russian Big Move Warm up - Puckhandling

Jim demonstrates the Russian big moves warm up and helps some young players.

Advance Puck Handling Moves from Finland

More advanced moves demonstrated by players from Finland.



 Chaos Puck Handling

In one zone all the players skate weaving in many directions and do various puck handling moves. Use the

stick, feet, body fakes, drag moves, escape moves and change of speed. Also reduce the space and play

keepaway

 Puck Handling full Ice Zig Zag

Using the B6 formation out of each corner players carry a puck. The idea is to loosen their shoulders and

practice carrying the puck on both sides with good control. The video gets better after the first minute. The

order of tasks is. Zig zag using, only forehand side of stick, only backhand side, heel to heel one way then

other, fake forehand pass, fake backhand pass. Shoot at the end. There is a diagram in the thumbnail.

 Puck Handling on ice exercises from Finlan

This is and excellent video for showing how to develop advanced skills handling the puck. A loose upper

body and separation of the lower and upper body are worked on.

 Puck Handling Skill Warmup

Jeff Hill from the Edge School for Athletes in Calgary warms up his hockey class with puck handling skills

while skating inside one zone. They do many variations and then in a smaller area of half the zone and then

inside a circle.

 Puck Protection Skills

Shield the puck from the checker with the body and protect the puck from poke checks with the leg and

arm.

 Russian Warm up with MRC Women and Coach

Dryland Russian warm up is demonstrated with an old guy off and on ice and then College women do it the

length of the ice.









Individual Defensive Skills



Body Checking Instruction from the Edge

Jeff Hill of the Edge School for Athletes instructs his on ice hockey class of 12 year olds on how to steer, angle

and finish as well as take a body check safely. Techniques and drills are shown. It is a good checking lesson.



 D Covering 1-1 in Front of the Net

The forward passes to the point and goes to the front of the net where the D must prevent the screen and

seal his stick outside of the slot. The Thumbnail has the diagrams for 4 files of Defenseman Techniques

 Defending a 2 on 1 in the D Zone

Ruotsalainen and Salo show how to play a 2-1 in the defensive zone.

 Defense to Offense

Angle the puck carrier at the back shoulder. If pinning the front leg goes between the puck carrriers legs

and pin the upper body against the boards. A team mate gets the loose puck. To gain the puck approach

the same way but with the front lege ahead of the offensive player. Ride him into the boards and take the

puck.

 Defensive Technique Ruotsalainen and Salo

Reijo Ruotsalainen a former Oiler and Ari Salo and Ari Hakkinen show defensemen technique at the IIHF

coaching conference 2003 in Finland.

 Individual Defense

Practices for developing individual defensive skills.

 Individula Defensive Skill Practices

Practices to learn individual defensive techniques.











Team Play

Cougar Pounce 2-2-1 Forecheck

This is a hybrid of the left wing lock and torpedo. Pouncers cover the points in our end, and attack all the team deep

in the opposition end. The halfbacks pinch on offense and play their side in our end and the and

the centre back plays the strong side on offense. Takes most 1 on 1's thru the Nzone and supports in each corner in

our end.







 Swedish skills and game play

Sundin, Forsberg, Nylander, Lyndstrom, Alfredsson, are shown in game situations making moves and

passes. Creating 2-1's on offense, picks, regroups, transition situations are demonstrated.

 Team Play

Concepts on team play are reviewed and shown on a white board. 5 on 5, pk, pp, etc.









Transition Games to practice individual and team skills



 Support Attack Defend Half Ice Transition Game

This game works on situations from 1 on 1 to 3 on 3.

 Transition Game of Full Ice 2 on 2 to 4 on 4

In this transition game it is 2 vs 2 through the neutral zone and both defense and attackers get support

making it a 4 on 4 in each end. Attack and defend principles of the 2 on 2 and the 4 on 4 are practiced.

 Transition Games from Europe

Juhani Whalsten of Finland has coached all over the world and played in 3 Olympic Games. Vladimir

Yursinov of Russia is an ex Soviet player. He was Tikanov's assistant with the Soviets and coached Moscow

Dynamo, he coached the 98 Russian Olympic team and was assistant in 2002. These are transition games

which are the most effective way to practice hockey or any other team sport.

 Transition games from Europe 2

Yursinov and Wahlsten continue their transition game demonstration at the 03 World Hockey

championships.

 Continuous 1 on 1

This is the best practice activity I have ever come across. It practices situations from 1-1 to 5-5 in each

zone. The coach can focus on offense or defense. It is really a game that runs itself by the players changing

on the go. You can add dump ins, regroups or change how far the offense or defense gets supported.

 Continuous 1-1 to 3-2 step by step description and video

The MRC women's team demonstrate the continuous flow transition game to practice the offensive and

defensive skills and reads of 1 on 1, 2 on 1, 2 on 2, 3 on 2 and then play in the end zones 2 on 2, 3 on 3, 4

on 4, 5 on 4. I consider this to be the most valuable on ice activity for practicing to play the game of

hockey. It is simply an efficient way to change the lines and because it runs itself the coach is free to focus

on coaching various aspects of the game.

 Halifax Presentation

Transition Game Presentation









Games to practice individual and team play skills

 Cross Ice Games From Finland with Jokers

In these two cross ice games teammates (Jokers) can be passes too but can only shoot or pass, they can't

skate with the puck. This requires teammates to get open and defenders to cover players away from the

puck. In game one 2 jokers are on the oppostition goalline and in game two 1 joker from each team is at

mid ice. You could have one joker from each team at each end or require a pass to a joker before attacking

or before scoring. It all depends on what you are working on.

 D1 Game of 2 on 2

In this full ice game you practice everything you do in hockey. All four game playing roles, all three zones.

Good technique and good habits are required. Pass to teammates coming on when the whistle blows.

 D1 Game with Multiple Balls, Pucks and Tasks

In this full ice game everyone plays. Use various kinds of balls and rings. With the ring the stick must be

upside down, soccer ball must be kicked, tennis and racquet balls handle with the stick. It is for split vision

and nervous system overload with the tasks and varying weight of implements.

 D100 Two 1 on 1's at the same time

In this full ice game the players are lined up at the side and 2 games of 1 on 1 run simultaneously. Keep the

head up. Coach blows the whistle every 15 seconds. Play for 2 whistles then pass to a teammate coming on.

Another way is to rotate every time a goal is scored. Play up to 3 games of 1 on 1 at once.

 D4 Games Developing Sills Using Modified Rules

Half ice games can be used to practice skills. The players must follow rules that require any skill the coach

wants to work on. At the start of this video all players must skate backward all the time. The next rule

requires them to only use the forehand side of the stick. This develops a loose upper body and supple

wrists. Any skill can be isolated within a half, cross ice or full ice game. These games force the players to

perform the skills under game pressure. Have tournaments and leagues with skill rules.

 D4 half and 1/4 ice games with D getting support

This game is a great way to work on 1-1's and 2-2's on both offense and defense. The D's get support and

make the pass. You can add a regroup in the neutral zone to practice puck support and the defense keeping

a tight gap. In this activity we are using 2 nets at one end while the goalie coach works at the other end.

Later when we introduce the 2 on 2 with a regroup.we use one net.

 D4 Half Ice Game: 2 Second One Timer Shot Rule

This is a game that focuses on puck support. The puckcarrier must pass within 2 seconds so teammates

must get open and give close support. Goals must be scored using one timers so the shooter must be

prepared to release the shot and get into shooting position. This is a common game in the Czech Republic.

You can diminish the possession time to one second.

 D4-3 on 3 low with a Pass to the Point

This is Dany Heatley's favorite drill game. You line up each team behind a face-off dot outside the blueline.

The coach has pucks that he dumps in. The first 3 players on each team battle for the loose puck and the

fourth player plays the point on their half of the ice. When the defense gets the puck they must pass to the

point to go onto offense. The point man must pass or shoot within 1 second. Play 30-40 seconds and clear

the zone on the whistle after passing to the coach. The coach dumps the puck in again. The point men and

2 others chase the loose puck and the next player plays the point. Keep score and work on one aspect of

offense or defense each time you play the game.



 Dany Heatley shows good habits and technique

This is a short video showing good habits like stick on the ice, face the puck, hands away from the body,

follow the pass, the shot, wrist and snap pass, etc. Dany also talks about scoring and demonstrates.

 Small area games

MRC uses 3 small area games while Dany Heatley practices with them to prepare to go to Switzerland and

play. Game 1 is a 2-0 shootout race. Game 2 is a cross ice 3 on 2 Game 3 is a 1 on 1 and then a 2 on 2 with

2 nets in a small area.









Team Offensive Skills

C1 Formation Starting with a Breakout Pass

The C1 Formation uses the full length of the rink. In this example a player shoots and then makes a breakout pass to

the next player, who must give support on the boards or in the middle lane. The B4 and C1 formations start from the

same place in the middle of the ice but in C activities they do team play tasks.

http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/filemgmt_data/files/Cougar%20Pounce%202-2-1.wmv



 Offensive skill practice

This is a 30 min. condensed version of our 75 min. skills practice. I left out a 20 min. full ice 3 on 4 and 5

on 5. Tracey Luhowy my assistant coach and former player for Canada's National Team and the Oval

Extreme runs a skill practice with our women's college team. I recommend you watch the partner skill

routine that starts about 6:30 in the video. The video has these components: 0:00 - 6:35 nervous system

overload with a puck and ball at the same time. 6:35-17:50 Groups of 5 or 6 work together on individual

skills. 17:50-21:20 B6 puckhandling zig zag in neutral zone followed by a shot. 21:20-23:40 B5 players in

the middle circle pass and shoot from the three lanes. 23:40-26:00 B6 from 4 lanes shooting from 3 lanes.

26:00-30:00 D4 half ice games of 2 on 2 with the sequence of attack-defend-pass-rest.

 Playin With the Puck

Team play with the puck. Individual and team skills by Swedish players. Thumbnail has the drill diagrams.

 used.

 Practices for team offensive skills

Sample practices for developing team offensive skills.









Team Defensive Skills



 Playing Without the Puck-Sweden

Video demonstration of checking skills from Sweden. The thumbnail has diagrams of the drills used.

 Practices for team defensive skills

Sample practices for developing team defensive skills.









Coaching Principles



 ABC's practice formations

These simple on ice formations can be used to run efficient practices.

 Diagrams of hockey drills and games

Diagrams with descriptions on them of drills and games that I use for practice.

 European Hockey Connection

Court Dunn runs a hockey school in late July that uses the ABC method of coaching hockey. I took some

video the last time I was there. It shows some games and skill drills. It is usually the last 2 weeks of July in

Newhark, Delaware. I think it is a great camp.

 Flames Rookie Practice One

Rookie camp for the Flames. The coaching staff evaluates players and shows them the techniques they

want them to use. Defenseman, goalie and forward drills along with games and shootouts.

 Flames Rookie Practice Two

Good defenseman skill drills, a cross ice game, shootout and forward drills for the attack. Goalie skills as

well.

 Flames Rookies Practice 3 and 4

The rookies learn what you must do to play in the NHL. Quick feet in offense, driving to the net, creating

checking angles.

 German text of ABC's of International Hockey

Text of the ABC's of International Hockey in German without diagrams.

 Practice formations from the ABC's of International Hockey

How to orgainize a practice on the ice. Basic formations from the ABC's of International Hockey

 Review practices

Practices to review all of the skills and playing habits learned.

 Rink Ball or Rink Bandy

Rink Ball or Rink Bandy is an indoor form of Bandy which has been played on frozen soccer football fields

for a long time. The indoor version of the game has over 70 000 players in Finland. I think it would be a

great off season game for players to maintain skating and game play skills. It also would be a way to keep

the arena's full in the off season with mixed leagues. I have a rink ball stick but have never played the

game. I would love to.

 Spanish Translation of the ABC's

This is a translation of the first 94 pages of the ABC's of International Hockey done by Carlos Murquia of

Guadalajara, Mexico.









Off Ice Training



 Agility Training Examples from Soccer

This is a video of European youth players training for foot speed, and quickness in soccer football.









 Czech Dryland Training 72 practices

These practices are from the era of the Soviets and Czechoslovakia. They are more advanced than the track

training we do for hockey now because they develop the athlete as well as condition the body.

 Moscow Dynamo 80's dryland training

Jursinov coaches the Soviet elite league team Moscow Dynamo. Basketball, soccer, volleyball, weight

training circuit, and stretching. All outside in Spartan conditions.

 Mount Royal College off ice training

This is a self executing file that has pictures of what we do off ice. The first pictures are on an outdoor rink

where we go over the team play systems we use both offense and defense. The next pictures are of our

training. We cycle for 45 minutes and are lead by a fitness trainer and then go to the weight room where

hockey specific exercises are done. These are developed by the fitness centre at the college.

 MRC Women's Team Pregame Warm up

College women's team uses music for a unique pre game warm up. Running, dance and then imitate each

other to music.

 Off Ice Training

Harri Hakkariainen of Espoo, Finland presented this video at the IIHF Coaching Conference May 2003.

 Off ice Training for Mount Royal College Women's Team

Team play instruction at an outdoor rink. Spin class on the exercise bike for 45 minutes and hockey specific

weight training.

 Single Weight In Season Hockey Workout

This is an in season weight workout. An old guy is demonstrating because he couldn't find any young

players strong enough to lift the weight. We used this when I coached college men and went two seasons

without a serious shoulder injury. Strength maintenance and injury prevention is the purpose. This workout

was shown to me by Lucek Bukac when he was the head coach of Czechoslovakia. A good way to do it is to

do 2 sets of 15 reps of the routine. Do situps or leg work between sets. Follow up with one set of bench

press using a light weight with maximum reps til failure.

 U.S. HS players dryland in Sweden with Russian Coach

These are high school players from the Boston area in Sweden doing a dryland circuit with a Russian coach.

Notice the Russian box, side to side exercises, the light weights and the emphasis on core training.









Specialty Teams

 High Press PK

Pressure the puck up the boards and defense switch.

 Penalty Killing

Penalty killing demo









Goaltending Technique



 Goalie Crease Movement Warm up

Todd Laurin has the college women goalies skating in their crease simulating following the puck. Efficient

use of the edges and balance control are emphasised.

 Goalie technique and shooting drills 1

Here is some goalie work and shooting drills from the rookie camp.

 Goaltenders Following the puck

Todd Laurin takes shots at the goalies while they work on staying square to the puck and following the puck

with their eyes and body.

 Goaltending and shooting Drills 2

Todd Laurin of Worldpro Goaltending puts our goalies thru movement drills. The focus is following the puck

with the eyes and body and moving efficiently. They warm up, do some movement drills, take shots from

teammates in 5 different drills and then practice movement while stopping pucks from two coaches. Todd

talks about what the important points of the practice are.

 Goaltending Technique 3

Todd Laurin gets Mike to do various crease movements to stay square to the puck and follow the shot while

directing the rebounds.

 Russian Goalie Dryland Training

Moscow Dynamo goalies work on quickness, reactions, flexibility, strength.