14U-19U DEVELOPMENT
Athlete Focused
Coach Driven
MICHELE AMIDON
•USA Hockey- ADM Manager, Female Hockey
•USA Hockey Director of Women’s Hockey & GM
National & Olympic Teams
•Bowdoin College- Head Coach Women’s Hockey
•Played on US Select & National Teams 19911997
•Saint Lawrence University- Soccer & Hockey
-Athletic & Hall Of Fame Inductee
THE
BIG PICTURE
Most ‘AA’ & ‘AAA’ girls teams
too many games/not enough practices.
Too often focus is on immediate (systems & game
results) success instead of maximization of
development
Decrease the importance of short term success
and deliver the practice conditions for long term
success
There is nothing wrong with success at any age…
…it is how you get there!
AGE APPROPRIATE
8U: DEVELOP A PASSION/LOVE FOR THE GAME
MAKE THEM WANT TO COME BACK TO THE RINK
1) More puck touches
2) Maximum ice utilization
3) Increased competition for every player
4) Fun for all participants
12U: DEVELOP INDIVIDUAL SKILLS
SPORT SPECIFIC & GENERAL ATHLETIC
1) A better practice to game ratio
2) Prime window for skill development
3) Athletes first, then hockey players
4) Increased emphasis on decision-making skills
19U: DEVELOP A ‘HOCKEY PLAYER’
1) Increased hockey training schedule
2) Player takes more responsibility for off-ice training
3) Managing recovery becomes paramount
4) Make sure the competition is meaningful
14U/16U Hockey - Train to Train
Female Ages 11-15
INTRODUCTION OF ‘PLAY AT TEMPO’
S.A.G.’s FOR GREATER COMPETITION
ADVANCED DECISION MAKING &
AWARENESS
ADVANCED SKILL IMPROVEMENT
SPEED WINDOW #2
INTRO TO FITNESS & STAMINA
16U &19U Hockey – Learn to Compete
Female Ages 15-18
The focus is on optimizing
fitness preparation and to begin
to specialize in ice hockey
THERE IS ONE PUCK!
115 – 50 – 40
NCAA TRAINING
115 – 50 – 40
115 Practices
50 Off Ice Sessions
40 Games
14U-19U OPTIMAL PROGRAMING
Team Composition:
15-18 Skaters & 2 Goaltenders
Season Length:
9-10 Month training & competition season
Organized Ice Touches:
120 QUALITY Practices
40-50 Games
60-80 minutes per ice session
2-3 teams per practice session
32-48 players per practice
3-4 on-ice practice sessions/week
2-3 off-ice training sessions/week
Video/classroom
COACHING
PLAYERS DO NOT RISE TO
THE OCCASION…
THEY FALL TO THE LEVEL
OF THEIR TRAINING!
DESIGNING A PRACTICE
14U
• 50%
• 35%
• 15%
16U
• 50%
• 30%
• 20%
19U
• 50%
• 25%
• 25%
Skills - Hockey Skills & Habits
Sense - Hockey Concepts & Awareness
Systems - Team Play
Skills - Hockey Skills & Habits
Sense - Hockey Concepts & Awareness
Systems - Team Play
Skills - Hockey Skills & Habits
Sense - Hockey Concepts & Awareness
Systems - Team Play
U18 Practice Plan Overview
Practices are 60-90 minutes
32-48 skaters + 4-6 goalies
3- 6 stations per practice
3-6 groups of 8-12 players
Goalie coaches assign/rotate/teach
goalies
Big Whistle
Coach the agility
Rotate clockwise
Equipment/Clock/Water Bottles/Station 1
Station Based Practices Benefits
Engages the players/Keeps players
active
Better Coach/Player ratio
Good coaches are more involved
Better use of ice time = more ice
time.
More repetitions equals:
Better development & more
confidence
DON’T JUST STAND THERE…
TEACH!
Explain/Demonstrate and/or Diagram each drill
Correct within the drill…know the key points
Teach individually throughout every drill
Teach within the games…hardest part
Encourage creativity, Motivate, Praise.
Teach, Teach, Teach!
Deficiency in Youth Hockey
Technical Skill
Habit Training
Under-Speed Training
Over-Speed Training
Individual Tactics
Team Tactics
Game Tempo
TECHNICAL SKILL
Puck handling
Angling/Body Contact/Puck
Protection
Passing W/ Shooting
Shooting Technique
Battles/SAGS
Repeat, Re-enforce & Compete
Technical Skills
Puck Handling: Under-Speed vs. Over-speed
Pertti Hasanen
Technical Skills
Puck Handling: Under-Speed vs. Over-speed
LAYERS
PLAYER HABITS
• Habits Handout
• Discuss offensive & defensive
habits with players
• Acknowledge good practice habits
• Tie in practice habits in game
situations
• Repeat & Re-enforce
GOOD HABITS TRAINING
Teaching proper habits instead of
systems is an effective path to
higher learning for players of all
ages
System Overload
Under-Speed Training
Emphasis On Perfecting Technique
Crosby Game Duck Walk
POSITIONAL PLAY
• Drills by Position
– Players learn positional play & tactics
• Small Area Games by Concepts
– Players play both offensive and
defensive roles to teach awareness
GAME LIKE DECISIONS
MADE EVERY 2 SECONDS!
TEACHING
CONCEPTS, AWARENESS & HABITS
More Activity – FUN!!
More Puck Touches
More Body Contact
Decision Making
•
•
•
•
Offense With Puck
Offense Without Puck
Defense On Puck
Defense Away From Puck
GAME TEMPO
Competition
Points For SAGS
Competition is Fun…it is the fuel
that feeds the THE PASSION…
1 point for a shot
1 point for a blocked shot
2 points for a goal
1 point for 3 second possession in
battles
1 point for 1-2 touch passing in 2v1,
3v2…
1st team to 10 shots,
5 goals or
5 blocked shots WINS
COMPETE LEVEL
3-on-3 tournament played within one end zone
Time and space was in short supply by design,
demanding maximum skill and grit from the Sabres’
40 invitees.
“To me, the 3-on-3 is more important than the fullice scrimmage. It’s a lot harder type of game than
it is playing end-to-end. It’s a battle. Everything’s a
battle. The guys that don’t battle are on the
periphery and they don’t have a big impact.”
- Tim Murray
Mike Babcock- Head Coach, Detroit Red Wings
Competition is Fun…it is the fuel
that feeds the THE PASSION…
QUESTIONS?
[email protected]
PRE-PRACTICE HINTS
Players/groups separated before practice
Know the equipment needs
Where is station 1
Set up stations/warm-up before practice
Tires, small nets, boarders, blue pucks, ringettes, balls
Practice plans should be posted on glass
Goalie coaches assign/rotate/teach
Know the agility
Warm-up
6 Stations
SAG #1
Defending The Line Rush
Mancini 2v2 game
SAG #2