We teach the big principles.
Good offense creates to good defense and good defense creates good offense.
- this requires a five players in compact but balanced form
- e.g. offense in NZ F1 and F2 creating 2v1 and F3 takes care of the balance by stying on the weak side, Ds supporting the attack close keeping the five players compact. So on the turn over we tight and ready to defend with close gaps etc
- on the defense F2 and F3 need to backtrack with speed from inside the dots to keep the defending unit tight. so when we get the puck we are close to each other => so we can attack with short fast passes with speed.
This of course demands a lot skating and work.
I hope this makes some sense.
Coaches.
After recently watching a few minor hockey games , i noticed the lack of support in all zones of the ice.in the defensive zone most pucks were fired up the boards with no receiving player in position. no support D to D or supporting center man. long passes that were rink wide also.
players panic with the puck witch usually leads to a turnover.this is at AAA level also;
hockey is a team game , so how do we as coaches teach support and short passes as a team?.
most coaches struggle with this problem at all age levels.
Tom has posted many times on the ABC s of Reading the game. a very good starting place.
thanks
RookieCoach
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I would love to read other coaches thoughts on support.
Tom