LESSON WORKBOOK

MIKE SULLIVAN

AGES 8 AND UNDER

Teaching Fundamental Team Concepts

2

Teaching Fundamental Team Concepts

TEAM CONCEPTSThe coach is responsible for creating the optimal learning environment where players are active participants. Exploration, discovery and problem solving should be emphasized in concept learning. Everything you do on the ice, as a coach, should be geared towards fueling the passion that young players have for the game. One of the greatest gifts you can give your players is to help instill this passion.

As coaches, we need to create a practice environment that imitates games as closely as possible. Skills developed in practice need to transfer seamlessly to the game environment. By instilling realistic practice scenarios, we will better prepare our players for long-term success.

Through small area games and Red, White and Blue Hockey, players will learn basic fundamental skills and develop hockey sense and ice awareness. Young athletes should learn to play within the rules of the game. Players should learn how to listen and follow simple instructions. In addition to listening to coaches, players should listen to their teammates and communicate with each other on the ice in a positive manner.

By playing small area games, players will learn to support the puck and make short passes to open teammates. There should be no positioning or systems; allow players the freedom to roam the ice and pursue the puck. Battles for loose pucks will assist in the development of puck protection, angling and body contact skills. Red, White and Blue Hockey will help the players learn the game at an accelerated rate, making it easier to play as a team in the future.

The coach should not spend time at this age group teaching players systems. There is ample time for this as players get older and move on. Young players need to be active on the ice, learning skills and playing games. The games an 8-year old plays shouldn’t look like the games an adult plays. Keep in mind that children are not miniature adults. The key focus for 8 & Under players is to learn skills in a fun environment and develop a love for the game.

3

Teaching Fundamental Team Concepts

Transfer of Training • Alignmentinsports–occurswhentherearemanysimilaritiesbetweenthepracticeenvironment

and the real game.• Themoresimilaritiesthereare,themorelikelythepracticetrainingwilltransfertothegamescenario.• Althoughisolatedpracticehasaplaceinlearningtechniques,itisimportanttoincorporaterealistic

practice scenarios. • Ifwecreatefalseenvironmentsinpractice,wecan’texpectthetrainingtotransfertoacompletely

different game environment. Keys to Remember• Focusonindividualskillsasopposedtoteamskillsandtactics.• Keepthefocusontheteachingofconceptsinsteadofsystems.• Atthisage,playersneedtoplaythegametolearn.Makesuretheyarehavingfunsotheywanttocontinue

playing the game. • Allowtheplayersthefreedomtofigurethingsoutforthemselvesandencouragecreativity.• Playersatthisageshouldnotbeconcernedwithpositionalresponsibilities.• Useindividualdeceptionskillsasoneofthefoundationsforteamconcepts.Individualdeceptionisa

fundamental component of instinctive games like hockey. This is the puck carrier’s ability to disguise his or her plays through fakes, dekes or body language in order to create offensive opportunities.

• Thegameitselfisoftenthebestteacher.Oftentimes,thebestthingacoachcandoistakeastepbackandlettheplayersfigureoutthingsontheirown.

4

Teaching Fundamental Team Concepts

Methods for incorporating team concepts into training• Fundamentalskillsdrillsthatincorporateteamconcepts• Smallareagames• Orchestrategame-likescenariosandsituations• Videomodeling–kidsgrowupsurroundedbytechnology.

With USA Hockey’s recommended practice structure in conjunction with Red, White and Blue Hockey, players willspendsignificanttimeworkingonskating(agility,balanceandcoordination),shooting,passingandotherfundamental skills. They will compete for the puck in small areas while also playing cross-ice games.

5

Teaching Fundamental Team Concepts

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

NOTEPAD: