Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/101613
If we are aspiring to create players who are energetic, creative, skilled and dynamic, we must create practice plans that have similar characteristics. training. The Russian game was built upon skating, passing and teamwork. The overall success, technical skill and style of play of his teams validate this approach. If we are aspiring to create players who are energetic, creative, skilled and dynamic, then we must present practice plans that have similar characteristics. Various small area games during speed of hand, speed of foot and speed of mind it is probably time well spent. Tarasov was ahead of his time in physiological and neurological development. His ideas and philosophies revolutionized not only the way the game is played, but also how players are taught by creating many new training techniques, both on the ice and through dryland practice of 1-on-1, 2-on-2 and 3-on-3 will create speed of hand, foot and mind. They will allow the players to compete in game-like conditions and deal with all of the nuances that exist. They will net the desired result of a wet head and a glisten in the eye. Whether a coach has a vast hockey background or virtually no experience in the sport, he or she can provide quality developmental opportunities. The game itself is always the best teacher. If a coach has presented the right physical challenges, then all that really needs to be done is to stand back and monitor the action. Envision a practice where a youth team has a half-sheet of ice. Maybe eight to 10 of the players are engaged in a 3-on-2, 2-on-2 or 2-on-1 cross-ice game with 30-second shifts using the bottom half of the zone. The remaining six to eight players can be working on a skill between the blue line and red line. The players involved with these small games will be stickhandling, passing, pivoting, falling, getting up, skating forward, doing tight turns, stopping, starting, communicating, defending, competing, etc. In short they will be developing speed of hand, speed of foot and speed of mind. The coach merely times the shifts, monitors the game and looks to keep players safe. There is a Buddhist saying that suggests, ���Even if one does nothing, there will be growth in the spring.��� For teams that integrate competitive games into their practices there will be wet heads and glistening eyes at the end of practice and there will be growth in the players come the spring. N Paul Cannata is the head hockey coach at Milton Academy in Milton, Mass. USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM January. 2013 29