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MITRON NEXGEN© COACH/PLAYER DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM

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MITRON nexGenSPECIALIZED COACHING CLINIC

MODULE 6

- TACTICAL PREPARATION -USING THE TEMPLATE TO TEACH TACTICS

T E C H N I C A L T A C T I C A L P H Y S I C A L M E N T A L

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mitronMITRON NEXGEN© COACH/PLAYER DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM


Mitron High Performance - nexGen© Coach/Player Development System

COACH CLINIC MODULE 6Tactical Preparation - Using the Mitron Template to Teach Tactics

First Edition

Copyright © 2009 by Mitron nexGen Sports

All rights reserved. No part of their publication may bereproduced in any form, or by any means, electronic ormechanical, including photocopying, recording or anyinformation storage and retrieval system, without theprior written permission of Mitron nexGen Sports.

Published under Copyright© 2009 by:Mitron nexGen Sportswww.mitronhockey.comToll Free: 1.800.716.6716

Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data

Mitron nexGen SportsPublication Design & Artwork: Michael Ciavarella, B.Sc.Edited & Produced By: Michael Ciavarella, B.Sc.

Printed and bound in Canada

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TEMPLATE REVIEW PURPOSE OF THE MITRON PRACTICE TEMPLATE

• Warm – up• Lapping

• Individual Tactics• Lapping then return to drill

• Group Tactical• Lapping then return to drill

• Team Play• Lapping then return to drill

• Skating and Corning• Lapping and cool down

• CHAOS;• FATIGUE, and• UNPREDICTABILITY

- as well as -• APPLY FORECHECKING PRESSURE• STIMULATE PRIMARY TO SECONDARYFUNCTION REACTION

• Executing hockey drills (whether they be hi-tempo/flow Mitron Drills or two dimensional standard drills)under conditions which occur frequently in game situations in order to procure the correct or appropriateresponse from the player.• The appropriate response is to have a player that is able to react to the unpredictable events occurringthroughout the game in a manner that demonstrates the players full understanding of options to executethe correct tactic and thus having achieved effective DEVELOPMENT.• Players simply move from a drill sequence to a lapping sequence every three or four minutes, withineach practice component, as they progress through their practice.• High speed laps, as a form of high intensity exercise, functions as a stimulant causing an increase in theproduction of neurotransmitters, or chemicals, through a series of glands known as the limbic system, suchas epinephrine, norepinephrine, serotonin, and various endorphins.

COACHING PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

KNOWLEDGE BASED SKILL BASED

Coaching Development• Teaching/Coaching Skills• Practice Planning Skills• Problem Solving Skills

• Each coach should be able to, as realistically aspossible, periodize the technical, tactical, physical,and mental skills required at each developmentlevel.

Team Development• Defensive Systems• Offensive Systems• Specialty Teams• Group Tactics

• Each coach should be well versed in the design andexecution of high tempo flow practices.

Player Development• Skating• Puckhandling• Passing & Receiving• Checking• Shooting

• Each coach should be able to design and utilize drillsthat contain high flow with accurate game specificity.

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MITRON DEVELOPMENT PREMISE

• The PERFORMANCE of an athlete incompetition is directly proportional to the

athlete's performance in practice!

• The SUCCESS of an athlete incompetition is directly proportional to the

actual specificity of the practice to thecompetition!

• The OUTCOME of specificity of trainingin practice is the ability to produce an

INTUITIVE HOCKEY VISION!

INTUITIVE HOCKEY VISION

• The ability to read and understand theschematic flow of a hockey game.

• It's knowing:√ where to be√ where to go

√ when to get there, and√ what to do when you get there!

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HIGH TEMPO FLOW TACTICAL TRAINING

Introduction

Tactical training is the cornerstone of team development and this training is comprised of team play andgroup tactics. Team play is when the complete unit, consisting of all five players, execute defensivesystems, breakout systems, regrouping systems, forechecking systems, as well as power play andpenalty killing systems.

Group tactics deals with teaching various ways of defending or attacking two-on-one, two-on-two, three-on-one, three-on-two, three-on-three, as well as executing weaves, crisscross', screens (picks) andcycling. These group tactics are executed within structured offensive and defensive patterns.

Note: The execution of a system begins with the five man unit setting up to create a pattern to coveras much ice as possible, and within a very short period of time, this five man unit breaks into smallgroups to attack or defend. It is impossible for all five players to remain as an attacking or defendingunit due to the fast movement of the puck.

It is therefore recommended that a team play drill begin with a five man unit initiating the flow of thepatterns of a system and end with group tactical situations that would result from the use of such asystem.

Tactical Training

• Team Play

• Group Tactics



Defensive Zone CoverageDefensive Zone BreakoutsNeutral Zone RegroupsNeutral Zone ForecheckingOffensive Zone Penetration

Offensive Zone Finishing PlayOffensive Zone ForecheckingPower PlayPenalty Killing

Two-On-OneTwo-On-TwoThree-On-OneThree-On-TwoThree-On-Three

WeavesScreens (Picks)CrisscrossCycling

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GROUP TACTICS

TWO - ON - ONE

Defensively, the defensive player should try to force the puck carrier wide by directing himself, as heskates backwards, to the middle of the net. This takes away the middle of the ice and gives the forwardsthe outside lanes only.

The goaltender is responsible for the shooter, the shot, and control of the rebound. The goaltender shouldalso be in communication with the defensive player at all times. As the offensive players approach thenet, the defensive player is responsible for the man without the puck and he cannot commit too early andlet the puck carrier walk in.

Offensively, the offensive player without the puck must move very quickly to a position, which makes himavailable as a passing option. He should either move ahead of the puck carrier, behind the puck carrier,or on the same side as the puck carrier, but he must never remain parallel to the puck carrier.

A number of options are available to the puck carrier depending on the position chosen by the non-puckcarrier (forward pass, drop pass, back pass, lateral pass and pick, hold puck and accelerate) butexecuting at high speed will open up space and ice to create a better scoring chance.

TWO - ON - TWO

Defensively, play the two-on-two as two (2) individual one-on-one tactics, making sure both defensiveplayers never cross over and exchange positions, even if both offensive players crisscross in front ofthem at any point in the attack. If either defensive player gets picked during an offensive crisscross, makesure the non-picked player immediately covers the puck carrier.

Offensively, if the defensive players are positioned far enough apart, then the non-puck carrier shouldattempt to create a two-on-one on the puck carrier's side of the ice. If the defensive players are closetogether, the non-puck carrier should attempt to pick the defensive player in front of the puck carrier androll off to become a potential pass receiver or pick up a rebound in front of the net.



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THREE - ON - ONE

Defensively, the defensive player should try to force the puck carrier wide by directing himself, as heskates backwards, to the middle of the net. This takes away the middle of the ice and gives the forwardsthe outside lanes only.

The goaltender is responsible for the shooter, the shot, and control of the rebound. The goaltender shouldalso be in communication with the defensive player at all times. As the offensive players approach thenet, the defensive player is responsible for the low slot area in front of the net while the first back checkercovers the middle slot area in order to pick up the "trailer" who is in the best position to score.

Offensively, the puck carrier accelerates into the offensive zone and drives to the comer from the outsidelane along the boards. The closest player to the puck carrier must penetrate to the net in order to createa passing option and/or draw the defensive player deep into the zone. The player furthest from the puckmust move into a deep "trailing" position as a secondary pass receiver. This attacker should move in fromthe opposite side of the ice if possible.

This offensive positioning is referred to as an attack triangle and this triangle creates a lot of width anddepth in the attack and provides good defensive support (backchecker) if the offensive players losepossession of the puck.

THREE - ON - TWO

Defensively, play the three-on-two as a two-on-one puckside and a one-on-one on the weak side. Bothdefensive players should play the outside lanes till they reach their blue line then they should angle intowards the goal posts to protect the slot area.

Offensively, create an attack triangle similar to the three-on-one attack triangle, to gain as much width anddepth as possible, and to provide good defensive support in case of a quick turnover.



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MOVEMENT OF PLAYERS

All offensive players without the puck should try to get away from their checks by varying their speed andmovement patterns. The constant changing of positions causes disorientation and allows for overloadingof players in specific areas of the ice.

Overloading also allows momentary control of the middle slot area in front of the net at the last moment(element of surprise) and makes available more receivers and shooters to increase scoring chances.

WEAVE

The weave is executed by first making a pass followed with a change in lanes between the passer andthe pass receiver. After making the pass the passer skates across and behind the pass receiver. Thisoffensive tactic forces the defensive player to follow the puck carrier into the middle lane and allows theoffensive player to gain more speed as he moves into open ice.

CRISSCROSS

The crisscross is executed when two offensive players actually intersect while skating towards eachother. Typically, the offensive player who is carrying the puck will Crisscross in front of his teammate andmake a drop pass. If no pass is made while two offensive players Crisscross, then the players areactually weaving as described above.

PICK (SCREEN)

This offensive tactic is identical to the pick and roll in basketball. The offensive player without the puckmomentarily skates in front of the defensive player to delay or change his forward progress. As soon asthe pick is executed, the offensive player quickly "rolls out" and moves into the open to become apotential pass receiver. A pick or screen is also initiated in front of a goaltender in order to block his view.The offensive player simply moves between the goaltender and the shooter, and he faces the shooter tobe better able to deflect the shot and read the play.

CYCLING

Cycling is a small circular pattern of skating that is performed in constrained areas by two or moreplayers. This skating pattern allows offensive players to maintain good puck control by executing a seriesof drop passes as they "cycle" in the comers or in open ice. It is important to provide close supportbehind the puck carrier (stay close behind the puck carrier) in order to keep the passing distance veryshort.



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On-Ice Practical Session

Purpose

To give a demonstration of high tempo flow team play drills in order to practice offensive and defensivesystems under various game conditions.

Game Conditions

• Speed• Chaos• Fatigue• Unpredictability• Forechecking Pressure• Offensive/Defensive Priorities

Implication

The attached drill is a team play drill taken from our Mitron nexGen Advanced Series Jr./Pro™ manualsadopted for Bantam/Midget elite teams (AA - AAA). Although the drill has several sequences andmaneuvers, it can be adapted to accommodate teams that are Peewee and/or A level. The tactical drillconcept is not likely to be used and not recommended at Atom, Novice or Tyke levels.

The objective of using this type of drill to train players properly to execute the system you design as acoach is to have the players practice the patternization while under fatigue. Normally coaches will havethe players set up the patterned system at the beginning of the drill when there is no chaos, fatigue orunpredictability challenge. In a game the players have difficulty executing because the same gameconditions do not exist in practice. Therefore, since at practice they never experienced the chaos, fatigueand unpredictability that occurs in competition, they would not know how to perform an optional pattern toachieve the desired outcome during the game.



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ADV2-DZ2 COMPONENT 1: WARM-UP

PURPOSE:

To go from defensive zone coverage to a fast breakout while attempting to attack with as manyforwards as possible.

KEY TEACHING POINTS

Emphasize play without the puck, breakout support, passing angle, attack triangle, fill zones, shootingfunnel penetration.

DESCRIPTION

Line qq begins drill by driving into the defensive zone from center ice and reacts to defense breakoutpattern. Defensemen 2 and 3 set up reverse flow fast breakout. After taking the breakout pass, Lineqq penetrates the blueline against 6 and 7 to form an attack triangle.

After the shot is taken player 6 exits the drill and is replaced with the spare player and Line ww beginsthe drill from the opposite end.

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ADV2-DZ2 COMP 2: Reverse Fast B/O; Regroup transition 3 on 2

PURPOSE:

To go from a turnover transition to a fast breakout while attempting to attack with as manyforwards as possible.

KEY TEACHING POINTS


DESCRIPTION

Begin the drill as in Comp. 1. After Line qq penetrates the blueline, the players will regroup withDefensemen 6 and 7 and perform a fast transition breakout then return to play a 3 on 2 against 2and 3 and form an attack triangle to finish the play.

After the transition breakout, players 6 and 7 curl back quickly, player 6 exits the drill and is replacedwith the spare player and Line ww begins the drill from the opposite end.

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ADV2-DZ2 COMP 3: Fast B/O off transition

PURPOSE:

To go from defensive zone coverage and finishing play transition to a fast breakout whileattempting to attack with as many forwards as possible.

KEY TEACHING POINTS

Emphasize play without the puck, quick transition play, breakout support, passing angle, attack triangle,fill zones, shooting funnel penetration.

DESCRIPTION

Begin the drill as in Comp. 1 and continue through Comp. 2. After Line qq penetrates the blueline andfinish against Defensemen 2 and 3, Line qq starts the third breakout by having a forward skate behindthe net and pick up a loose puck the other linemates support to execute a fast breakout, while player 2exits the drill and is replaced by the spare player and switches sides with player 3.

After regrouping in Comp. 2 Defensemen 6 and 7 skate into the neutral zone then as the Line qqbreakout begins, curl back quickly to defend. Line qq penetrates the neutral zone then dumps the puckinto the opposite end randomly to start the drill with Line ww. After dumping the puck in, Line qq exits thedrill.

For this component player 6 will not exit until Line ww completes the 3 on 2 finishing play.

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ADV2-DZ2 COMP 4: Reverse Fast B/O on transition against Passive forecheck; Regroup 3 on 2

PURPOSE:

To go from defensive zone coverage to a fast breakout against passive forecheck pressurewhile attempting to attack with as many forwards as possible.

KEY TEACHING POINTS

Emphasize play without the puck, breakout support against passive forecheck, passing angle, attacktriangle, fill zones, shooting funnel penetration.

DESCRIPTION

Begin the drill as in Comp. 1 and continue through Comp. 2 and 3. After Line qq dumps the puck inrandomly, they attack to set up the offensive zone forechecking system against Line ww andDefensemen 6 and 7.

After Line ww successfully breaks out, Line qq exits the drill.

Line ww continues to perform the drill until dumping the puck in and setting up the forecheck system inthe opposite end against Line ee.

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ADV2-DZ2 COMP 5: Reverse Fast B/O on transition against N-zone trap; Regroup 3 on 2

PURPOSE:

To go from defensive zone coverage to a fast breakout against neutral zone coverage whileattempting to attack with as many forwards as possible.

KEY TEACHING POINTS

Emphasize play without the puck, breakout support, reverse flow passing to penetrate trap, attacktriangle, fill zones, shooting funnel penetration.

DESCRIPTION

Begin the drill as in Comp. 1 and continue through Comp. 2 and 3. After Line qq dumps the puck inrandomly, they attack to set up the neutral zone forechecking system against Line ww and Defensemen6 and 7. The players that perform the breakout should provide reverse flow support in order topenetrate the neutral zone coverage. This will force the forecheckers to spread out and open up lanes.

After Line ww successfully breaks out and through the neutral zone, Line qq exits the drill.

Line ww continues to perform the drill until dumping the puck in and setting up the forecheck system inthe neutral zone against Line ee.

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ADV2-DZ2 COMP 6: Reverse Fast B/O against Aggressive forecheck; Regroup 3 on 2

PURPOSE:

To go from defensive zone coverage to a fast breakout against aggressive forecheck whileattempting to attack with as many forwards as possible.

KEY TEACHING POINTS


DESCRIPTION

Begin the drill as in Comp. 1 and continue through Comp. 2. Line qq penetrates the blueline to finishagainst Defensemen 2 and 3. After the shot is taken, Line ww attacks to set up an aggressiveforecheck system against Line qq as they attempt a third fast breakout by having a defenseman skatebehind the net and pick up a loose puck the other linemates support to execute the fast breakout. Aftersupporting the breakout player 2 exits the drill and is replaced by the spare player and switches sideswith player 3.

After regrouping in Comp. 2 Defensemen 6 and 7 skate into the neutral zone then as the Line qqbreakout begins, curl back quickly to defend. Line qq penetrates the neutral zone then dumps the puckinto the opposite end randomly to start the drill with Line ww. After dumping the puck in, Line qq exits thedrill.

For this component player 6 will not exit until Line ww completes the 3 on 2 finishing play.

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