WHA Coaches Meeting

“Season/Practice Planning”

August 18, 2011

Failing to plan is… 

Planning to fail.

7 - P’s

Why Plan?

Maximize valuable ice time.

**** Shared Ice Practices ******

Assure that the most important objectives are accomplished.

Match practice activities with your role as a coach and your season goals. 

Why Plan? (cont’d)

Reduce the total time devoted to planning practices.

 

Effectively prepare your team for competition.

 

Facilitate modifications in practice objectives.

 Provide an important deterrent to liability lawsuits.

Developing a Season Plan

1. Identifying the goals & objectives for the season.

2. Sequencing the goals and objectives.

3. Identifying the practice objectives.

Developing a Season Plan

1. Identifying goals & objectives for the season.

Skills

Skating

Passing

Shooting

Stick handling

Checking

Team Play

Rules

Strategies

Training Guidelines

Physical Fitness

Strength

Endurance

Attitude

Personal/social feelings about hockey, self &

others

Developing a Season Plan

1. Identifying goals & objectives for the season.

Mite Squirt PW Bantam Midget

High

Low

… Pro

Skills

Systems

EMPHASIS

Developing a Season Plan

1. Identifying goals & objectives for the season.

Physical Fitness

     For younger players (<= 13), fitness should be developed in conjunction with learning the skills of the game.

Examples:      Drills conducted a game (full) speed.      Fun games conducted at full speed.   

Developing a Season Plan

1. Identifying goals & objectives for the season.

Physical Fitness

     For older players (>= 14) a gradually increasing emphasis should be placed on strength and endurance training. Examples:      Strength/weight training      Sprints      Intensive dryland training

Developing a Season Plan

1. Identifying goals & objectives for the season.

Attitude:• Stephen Covey’s “circle of influence

and circle of concern” (handout)

Developing a Season Plan

1. Identifying goals & objectives for the season.

Other considerations:• What does my team need?• How old are my players?• What is their skill level?• How many players do I have?

Developing a Season Plan

2. Sequencing the goals and objectives.• Pre Season • Early Season• Mid Season• Late Season

Developing a Season Plan

2. Sequencing the goals and objectives.• Pre Season

Focus on things the players can do individually.– Logistics (equip., schedules, etc.)– Rules– Fitness – Introduce team building activities

Developing a Season Plan

2. Sequencing the goals and objectives.• Early Season

Focus on single skills.– “Building the foundation”– Work on objectives that are prerequisites to

“larger” objectives. (Ex. Skating, puck control, checking)

Developing a Season Plan

2. Sequencing the goals and objectives.• Mid Season

Focus on skill combinations.– Ex. Controlling a puck, while skating, and

avoiding a check.

Developing a Season Plan

2. Sequencing the goals and objectives.• Late Season

Mixture of single skills & skill combinations & how they relate to game situations.

– Ex. Controlling a puck, while skating, and avoiding a check, during a breakout.

Developing a Season Plan

2. Sequencing the goals and objectives.• Pre Season • Early Season• Mid Season• Late Season

Tuckman Stages… Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing and Adjourning

Developing a Season Plan

3. Identifying the practice objectives.

      Select, teach and practice only the objectives that are essential to your level of play.

Developing a Season Plan

3. Identifying the practice objectives.

Allow sufficient time to:• Introduce the objective• Explain the importance of the objective• Demonstrate the key elements of the objective• Player practice• Teach variations of the objective• Apply objective to game situations

 

Developing a Season Plan

1. Calendar or Gantt Chart

2. Available Ice Time

3. Coach and Player Availability

(Sample season plan)

Planning Effective Practices

Each practice should… 

1.Follow your season plan.

 

2.List the practice objectives.

 

3.Show the amount of time for each objective.

 

 

 

Planning Effective Practices

Each practice should… 

4.Identify the activities that will be used to teach or practice the objective.

• Instruction• Drill• Fun game• Scrimmage

Planning Effective Practices

Each practice should… 

5.Identify needed equipment.

 

6.Apply the guidelines for effective instruction.

 Evaluate

(sample practice plan handout)

Drills

Sources

 • Research (see suggested reading)• Observe other coaches• Discussion with other coaches• IMAGINATION!

Characteristics of a Good Drill 

      Has a meaningful name

      Relatively short explanation required

      Helps players master an objective

      Simulates game situations

      Is easily modified to accommodate all skill levels

      Provides opportunity for analysis and feedback

• Many players participating!!!!!

Final Thoughts… 

      Evaluate (what worked, what didn’t work)

      Change as needed…

      Communicate your plan

A-Team