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It is easy to incorporate forwards posting up with forward momentum in a large variety of drills where the main focus may be line rushes, attacking the offen- sive zone or just warming up the goalie. Any passing drill can easily emphasize timing support with a good target. The same goes for a defenseman's habits of look- ing over his or her shoulder and quickly getting the puck on the forehand (sur- rounding the puck). This habit is easily integrated in a variety of drills. It is possible to work on the components of breakouts in every drill in a particular practice and not actually perform one breakout. This means that valuable ice time can be used for drills focus- ing on skill development through fun, competitive drills instead of monotonous system repetition. ers are required to use habits outside of set plays. To prove this, next time you watch an NHL game, count the number of situ- ations where a team has a player stride for the puck and has the option of hit- ting a posting forward with support. I have seen several college and NHL games where these habits are dis- played in excess of 10 times between the two teams in just one shift, as compared to the number of set break- out plays that are used. A specific set breakout won't occur as many as 10 times in an entire game. It makes much more sense to practice areas of the game that occur most often. You don't want to practice set outcomes. You want to practice reading, reacting and creating. It is painful to see youth teams with limited ice time stand around and watch their coach draw breakouts on the rink board and then spend more time standing around watching one line at a time slowly execute a controlled breakout to the coach's specifications. In game situations, even at highest levels, set breakouts occur infrequently compared to the number of times play- RESIDENCE CAMP FOR GIRLS AGES 8 - 16 August 13th - 17th, 2012 MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA Coaches should plan practices with variety and flow. Let the kids practice skills and habits in fun, competitive drills. They will enjoy practice and be better off for it in the future. N Guy Gadowsky is the head coach of the Penn State University non-varsity team. Next season, the Nittany Lions will become a Div. I indepen- dent program and will skate out of the Big Ten Hockey Conference beginning in the 2013-14 season. FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL (514)-398-7011 OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE: WWW.MARTLETHOCKEY.COM Win Every Week. YEAR 3 Weeks of Congrats to Winners: Week 31 Jeff Gouge • South Range, Mich. Hasanen Power Wear Power Pants Week 32 Nicky Page • Bear, Del. Gongshow Gear Week 33 Eddie Demers Jr. • Gilford, N.H. HockeyShot.com Week 34 Wyatt Burt • Murfreesboro, Tenn. H20 Overdrive Week 35 Shawn Donovan • North Olmstead, Ohio HockeyShot.com Week 36 Trenton Montana • Danville, Calif. H20 Overdrive Coaches should plan practices that allow players to work on basic skills through a series of fun and competitive drills without pre- determined outcomes. USAHockeyMagazine.com Enter. Win. Easy. USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM APRIL/MAY.2012 31 A new contest every Monday.