Need to run a practice for adults

[Abubaca 0]

Alright guys, here's the deal. I've got a great group of guys who have put together a beer league tournament team. We've played 4 or 5 tournaments now, and we're decent. Not the best, not the worst. What we've found however, is that while our individual skating talent is pretty high, our hockey knowledge is pretty low. The teams that beat us, beat us with "hockey" knowledge. Disciplined breakouts. cycling. SOME sort of power play knowledge, etc. etc. Most of these guys have no formal training.

I've played some pretty decent (compared to beer league) HS hockey up in North Jersey, and my knowledge, while not too extensive, is more than the simple basics we need to cover. I personally have the knowledge, but have NO idea how to set up practice. I know the drills from doing them, but well....you get the idea.

We've decided that since we keep a pretty consistent roster, we're gonna try to get an hour or two of ice just for us, a few weeks before each tournament. Not a lot, I know, but we're all adults with jobs, lives, wives, families, mortgages etc. etc....

My thoughts are a few basic breakout drills. A basic carry the puck in, and a basic dump and chase. Maybe a simple 2 person cycle in the corner. Not much more than that. Any thoughts. Opinions? Ideas?

Thanks,

Chris

[coryroth24 15]

While I can't help you with attempting to explain drills, I can give you one little thing of advice from my experience. Whatever drills you do, make sure you get as many skaters involved as you can. I have run practices from age 10 to age 40 and let me tell you, the 40 year olds are a lot worse when it comes to standing around watching a drill when compared to a 10 year old.

[Law Goalie 147]

Cory's right to say that engagement is going to be one of your biggest challenges. Not only are 40-year olds notorious for standing around yakking instead of paying attention (justifiably, since they generally have a lot on their minds), they're also quite likely to get pissed off if you over-coach them, or even if they perceive that they're being coached like kids.

My suggestion would be to run a bunch (4-6) of small-area games. There are a ton on USA Hockey's website, and a few more buried on Hockey Canada's. Basically, the premise of small-area games is that specific situations like cycling, breakouts and odd-man situations (PP/PK) can be taught by picking a spot on the ice and assigning a set of rules to govern play. Rather than teaching positioning, you teach games where the rules simulate positioning.

For cycling, obviously, you're only covering the half-boards down to the corner, more or less; this means that you can run 4 different cycling games on the same ice surface at the same time. Assuming you use a minimum of three and a maximum of five skaters, you've just kept 12-20 skaters occupied, learning about a specific aspect of the game. And since you're teaching them the rules of small-area games, rather than hockey at large, they don't tend to get as bitchy, but focus on 'winning the game.' They have fun and get better.

My only other suggestion would be to factor in your goalie(s) as much as possible. Move the nets around the ice freely, putting them where you need them. This also provides a nice end-game for each iteration of a given small-area game: a scoring chance. You can run SAG's that focus specifically on the goal-crease: for example, one F who has to keep his skates behind the goal-line (ie. in Gretzky's office), two D who have to stay below the circle, one F around the crease, and one other F (could be locked in the slot, above the hash-marks, or confined to one of the circles, etc.)

[Law Goalie 147]

Damn good idea, Marz - I didn't even think about bringing somebody in. Wouldn't even be too expensive, if what I know from private goalie coaches holds true for skaters.

[RecLeagueHero 0]

I'd agree with bringing in a coach that has some experience with teaching adults. When you play with someone there's always the perception of a peer relationship, and no one really likes to be corrected by people the perceive as peers.

[Abubaca 0]

Good ideas guys. I've got a few guys I'm friends with who play A- league, some even have some Junior coaching experience. I know they'd help for not much more than post practice beer. ...but I agree with ME not being the "coach".

...as for attention span, we ALL recognize the need, and I think it's something these guys would really be into. I think the idea of "practice" at our age is almost something to be looked forward to! "Sorry honey, ...can't help you tonight, I have PRACTICE!!!" :) .... That being said though, I like the idea of the SAG's etc. etc.

Thanks for the ideas

[fieldofdreams 0]

Yeah, I tried to run a practice for one of my teams. Didn't go too well. Try to bring in an outside guy or two to keep things organized.

[Jarick 5]

I agree it's hard to keep adults engaged as they're not as dedicated or serious as kids.

I would focus on a basic breakout drill, dump the puck, defense goes to pick it up, wingers wait for the pass on the boards at the hash marks, center supports, move the puck up ice. Focus on getting into position and clean passes on the ice on the tape. Animation You can add a forechecker or two when the basics are down.

The other would be small group drills on the end. Depending on what you want to practice, here's a few ideas:

- 3 vs 3 with one net, if the puck gets turned over need to pass to a man at the point who passes back to your team before you shoot, this gets the point more involved in the play

- 3 vs 1 or 2 with one net, have the forecheckers at either corner and one at the blueline, one or both defenders in front of the net, dump the puck in and go, this stirs creativity and passing, make sure the forecheckers are getting themselves open and communicating.

- 3 vs 3 with two nets, everyone at the blue line, dump the puck and go, works on stickhanding, communication, etc.

Lots of good stuff, but I'd keep it simple. If you can get an outside coach, that's great. I'd probably do a couple breakout drills, a couple small area drills, and avoid an open scrimmage to keep it productive and engaging.

[Law Goalie 147]

You can also play 3v3 with the nets back-to-back in the middle of the ice - THAT is a nutty game, especially for the goalies, but it's unbelievably fun.

[MN old but fast 0]

We have an over 45 group that plays weekly in MN. We enter a WI tournament every year. We bring one of the high school kids to run the bench during the tourny. Practice? We are a bit too old to learn new tricks. Just keep every body moving. At our age the team in the best condition beats the team with the best skill.

[Master P 0]

As long as the practice is structured things will be enjoyable. Nothing I hate more than standing around wasting time while a "coach" tries to think of something to do.

[HattrickSwayze 3]

As long as the practice is structured things will be enjoyable. Nothing I hate more than standing around wasting time while a "coach" tries to think of something to do.

Agreed. I think it has to do with people standing around and going "uhhh does this guy really know what he's talking about?" Like everyone else said it's much easier to have someone else come in and run the practice, especially if they've got a good idea of things you need to work on. It's easier to take advice from somebody who's much better than you, as compared to the random guy on your team that likes to critique every aspect of your game.

The team I'm on has run a few practices with a 'coach' and it's actually a lot of fun. We worked on basic things like a simple breakout plan, simple cycling in the zone, a little powerplay and penalty kill, and a basic defensive system. It sounds like a lot to take in, but he kept it simple and interesting, so it was fun to do. One of the most helpful things I got from the guy, was how knowledgable he was at everything. A good coach (or even a good player) has lots of insight into little things, even as basic as the right things to do when standing in front of the goalie.

[MN old but fast 0]

Getting one of our kids that plays HS hockey to run our over45 team is fun and does not cost anything. The kids seem to enjoy running the show. Game or practice there needs to be someone running the show.