Below is an overview of the skills and tactical concepts you should be coaching players at this stage of their hockey journey.
If you need help with understanding these skills, there are several videos that can be found here!
| Skill | |
|---|---|
| Ball carrying | Small space control |
Deception - Body/stick feints | |
| Ball protection | |
| Distribution | Reverse sweep pass |
| Reverse edge pass | |
| Goal scoring | Forehand deflection in the air |
| Reverse deflection | |
| Reverse stick sweep shot | |
| 7-yard scoring (tight skills, quick shots, flicks) | |
| Reverse stick tomahawk | |
| Winning the ball | Channel/double team |
| Delay the play | |
| Recovery defence | |
| Goalkeeping | Aerial saves (glove/stick sides) |
| Diving & sliding saves | |
| Defensive management | |
| Tactical Concepts | |
|---|---|
| Defensive concepts | Verbal/non-verbal communication |
| Zonal/numbers down defence | |
| Marking ball side/help side | |
| Front marking | |
| Goal-side marking | |
| Delaying/channelling attackers | |
| Circle defence | |
| Offensive concepts | Counter-attack/transitional play |
| 3v2 attacking strategies | |
| Basics: Build & Improve (4 weeks) | Relevant Drills | |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 | Small space control, Ball protection, Reverse edge pass, Reverse sweep pass | Reverse passing, Diamond loop, Reverse carry relay |
| Week 2 | Small space control, Ball protection, Reverse edge pass, Reverse sweep pass | Reverse passing, Diamond loop, Reverse carry relay |
| Week 3 | Small space control, Ball protection, Reverse edge pass, Reverse sweep pass | Reverse passing, Diamond loop, Reverse carry relay |
| Week 4 | Small space control, Ball protection, Reverse edge pass, Reverse sweep pass | Reverse passing, Diamond loop, Reverse carry relay |
| Reinforce basics & introduce new skills (4 weeks) | Relevant Drills | |
|---|---|---|
Week 5 | Deception - Body/stick feints, Forehand deflection in the air, Reverse deflection, Reverse stick sweep shot, Channel/double team | Entry tackle boxes, Drag & go, Possession box |
| Week 6 | Deception - Body/stick feints, Forehand deflection in the air, Reverse deflection, Reverse stick sweep shot, Channel/double team | Entry tackle boxes, Drag & go, Possession box |
| Week 7 | Deception - Body/stick feints, Forehand deflection in the air, Reverse deflection, Reverse stick sweep shot, Channel/double team | Entry tackle boxes, Drag & go, Possession box |
| Week 8 | Deception - Body/stick feints, Forehand deflection in the air, Reverse deflection, Reverse stick sweep shot, Channel/double team | Entry tackle boxes, Drag & go, Possession box |
| Reinforce new skills & add tactical concepts (3 weeks) | Relevant Drills | |
|---|---|---|
Week 9 | Forehand deflection in the air, Reverse deflection, Reverse stick sweep shot, 7-yard scoring, Reverse stick tomahawk, Delay the play, Recovery defence, Verbal/non-verbal communication, Zonal/numbers down defence | Drag & go, Elimination entry, Hitting, Possession box - large, Cover defense, Expanding tackle boxes, Rollover w/end-zones |
| Week 10 | Forehand deflection in the air, Reverse deflection, Reverse stick sweep shot, 7-yard scoring, Reverse stick tomahawk, Delay the play, Recovery defence, Verbal/non-verbal communication, Zonal/numbers down defence, Marking ball side/help side, Front marking, Goal-side marking, Counter-attack/transitional play | Drag & go, Elimination entry, Hitting, Possession box - large, Cover defense, Expanding tackle boxes, Rollover w/end-zones |
| Week 11 | Forehand deflection in the air, Reverse deflection, Reverse stick sweep shot, 7-yard scoring, Reverse stick tomahawk, Delay the play, Recovery defence, Verbal/non-verbal communication, Zonal/numbers down defence, Marking ball side/help side, Front marking, Goal-side marking, Counter-attack/transitional play | Drag & go, Elimination entry, Hitting, Possession box - large, Cover defense, Expanding tackle boxes, Rollover w/end-zones |
| Reinforce everything above together (2 weeks) | Relevant Drills | |
|---|---|---|
Week 12 | Delay the play, Recovery defence, Verbal/non-verbal communication, Zonal/numbers down defence, Marking ball side/help side, Front marking, Goal-side marking, Counter-attack/transitional play | Rollover w/goals, Rollover w/end-zones, 3-goal game, Small game |
| Week 13 | Delay the play, Recovery defence, Verbal/non-verbal communication, Zonal/numbers down defence, Marking ball side/help side, Front marking, Goal-side marking, Counter-attack/transitional play | Rollover w/goals, Rollover w/end-zones, 3-goal game, Small game |
