Howdy,
So for all you coaches out there... It would be awesome if there was a section here on "general hockey IQ / practices". Stuff like the D-zone faceoff line up that was discussed on one of the topics, basic ways to transition through the neutral zone, how to breakout, etc.
It would be even more awesome if there was a guided structure to that, so that important/building block stuff was first, before diving into the weeds on something more advanced that would really only apply once everyone was playing at a high level.
As to "why?"... I've noticed a really clear difference between folks that started as an adult like I did (a couple years ago) and folks that played organized hockey as kids (pretty much regardless of level). I've literally never had a coach explain/reinforce 'team' concepts. Individual skills is easier to get, and that seems to be the main focus for most 'adult skills' classes, but the how to work as a team stuff (is that what everyone means when they say "systems"?) basically seems ignored. And now that I'm playing a bit better, I notice more and more that what's holding me back is less individual skills and more "I don't know what to do".
Anyway, it would be super helpful to a guy like me.
Mark