Coaching Getting Players Ready and Focused To Compete

Ottawa Hockey News Resources

Winning Playoff Strategies for Coaches,
Players and Parents By: John Shorey Author- Hockey Made Easy

Getting Players Ready For Playoff Hockey
To be competitive in the playoffs, you must concentrate on what to do
away from the puck.

On offence, when your team has the puck, you must get into an open area to receive
a pass or find a seam between two players like Brett Hull used to do to receive a
pass then get a quick quality shot on goal.

On defence, when the opposition have the puck, you must find an open man in the
neutral and defensive zone and cover him/her like a blanket so they cannot receive
a pass. This will cut down the opposition's shooting and scoring chances.

In your defensive zone, one Defenceman must cover the closest player to the net
while his D partner fights for the puck in the corner. You must be within 2 feet of
the open player, not 5 feet from him.

The Centre and weak-side winger must cover the slot area and point, keep your
head ” on a swivel” to identify any open men. Use your long stick reach to intercept
or deflect passes.

The puck-side winger is situated along the half boards and must be ready to help
the D in the corner if necessary, or move quickly out to cover the point if the
puck is passed back there.

In some systems the Centre helps the defenceman in the corner while the wings
covers the slot area and puck side point. Again this is a coaching decision.

Play aggressively and with intensity every time you are on the ice during your
45-second shift.

You must win the battles for the loose puck at both ends of the ice.

Remember, the goal you prevent might be the one that wins the game for the
opposition. Clear all rebounds out of harms way and your goals against will fall
like a lead balloon and you’ll be in the game right to the very end.

Parents:
Playoff hockey games are much different than regular season games.

There is closer checking; more hitting and usually goals are harder to come by.
Your son or daughter's role now is to prevent goals on every shift when the
opposition has the puck and to try and score when your team has the puck.

In the Playoffs:
A successful shift is one in which no goals were scored against your child.
An unsuccessful shift is one in which a goal was scored against your child.
For a goal to be scored there had to be a defensive error made by someone.
A fantastic shift is one in which your child’s line scored a playoff goal.

Applaud all the good defensive plays that prevent goals, as this is Playoff Hockey.

Playoff hockey can be very stressful, emotional and exciting for all Youth Hockey
parents. But please remember, it’s only a game where fun is the number
one priority for the players.

Try to relax and enjoy the game.

For 100’s of other hockey tips to help with your playoff hunt for the Championship,
get your 220 page copy of Hockey Made Easy - Canada’s Premier Instruction Manual
which includes at no charge the 30 page Parents and Coaches Teaching Guide.
These are available in either our PDF e-book format or on a CD.

Check out www.HockeyMadeEasy.com for complete details or to sign up for other tips.

Please consider passing on these playoff tips to your teammates or other
Youth Hockey parents or players.

Good Luck to all teams, coaches and players in this year's playoffs.

Yours in hockey,
John Shorey
Author- Hockey Made Easy
www.HockeyMadeEasy.com

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