Teaching

[Dare to Dream 1980 0]

Hey all im just wondering how do i teach a teammate positioning. like he is a good overall player but his positioning is the worst ive ever seen. How can i help him improve this because we're trying out for a AAA team in less than a week and im skating with him tomorrow and going over somethings to touch up before tryouts, does anyone have any ideas how to teach this?

Also does anyon know how to teach decision makings, he isnt the greatest at that too but i want to help him so we can both make the team because were very good when we play together.

Thanks

DaRe To DrEaM1980

[xMenace 0]

What position does he play?

Forward:

Attacking:

Just about everything derives from the concept of an attack triangle, otherwise known as how to execute a 3 on 2. Two defensemen can stop a 3 on 2 if the attackers come in all lined up. The first takes the puck carrier and the second intercepts any passes. Passes have only one path because both targets are lined up.

The puck carrier should always drive wide and hard to the net. This forces the D to follow. If the F does not do this, the D can lay back and block lanes as there's no big threat from the carrier. The far winger also goes to the net hard and wide. If he gets open, it's an easy tap in, so D2 has to take him. This leaves the third F wide open in the slot for a drop pass.

Your bud must recognize which F position he's in and play it appropriately. If any of the three break down, the whole attack can fail.

Defending:

The winger plays a triangle. Point 1 is the hash mark. When you have possession and breaking out on your side, hit the boards at the hash marks as fast as possible and set up for the pass. When they have the puck in the corner, he's off the board and prevents a pass to the point and a break to the center by the attacker. He picks up lose pucks. Point 2 is the point man. He's responsible for covering the point so they don't get easy shots. If he can't prevent them, he blocks the lane to the net. Point 3 is the high slot. This spot is often overlooked. When the attackers have it on the other sze of the zone, he's there to cover a guy sneaking in and to prevent passes across ice to the point. He picks up rebounds.

If he's playing center, attack the puck wherever it is. Double teaming is desireable. He goes after the puck when 2nd man in, the man when first in.

Simple stuff. Good luck.

[Fire0nIce228 1]

Trying out for AAA but doesn't know how to play his position? Best of Luck to ya..

[xMenace 0]

Trying out for AAA but doesn't know how to play his position? Best of Luck to ya..

My thought too, but it's certainly not unheard of.

[Dare to Dream 1980 0]

Trying out for AAA but doesn't know how to play his position? Best of Luck to ya..

No like he knows his position its just like when guys get bunched up on his side what he should do and stuff like that-we should have no trouble at tryouts

[xMenace 0]

He can't know his position and be the worst you've ever seen, unless your whole program has too many rons.

[LkptTiger 1]

Isn't it a little late for try-outs? Every AAA team I've ever played on held their try-outs much earlier in the spring/summer.

[Dare to Dream 1980 0]

Isn't it a little late for try-outs? Every AAA team I've ever played on held their try-outs much earlier in the spring/summer.

Nope Tryouts start Tuesday night and you can say im nervous as hell

[Chadd 916]

Hey all im just wondering how do i teach a teammate positioning. like he is a good overall player but his positioning is the worst ive ever seen. How can i help him improve this because we're trying out for a AAA team in less than a week and im skating with him tomorrow and going over somethings to touch up before tryouts, does anyone have any ideas how to teach this?

Also does anyon know how to teach decision makings, he isnt the greatest at that too but i want to help him so we can both make the team because were very good when we play together.

Thanks

DaRe To DrEaM1980

It's too late to teach much of anything at this point. Short and simple positioning, Offense:

Always be in a position to get a pass, find a place where there is a lane from the puck to you

Shooting is not always the best decision, but it is never the worst one as long as the shot is on net

When in doubt, screen the goalie

If the other team has control of the puck, you aren't on offense anymore. Start playing defense

[Jarick 5]

That is odd, but really good information Menace! I'm sure I've heard/read some of it but it's always nice to have it broken down like that.

[chippa13 1844]

Hey all im just wondering how do i teach a teammate positioning. like he is a good overall player but his positioning is the worst ive ever seen. How can i help him improve this because we're trying out for a AAA team in less than a week and im skating with him tomorrow and going over somethings to touch up before tryouts, does anyone have any ideas how to teach this?

Also does anyon know how to teach decision makings, he isnt the greatest at that too but i want to help him so we can both make the team because were very good when we play together.

Thanks

DaRe To DrEaM1980

I'm not sure how you can play very well together when he has poor positioning and makes poor decisions.

[sabre09923 0]

I'll pitch in some information as well:

Offense:

-Never stay in a straight line with the other forwards on an odd-man rush. This allows the defender(s) to play you and protect the pass.

-When in doubt, head to the net, and camp out at the far post, stick down. If you can get a pass on your tape, it is an easy goal.

-If the goalie isn't giving you any space to put the puck in the net, shoot low, and go after the rebound.

-Puck possession is key. Don't dump the puck in unless you have to.

-If you're not open, get open, however you can. Don't be afraid to swap places with your center/wingers.

-When you're in front of the net, move around. If you can pull the defender to the high slot, call out to one of your other forwards to go near the crease. He will be wide open, now that the defender is covering you.

-Backcheck as hard as you can. Make sure the opposing team's d-men are always covered when they're on offense.

Defense:

-Don't be afraid to stop and reverse it behind the net on the breakout.

-Go D to D with your partner as often as possible.

-At the point, when you don't have the puck, try to get to the top of the circles, or stay in the high slot. Defenders won't be able to cover you there.

-Read the play the best you can. If the opposing team is going to pass it to the winger on your side, hit him and take the puck.

-By the same token, don't leave the zone too early. Keep your gap between you and the puck carrier small; no shorter than 5 feet.

-Don't be afraid to take risks. If you can step up and intercept a pass, by all means do so.

-If you're trying to break the puck out, skate 3 strides before making the pass. This will get your forwards in motion.

-Don't take yourself out of position just so you can make a big hit. Sure, the big hit will pump up your team, but the morale boost will be taken away if they score a goal because you were out of position.

-Look for an open forward on the far post.

[Cavs019 710]

Good insight thusfar but:

Menace is correct for the most part but "ALWAYS" is a very strong word in the context of setting up in the offensive zone. Creativity and the ability to read and react is what it is all about in the offensive end. Also, it is much better when running the basic 3 on 2 to have the weak side wing come all the way over for the trail and the forward in the middle go to the net. As such, the carrier should not always be bullying down the ice like a meathead and develop timing with his linemates to execute the play properly. This way, the middle forward should pull the weak side defenseman to the net with him and it is much more difficult for the defenseman playing the puck carrier to intercept the trail pass. (More movement = more confusion for the defense)

When in doubt, do not head to the net. If you are the last guy back and do not read that your two linemates are low, a quick turnover means all three of you are caught behind an odd-man rush the other way. Also, on the 3 on 2 if both linemates crash the net the only play is a shot from up high, making the defenseman's job a hell of a lot easier. Another nit pick, but do not always assume that the play is to the far post off the rush. Go directly in front of the net and screen the goalie/take the defenseman out of the play. At AAA and beyond the most used play is a quick trail drop/pass to a shot, or a quick shot off the wing with speed. Given that, skating to the far post and standing there A: Gives off the impression that you are a bitch, and B: Eliminates the element of a screen from your offensive attack. Most sound defenseman eat that cross-crease pass for breakfast, but if it is there, by all means plant at the far post.

[Chadd 916]

We can all sit here and contradict each other all day long with scenarios, it's not hard. For every potential situation there is something different that you can do and each option has positives and negatives. The end result is the same thing, you have to get open and get the puck on net.

No matter where you are on the ice, you have to gain a positional or numerical advantage on the other guys. Virtually everything you do can be countered and can result in the other team having a numerical or positional advantage on your team.

[LkptTiger 1]

When in doubt, do not head to the net. If you are the last guy back and do not read that your two linemates are low, a quick turnover means all three of you are caught behind an odd-man rush the other way. Also, on the 3 on 2 if both linemates crash the net the only play is a shot from up high, making the defenseman's job a hell of a lot easier.

Bingo. Unless there is a clear passing/shooting lane toward the front of the net, I've always thought it better to find open ice while trailing the play. As Cavs said, crashing the net often makes it easier for the defenseman to cover the puck carrier, get in position to block a shot AND clog the passing lane all at the same time - which usually forces the carrier to double back and hope there is someone coming in late; or, if he's a moron, shoot into the defenseman's shins.

...which is when the fun starts (and where Cavs is right again). I get the impression that your buddy (and possibly yourself, Dreamer) is/are coming from a lower level of play. If two (or all three) of your forwards get caught up-ice after a turn-over in a house league, there probably won't be much of a problem. At the AAA level, though, you're going to be playing against players who will be able to take control of any mistake you might make in their end, turn up-ice and put the puck in the back of your net before you're able to react. You're better off making sure you have a guy prepared to help your defensemen out in the event of a quick rush back toward your own end.

*edit* - typo

[fultonreed 1]

Eddie Shack. ey?

[biff44 0]

Well, about all you can do to help is try to get on his line and talk to him during the game. If you are going in deep and want him to watch a guy, tell him that! If you are defending and have a certain guy, call him out and tell your friend to watch another guy.