What's in your Coach's Bag?

You do have a coach's bag, right?  If you don't, you need one.  It needs to be with you at all practices and games.  No exceptions. You can have anything you think you are going to need in there but there are a few essential items that should be in there (in no particular order):

1. Tape for pants, sticks, etc.
2. Coaching Board and markers
3. Extra parts (wheels, bolts/nuts, screws, laces etc)
4. Pens (for sign-in sheets)
5. Screw driver (multi-head) for fixing helmet
6. First-aid kit
7. Ice packs
8. Mouth guards
9. Whistle (for practice) 
10. AAU card (or any other association badge you need at the game)

 Having these extra items will save you the hassle during practice or a game.  Hopefully you never need any of the extra items but you probably will at some time.

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2-0 Breakout

Drill:

 1. Players line up in 2 lines on the blue line
2. Coach dumps puck into the corner
3. Players must communicate and get control of the puck
4. Player with puck must make a decision
5. Player without puck should get open looking for puck
6. Have a coach play Defense and make the puck carrier decide what to do

Focus:
1. Carry the puck to open space
2. Pass the puck to teammate
3. Shoot it up the boards to open space

Notes:

This drill really focuses on getting the puck out of their own end. Players learn to make decisions on whether to carry the puck or pass. This is a great drill to help players understand how to work out of their own zone and learn to make quick decisions.

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Give and Go

Drill:

1. Players start at one end of the rink, Coaches along the boards
2. Players make a pass to the coach and then get the pass back
3. Stick-handle and shoot on goal
Focus:
1. Making good passes
2. Continue to skate after making first pass
3. Accepting passes

Notes:
This could be lengthened to full rink.
You could also have a player or coach chase the player as they make and accept their passes.

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Getting into position in the offensive zone

This drill simply focuses on getting the players to the correct spot.

Player 1 carries the puck down a wing (most times they will be pushed outside by the defense).
Player 2 should go to the net.
Player 3 should be in the high slot.

This helps the players learn to go to the right spot and not stand and watch the others with the puck.

Variations would be to have players (or coaches) play defense to make them move the puck or go to different positions.

If you are looking for additional help with positioning, check out:

Related Drills:
Left Wing
Right Wing
4 on 2 forecheck
4 on 2 puck movement

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Russian Suicides (The Admiral)

Drill:

1. First Offensive player carries puck to other end and makes shot
2. At the shot, Offensive player in that zone takes off with a puck
3. First offensive player must transition after shot and chases next player trying to stop them from scoring

Focus:
1. Hard skating
2. Stickhandling and shooting
3. Quick transition from Offense to Defense
4. Chasing down a player from behind (backchecking)

Notes:
This is a great drill to get the kids going on a slow night. It really focuses on skating, stickhandling and shooting as quickly as possible.
One of my favorite drills to do in practice. Backchecking is a huge part of the game.

Related Drills:
Russian Suicides
Windmills

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Defending passes from behind the net

Drill:

1. Players line up in a semi-circle
2. Coaches are on either side of the net below the goal line
3. Coaches make passes to any of the players in front
4. Player settles puck and shoots or takes one-timers
5. Goalie needs to make save and react quickly for next shot

Focus:
1. Goalie: Make good save and even better recovery to be in place for rebound or for next pass
2. Players learn to shoot quickly.

Notes:
You can also set players up behind the net to make passes. This focuses them on making good passes.

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Left Wing

Helping the kids understand the positions they will be playing is key. These slides should be shared with your team and reviewed at practice.

Left wing on offense

View more documents from InlineHockeyDrills.

Left wing on offense

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Right Wing

Helping the kids understand the positions they will be playing is key. These slides should be shared with your team and reviewed at practice.

Right wing on offense

View more documents from InlineHockeyDrills.

Right wing on offense

View more documents from InlineHockeyDrills.

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Right defenseman

Helping the kids understand the positions they will be playing is key. These slides should be shared with your team and reviewed at practice.

Right defense on defense

View more documents from InlineHockeyDrills.

Right defense on defense

View more documents from InlineHockeyDrills.

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Left Defenseman

Helping the kids understand the positions they will be playing is key. These slides should be shared with your team and reviewed at practice.

Left defense on defense

View more documents from InlineHockeyDrills.

Left defense on defense

View more documents from InlineHockeyDrills.

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Horseshoe drill (Pregame warmups)

Drill:

1. Divide players into each corner with pucks

2. One players skates (no puck) up across the blue line and cuts back to the middle

3. Player on opposite side makes pass and then skates to blue line

4. Player receives puck and proceeds to net and shoots

5. Switch lines each turn

Focus:

1. Hard skating

2. Making and accepting passes

3. Stickhandling and shooting

4. Switching lines keeps them fresh from both sides of the rink

Notes:

This is a great warmup drill prior to the games. Gets the players legs moving and ready for the game.

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Game Day is Here

So you've spent a few weeks practicing and now game day has arrived.  Don't be nervous, it's a fun experience for you and the team.  Try to find a routine for yourself and it will help get the boys relaxed and ready to play as well.

Pre-game Locker Room:

1. Get to the rink well before the game and find a locker room.  Require that all the players get dressed and hang out together before the game.  They will want to skate and loosen up which is fine (have them leave the sticks in the locker room, there are too many people in the hall ways to be skating around with them.)
2. I try to talk to every kid as they enter or finish getting ready.  Just a few minutes of encouragement or areas to focus on.  Maybe even a tip on a way to win a face off or beat a goalie.
3. About 10 minutes before game time, round them up and make them sit down in the locker room.  Designate a parent to not allow anyone out.  I've always said, this time can be like 'herding cats', 1 goes in the door, 2 more out.
4. Make sure all kids have signed in the game day roster, you will need to turn this into the ref prior to the game.
5. This is the time to discuss the upcoming game and make sure all equipment is ready.  Have a coach or parent check wheels to see if they are loose or dirty (always bring a towel for the bench and locker room).  Use your whiteboard to draw out any plays you need to work on.  Keep it simple but stress the keys to the game.
6. With about a minute to go get them all on their feet and huddle up.  Pick a kid out to count out to break your huddle.  Kids may have encouraging words they want to share or come up with your own.  Mine is pretty simple.
   "Play hard, skate hard.  45 minutes of hockey. TEAM GAME on 3!"
   NOTE:  Never leave your room until all players are ready.  Enter the rink as a TEAM.

Warm-ups:

1. You may only get a few minutes (no more than 5 to loosen up.)  Skate the Horseshoe drill.
2. Let your other coach(es) handle this. You need to meet up with the other coach and check rosters and sign off.
3. Have a game day puck that you keep out of practice.  Give this to the ref and talk to them about any concerns you have.  If you have a new goalie, let them know that, they may tend to blow the whistle faster instead of letting kids bang away.

Line-ups:

1. Have a set lineup for a game (or do the best you can).  All kids want to play offense.  If you are lucky enough to have kids who want to play Defense only, work that into your lineup.
2. I've found that keeping kids consistent for a period or a game is better than switching up every shift.  It just confuses everyone. Over the course of your season, it will all even out.
3. Make adjustments when necessary, but make sure to explain to a kid why you are moving them around.  Kids get very sensitive to short shift or changes.
4. Don't forget to have a PK and a PP line (and make sure your kids know who is on it).

Game time:

1. Keep your shifts to a 1 1/2.  Long shifts can be game killers.
2. Coach the kids on the bench
3. Try not to yell at the kids on the floor.  This is a hard one because it's easy to want to yell to them to correct things. 
4. It's better to talk out loud for the benefit of the players on the bench.  They are watching the game and know what's going on.  So you talking about what to do with the puck or to push a player to the outside, helps them when they step on the rink.
5. Have a coach who is in charge of hydrating the players.  Kids will want drinks but tend to forget because they want back in or don't take the time.
   - NO Gatorade or water bottles with caps.
   - Only use water bottles with straw lids or squirt tops, it keeps it cleaner.
   - Sit the kids on the bench to get them water.  Unlike ice hockey, water on the wheels is not good for inline.
6. As players come off, offer encouragement or congratulations for plays made.  Help them understand what they could have done differently, but NEVER yell or degrade a player.
7. You have a Time-out, use it if you need it.
8. You can pull your goalie, do so if you need to.
9. NEVER show your disappointment to a play made or a goal given up or a penalty taken.
10. Congratulate every player after the game.
11. After the game, shake hands with the other team/players/refs and pack up your gear and head back to the locker room.

After the Game:

1. Round all the players up in the locker room.  It's tough because all the parents want to see their hockey player and talk to them. Ask for a few minutes to talk to your players.
2. Stay positive about the game and talk about areas to work on and focus on for next game.
3. Congratulate your goalie no matter what happens, he is the hardest working guy on the floor and at elementary age, it's a tough job.
4. I seldom call out individual players (other than the goalie) and remind them its a TEAM win (more on TEAM in a future post).
5. Get them on their feet, huddle up and break your huddle again.
6. Check for any injuries or other issues.

Note:  Don't be afraid to ask the parents to leave if you feel you need to 'TALK' to your players.  At younger ages, this is a tough situation and you have to know your players and team before trying this.

Going into the next to the last game of a season, I had my team go up 5-0 in the first period and ended up losing 8-6 because they quit.  After the game, we had a closed door meeting where I explained how unhappy I was they quit on the coaches, their teammates and their parents.  I challenged them because I  knew they were better.  Next morning, we beat the top team 5-1.  It was needed and called for.  No way could I have done that at the beginning of the season. You'll learn to read your players and know which ones you can challenge.

Team Emails:
After you've had time to reflect on the game, send a team email again telling them your thoughts on the game and how proud you are of their work.  Offer any drills or things they can work on at home before next practice.  Remind them when the next practice and game are.

These tips should help you better manage game day, until you get into a routine of your own. Just remember, hockey is the greatest game on earth.  Have fun with it.

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Cross overs enter the zone

Drill:

1. Outside skater carries puck into zone, starts toward goal at the blue line.
2. Drop passes to player 2 following the play who crosses inside at the blue line.
3. Player 2 shot/pass is based on defense reaction.

Focus:
1.  Teamwork entering the zone.
2.  Good passes
3.  Communication

Notes:

Drill submitted by Nino Febbraro

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Trailing the shooter

Drill:

1.  Kids will line up in pairs

2.  Player 1 carries the puck and takes a shot at goal 

3. Player 2 follows the puck into the crease anticipates a rebound.

Focus:

1.  Skating, stick handling and shooting by first player

2.  Following up shots by trailing player looking for rebounds

Notes:
Some additional passing could be added into here to mix up the drill.

Drill submitted by Nino Febbraro

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4 corner passing, skating and shooting

Drill:

1. Player 1 passes puck to the blue line player and then skates around cones
2. Players continue making passes (Across blue to red line)
3. Last player makes a pass to the middle to Player 1 skating down the middle
4. First player accepts pass and shoots
5. Player 1 fills in the first spot in the blue line and everyone else rotates around. Player who made last pass joins the line behind the net.

Focus:
1. Good, crisp passes
2. Hard skating
3. Quick passing and skating
4. Look for player breaking down the middle and getting them the puck

Notes:
This is a high tempo drill. If a player makes a bad pass, made them start all over again. Teaches them to be precise with what they need to do. Keep them moving quickly so there is no down time.

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Around the wall passing

Drill:
1. Players start at 1
2. 1 passes to 2
3. 2 passes to 3
4. 3 passes to 4
5. 4 passes to 5
6. 5 shoots
7. Players all rotate to where they passed. Player 5 goes to position 1

Focus:
1. Focus on making good passes
If they do not, make them start over
2. Allows players to communicate and call for the puck
3. Goalie should work on moving toward the puck with each pass
4. Last player shoot
They can make a move, shoot from slot, etc.

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Passing Relays

Drill

1. Players line up against the wall
2. First kid skates down the line passing back and forth to each player
3. At end, he turns and makes a pass to the next kid in line
4. Continue through the line until all kids have gone
5. Start at the opposite end. This way they will need to work on both forehand and backhand

Focus:
1. Crisp passes
2. Making/accepting passes quickly
3. Making/accepting passes on both the forehand and backhand

Notes:
This is a fun drill to hold a little competition during practice. Break the teams up so they are even skill levels. Give some kind of prize to the winning team.

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1 on 1 Offense vs Defense (Half Rink)

Drill:

1. The forwards line up in a corner with the pucks (circles)
2. The Defense line up near the goal (triangles).
3. On the whistle forward #1 skates with the puck to the farthest cone.
4. Defense #1 skates forward to the closest cone, transitions and skates backwards
5. Offense tries to get to the net, Defense tries to stop him
6. Goalies should be moving with the play

Focus:
1. Offense focus on Stickhandling, speed skating and shooting
2. Defense focus on transition to backward skating, speed and pushing player away from net. They should not allow the O to get to the net.
3. Goalie should be working on being in position and moving with the play.

Notes:
This drill can be changed up to be a 2 on 1 or 2 on 2. A lot of variations and the kids love competitive drills like this.
You could also just have the Offense skate up around and work on carrying the puck and making the turn.

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