The ABC Method, Philosophy and Coding

I have had some questions about the way we code the activities. The reason for coding is that there are hundreds or thousands of drills and games. Coding makes it possible to put all of these in categories that make them easy to find when a coach needs them. Otherwise you have piles of drills that you have to search through each time.

In the video section there are short clips that explain the basics of the system. The books explain everything.
Book One has levels 0-1-2 and Book Two levels 0-1-2-3-4-5-6 plus an extensive team play section and more advanced drills and transition games. There are video clips for book one that a company named Cancoach made and put on cd. It is a very good introduction to the system and has all of the cards from book 1.

The first book is about starting with a non skater in level 0 and progressing through the skills of skating, shooting, passing and putting these skills into the 3 Game Situations of 0-loose puck, 1-offense, 2-defense and the transiton between the 4 Game Playing Roles 1-player with the puck, 2-players supporting the puck, 3-player checking the puck carrier, 4-players defending in a zone or man to man away from the puck.

This video section with 111 clips can be found. http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/album.php?aid=11&page=1

Basic Formations:
A1 Skating and Individual Skills – skate across the ice.
http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20100525080627751
A2 Basic Formation – Skate the length of the ice.
http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20100525081526910
A200 Basic Formation – Puck Handling Skills length of ice – video 2 is example of a 4 lane circuit. http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20090928074450896 http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20090928073537997
B1 Basic Shooting Formation
http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20100525081926616
B2 Basic Shooting Formation – line up across the blueline.
http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20090926095618197
B200 Basic Shooting Formation – line up on blue line and skate from the end of the line and shoot. http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20090928072737184
B3 Partner Practice Across from each other
http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=2009092807533769
B300 Basic Formation: Line up across from each other and do individual skills. http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20090928072740884
D1 Basic Game Formation – Full ice
http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20100525081957828
D100 Basic Game Formation – Full ice with extra player on the bench or the sides. http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20100525082008552
D2 Basic Game Formation – Cross ice games.
http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20100525082023546
D200 Game Formation – Cross ice games with extra players.
http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=2010052508203349
D3 Game Formation - A cross ice game at one end and a 2/3 ice game lengthwise. http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20100525082049156
D300 Formation – Cross ice and 2/3 length game with subs on the side. http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20100525082100841
D4 Game Formation – Game at one end with both teams shooting on the same net. http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20100525082119406
D400 Game Formation – Game at one end with both teams shooting on the same net and extra players. http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20100525082129900
D5 Game Formation – Games using one net at each end and a cross ice game in the middle. http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20100525082140839
D500 Game Formation – One net at each end and a cross ice game in the middle and extra players. http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20100525082148816
D6 Game Formation – Full ice game with two nets at each end.
D600 Game Formation - Full ice games with two nets at each end and extra players on the sides.
D7 Game Formation – Rink divided into 4 sections with one 2 nets on each goal line. D700 extra players.
D8 Game Formation – Rink in 4 sections and 2 nets in each. D800 extra players wait on the sides.
E1 Shootout Formation – players leave from a line in the middle for a shootout.

Topics in the ABC’s:
GAMES TO LEARN THE GAME
The Four Game Playing Roles – in a game players transition between these four game playing roles http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20090928080533500
Passing Rules to teach the game. The more passes the more team work, fewer passes more individual. http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20090928080534960
Tournaments are used to increase activity and learn to play under pressure. http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20090928080535793
Modify rules, change the size of teams, Focus on the individual or team play skill and create a game. http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20090928080537624
Team size vary and the lesson learned changes.
http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20090928081416212
Extra Equipment like small nets, balls, barriers, rings can be used to create learning situations. http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20090928081417754
Games for Skill Development. Modify rules to isolate skills. i.e. game with only backward skating. http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20090928081418601 Another rule could be Use only the forehand side of the stick. This promotes good vision, loosens the shoulders. http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20090928082640425
Keepaway games with point systems and modified rules isolate the skills and use the 4 game playing roles. http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20090928083629755
Modified rules such and “No Passing Allowed” demand a players uses moves and skates with the puck. http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20090928083629755

Season Planning:
The coach must understand the game and its components. There are 3 Game Situations 0-Loose Puck, 1-Offense, 2-Defense and the 4 Game Playing Roles. 1-Player with the puck, 2-Players supporting the puck, 3-Player checking the puck carrier, 4 Players covering opponents or areas away from the puck.
http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20090928084727484
Controlled Scrimmage using full ice games to teach the game. Modify rules, add dump ins, regroups, passing options. http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20090928084728681
Small Area Games for skill.
http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20090928085718820
Shootout Options – finish practice with shootout or other kinds of competition. http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20090928085719953
Goaltending. The goalies need to practice their skills every ice session. http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20090928090229285
Hockey Sense is knowing not only the what and how but also the when, where and why. http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20090912125151468
Small and modified games to learn the game.
http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20090912125152597
The Four Game Playing Roles
http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20090912125152597