http://www.coachchic.com The place to come for REAL results! Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:37:45 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I owe the following to two great CoachChic.com members, and two guys I really appreciate for being so active here. You see, both Craig and Mike have very talented little 4-year old boys who I suspect will be extremely good players down the road. (I hope other members take notice of the ... http://www.coachchic.com/your-real-hockey-competition/ By Dennis Chighisola Just a short time ago I critiqued another spectacular (minor league) pro goal in a little more detail.  So, I highly recommend that you take a look at what I titled “Good Offense or Bad Defense?”. I think you’ll find it interesting, and a very good introduction to ... http://www.coachchic.com/bergeron-burns-pronger/ There's usually a history to just about everything I do.  So, here's the background to the video I'll show you in just a little while... A few years ago, a mom who was regularly bringing her two sons to The MOTION Lab happened to mention the fact that one son ... http://www.coachchic.com/scoring-on-breakaways-or-shootouts/ The background to the following conversation actually started several days ago over on my blog, Coach Chic’s Hockey Diary*. I encourage you to scan those two articles, and especially the videos contained in the second one.  For your convenience, here are the two article links: Why My Work Is So Different The ... http://www.coachchic.com/a-little-history-to-the-motion-lab/ The following is a special benefit for being a member at CoachChic.com. As always, I invite members to download this video for future personal use.  You might even share it with others, but I ask that you be sure I get credit for all the work I've put into this. An on-line ... http://www.coachchic.com/downloadable-video-breakaway-decisions/ By Dennis Chighisola A lot of this piece is really about troubleshooting, because it’s such a huge part of what we coaches and parents have to do for the sake of our young players. Actually, I’m constantly on the lookout for problems in my kids’ games (no matter their age).  And, I’ve ... http://www.coachchic.com/beginner-boards-bumps/ Let’s just call this a gift – from the Mental Edge and CoachChic.com – to YOU.  Good luck, seniors (and this might also be some awesome food for thought to those who will be seniors in the not-too-distant future). -- Dennis Chighisola Shaun Goodsell, MA - President and CEO of Mental Edge Championship ... http://www.coachchic.com/championship-time-for-seniors/ Just as all sportsmen (and sportswomen) take a little break from their normal routines each time the Olympic Games roll around, I’ve sorta done that here at CoachChic.com.  Ya, I may have held-off on some of the usual types of posts and videos, just because I felt it was appropriate ... http://www.coachchic.com/use-the-olympics-as-a-learning-experience-a-follow-up/ Not that I needed any incentive to tackle this topic but, legendary Boston University hockey coach, Jack Parker, expressed my feelings (exactly) in a recent interview with The Boston Globe. The real question posed to Parker had to do with the recent decline in the number of Massachusetts guys found ... http://www.coachchic.com/games-games-more-games/ Well, I find it pretty interesting how the Olympic Games spur extra interest in the various winter sports.  For sure, I’ll bet the excitement surrounding the ice hockey tournament has attracted a lot of viewers who probably don’t normally watch NHL games (live or on TV), and it will also ... http://www.coachchic.com/speed-skating-versus-hockey-skating/ I happened to look up to my studio wall the other night to spot something I need as a constant reminder.  A Creed for REAL Teaching is what I dubbed it long ago, that 8.5" x 11" poster which acts as a reminder of the way my young charges (and ... http://www.coachchic.com/a-creed-for-real-teaching-or-coaching/ Ever since my Soviet studies long ago, I’ve kept an eagle-eye out for unique training methods, particularly those done by international competitors.  There’s usually a ton of science behind the training methods used by those athletes.  And, with that, nothing satisfies my thirst for new ideas as much as the ... http://www.coachchic.com/use-the-olympics-as-a-learning-experience/ If this isn’t one of the most frustrating subjects I’ve tackled here in the past year…  Jeeeeesh… Actually, member Stirling W raised this issue about a month ago, and I’d promised to deal with it as soon as I could.  Ya, I’d promised.  If there was a problem, though, we hashed ... http://www.coachchic.com/are-hockey-players-being-taught-to-dive/ I hate to do this but, I am going to reserve this information for members only, this for a very special reason.  You see, what I’m about to share is a little on the tricky side, and I suspect it could be misapplied if not truly understood.  Moreover, this topic ... http://www.coachchic.com/do-nhl-players-tie-skates-differently/ If you like this article by Justin Johnson, and if you think it might benefit your goaltender, feel free to email it to his or her coach. By Justin Johnson Performance Coach, Mental Edge This past fall I traveled across the state of Minnesota conducting goalie coaching clinics for youth hockey associations. ... http://www.coachchic.com/4-things-coaches-do-to-harm-a-goaltenders-mental-game-without-knowing-it/ Please see Drill Submission Rules and Help at the bottom of the Free Drills page (all coaches would appreciate your contribution). Contributor: Dennis Chighisola – Whitman, MA, USA Drill Category: Skating, Passing, Pass Receiving, Attacking, Screening, Deflecting, Rebounding and Goaltending Please first see the basic set-up of this drill as described under the ... http://www.coachchic.com/russian-circle-passing-variation-6/ Okay, I lied about that, only because that title sounds better than most others I could think of.  Yes, the poorly skilled hockey players also take a beating, but that’s so because they often skate with their eyes down, or they don’t have the agility to avoid a lot of ... http://www.coachchic.com/only-the-great-hockey-players-take-a-beating/ By Dennis Chighisola Okay, you'd better not laugh about this one.  Actually, I introduced my Net Blocks recently just to soften you up for something that's even more unusual.  Yes, the contraption shown below is Old Coach Chic's cart.  (And, no, I'm not homeless, as some of my rink buddies suggest!) Now, ... http://www.coachchic.com/my-equipment-cart/ One of my favorite CoachChic.com members, Craig Shaw, recently added a few great Comments under the “Troubleshooting the Tight Turn (or Boston Turn)” article. In the latest one, he asked me to “do a YouTube search for a Victoria Salmon Kings goal,” suggesting it will “knock your socks off”. As ... http://www.coachchic.com/good-offense-or-bad-defense/ Ya, like there was only one -- or "THE" Bobby Orr move. There were probably more like a hundred of them. However, for the sake of helping my NEHI players to add one more move to their offensive bag of tricks, I several years ago dubbed a certain ... http://www.coachchic.com/the-bobby-orr-move/ I actually asked our good friend, Todd Jacobson, to provide this mid-season report for all of us.  Why at this time?  Well, I just sense that it's about at the midpoint in a season when a coach has a pretty good grasp of the roster, a sense of how things ... http://www.coachchic.com/reflections-of-a-high-school-hockey-coach/ There are some things I'd like to share with you -- maybe personal things or whatever might be going on in my day.  Yet, those kinds of things might not really be appropriate for CoachChic.com.  So, for now on I'll be making occasional posts in the new blog that's linked ... http://www.coachchic.com/coach-chics-hockey-diary/ Now, this has really been fun!  A number of avid members offered their thoughts on the following problem (begun over at "The Tight Turn (or Boston Turn"), and I got to interact with them (which is always the most fun). Anyway, to recap things, just in case you're jumping in late ... http://www.coachchic.com/troubleshooting-the-tight-turn-or-boston-turn/ Having lots of posts here in reference to using -- and even making -- agility ladders, it was just a matter of time before someone would write me about what to do if they don't own their own ladder.  And, as you'll soon see, that's an easy one to answer. -- ... http://www.coachchic.com/what-if-you-dont-have-an-agility-ladder/ This post could really be entitled "What's Wrong with this Picture?", because that's exactly what I'm going to ask you. This photo happens to show my young buddy and grandson, Anthony Chic.  And, while he is really one of the best at protecting the puck in these types of plays, ... http://www.coachchic.com/the-tight-turn-or-boston-turn/ I sometimes wonder if my friends at CoachChic.com appreciate the unique topics discussed here.  Oh, I don't mean to sound like I'm patting myself (or our other awesome writers) on the back when I say that.  However, there are some -- perhaps not so hockey specific -- subjects that I ... http://www.coachchic.com/the-effects-of-growth-spurts-on-hockey-players/ * * * Shaun Goodsell, MA President and CEO of Mental Edge * * Imagination imag·i·na·tion  i-ˌma-jə-ˈnā-shən  1 : the act or power of forming a mental image of something not present to the senses or never before wholly perceived in reality 2 a : creative ability b : ability to confront and deal with a problem c ... http://www.coachchic.com/imagination/ Answering a comment from my new friend, Nicky R (that's her avatar below), caused me to think about something... Actually, what happened is that I finished replying to Nicky, and I next saw the heading for a recent post entitled Resisted Shooting.  From there, I've mentioned before about how the fireworks ... http://www.coachchic.com/about-goaltending-help/ A note from Dennis Chighisola... I'm asked to do a lot of these kinds of things.  And, hey, they're good for my business, and they often allow me to share some important ideas. Anyway, I was just interviewed for the IslesNation Blog, and I truly believe there's something to be learned from ... http://www.coachchic.com/coach-chic-interviewed-on-islesnation-blog/ As always, I warn folks involved at our game's higher levels not to take something like the following too lightly -- I mean, just because my examples happen to involve some young players.  As I'll ultimately suggest, learning should never stop, no matter the age or experience level. With that...  I ... http://www.coachchic.com/the-broken-hockey-stick-and-more/ Please see Drill Submission Rules and Help at the bottom of the Free Drills page. Contributor: Stirling Wright - Virginia & Maryland, USA Drill Category: Skating, Passing, Pass Receiving, Attacking and Goaltending Please first see the basic set-up of this drill as described under the free Drills section.  For, from that basic format, ... http://www.coachchic.com/russian-circle-passing-variations-3-4-5/ A couple of things went into my slightly changing the way we're working on shooting drills at this part of our Team NEHI Junior High School season... First and foremost, we (players, parents or coaches) shouldn't ever stay at one progression level of a given skill if at all possible.  (Actually, ... http://www.coachchic.com/resisted-shooting/ The other night I had to use an extremely conservative forecheck against a pretty strong opponent.  The X's and O's of that is a story for another time. I sensed we had to be very good at a few other things in order for my kids to execute that new forecheck ... http://www.coachchic.com/hard-around-the-boards-and-dump-ins/ Here's a tip in itself, before I get into introducing you to a handy little gadget for your practices... Through the years, I may have wanted to use a certain drill (or whatever), but there was something standing in the way.  It could be just a small annoyance, or just about ... http://www.coachchic.com/coach-chics-hockey-net-block/ The following post is in answer to a question submitted by member Jamie L. Jamie helps coach his son's Mite C team, and he's asking for suggestions in aiding the kids on that team with their backward skating speed. So, with that, let me give this one a try... -- Dennis Chighisola Backward Skating ... http://www.coachchic.com/backward-skating-help-for-beginners/ This is but another entry I'd promised Eric S some time ago, in reference to his question about alternative high speed skating drills. And, just so Eric and other members know...  Once in awhile it takes me a few days to gather some video footage to show what I'd like to ... http://www.coachchic.com/towel-pulls-for-speed-form/ A few days ago, member Scott Thurston chimed-in on my article about "A Difference in Hockey Teaching Levels".  As Scott said, "I find a lot of truth here", in reference to some of the nervousness experienced by adult level beginners as they try new things. Scott went on to say that ... http://www.coachchic.com/help-for-beginner-cross-overs/ The "look-away" play -- be it a pass or a shot -- seems to be a hot topic these past few days... -- Dennis Chighisola First, Marco Sturm scored the over-time winner in hockey's 2010 Winter Classic, when Patrice Bergeron "looked away" from his intended target -- thusly drawing attention elsewhere, and ... http://www.coachchic.com/john-carlson-ot-goal-team-usa/ This happens often, so I guess I shouldn't always think it's so ironic that I have very similarly themed conversations with different hockey folks within a matter of minutes or hours. That's actually what happened from yesterday morning to later in the afternoon, and then just now in an email exchange.  ... http://www.coachchic.com/a-difference-in-hockey-teaching-levels/ Eric S started this ball rolling a few weeks back, as he asked me about some suggestions for high intensity skating drills.  I did the best I could with my first response (Part 1 and Part 2), but I still promised to add a little more here. Now, for those who ... http://www.coachchic.com/high-intensity-skating-drills-part-3/ Having noticed a number of my Mighty Mite players losing their footing this past Saturday in their game, it struck me that a lot of folks -- from any hockey playing age group -- might not realize the following.  So, I'm recycling a post I made last winter around this ... http://www.coachchic.com/pond-hockey/ Some new pylon course ideas are soon to be unveiled here at CoachChic.com.  Not that there's anything new about different configurations, or that it's unusual to rearrange the pylons to create different kinds of skating or puckhandling patterns.  Still, as I'll suggest in that entry, various layouts should really be ... http://www.coachchic.com/a-new-mighty-mite-pylon-course/ Please see Drill Submission Rules and Help below. Contributor: Dennis Chighisola -- Whitman, Massachusetts, USA Drill Category: Skating and Puckhandling Comments: Every coach uses pylons (or other kinds of obstacles) from time to time.  However, I wonder how many coaches have considered the following... Benefits: For sure, there are huge benefits to be gained by ... http://www.coachchic.com/various-pylon-courses/ Well, my Mighty Mites suffered the first setback of their season yesterday (hmmm...  actually, the first hockey setback of their young lives).  And, while I always feel a little bit down after a loss (as any passionate coach probably should), there's one trait that just as probably separates me from ... http://www.coachchic.com/mighty-mite-team-wide-dribbles/ Although I call this a defenseman's drill -- because it does help enhance some blueliner-specific skills, I actually have all of my players work at it.  And, although I've placed this in the Puckhandling section, this drill really does help improve skating mobility, mobility with the puck, as well as ... http://www.coachchic.com/defensemans-figure-8/ What this entry is partially about is the potential for using such a great resource as YouTube. Ya, we have to be thankful to the NHL and sites like YouTube.com for the opportunity to study some of the world's greatest players. Now, as for Sturm and company... I happened ... http://www.coachchic.com/2010-nhl-winter-classic-marco-sturm-ot-goal/ Please first see the basic set-up of this drill as described under the free Drills section.  For, from that basic format, some really awesome offensive and defensive variations are possible.  (Click here for: "Russian Circle Passing".) -- Dennis Chighisola Russian Circle Passing Variations - Basic Set-up - From the basic set-up, I will ... http://www.coachchic.com/russian-circle-passing-variations/ Please see Drill Submission Rules and Help below. Contributor: Dennis Chighisola -- Whitman, Massachusetts, USA Drill Category: Skating, Passing, Pass Receiving, Attacking and Defending Drill Description: Comments: This is perhaps one of the most versatile drills I have ever used.  In it's basic form, Russian Circle Passing is a great up-tempo drill that includes ... http://www.coachchic.com/russian-circle-passing/ It's nice that the questions keep coming in.  And, while the most recent one asks for "a" simple head-manning drill, I'm going to try to do a little better than that... -- Dennis Chighisola Some Simple Head-manning Drills Now, I never just skip ahead, or presume that every member knows every bit of ... http://www.coachchic.com/some-simple-head-manning-drills/ Todd Jacobson is still off with his women's team at Notre Dame Academy for the next few months.  Of course, that won't prevent him from occasionally sending us updates, ideas or further insight into goalie training. In the meantime, my Team NEHI kids keep practicing and playing, and I'm still here ... http://www.coachchic.com/creative-training-ideas-for-goalers-part-4/ It isn't often that I'll ask skaters to take a look at a goalie training segment.  Naw, you guys and gals USUALLY have enough on your minds without worrying about another position.  This time, however, what I'm about to suggest to you might just make all the difference in the ... http://www.coachchic.com/starting-your-hockey-year-off-right/ There's a point I try to get across to amateur hockey players -- of all ages, and it's closely related to this entry's title -- about using one's down time.  I happen to think it's an important topic, yet I'd forgotten to mention it here until I ran across an ... http://www.coachchic.com/using-your-down-time/ Have A Safe and HAPPY NEW YEAR! From my family to yours... -- Dennis Chighisola * And please remember...  This is YOUR HOCKEY RESOURCE SITE, and all you need to do is ask for help, advice or direction and I promise to deliver it promptly!  So, let's make 2010 awesome -- together! http://www.coachchic.com/to-all-my-very-favorite-hockey-friends/ During my very first year in coaching, I lost my best player for an important tournament game.  Oh, he wasn't out injured, he wasn't home sick in bed, and his parents' car didn't break-down on the way to the game.  No, it was something more common than any of those ... http://www.coachchic.com/dealing-with-murphys-law/ Please see Drill Submission Rules and Help below. Contributor: Dennis Chighisola — Whitman, MA USA Drill Category: Forward & Backward Skating, Passing and Receiving Drill Description: Please see the Straight Line Cycling Drill for details on the initial set-up. As for the variation... The drill runs exactly like the basic one, with this exception...  The passer ... http://www.coachchic.com/straight-cycle-passing-variation/ Please see Drill Submission Rules and Help below. Contributor: Dennis Chighisola — Whitman, MA USA Drill Category: Skating, Puckhandling, Passing and Receiving Drill Description: Groups of threes perform this drills across the ice. All players can (and should) participate in this kind of drilling, from forwards to defensemen to goaltenders. Two players assume start positions on ... http://www.coachchic.com/straight-cycle-passing-drill/ Now, this entry was inspired by a coach asking for some guidance when it comes to changing on-the-fly.  More specifically, he was wondering if there is a certain age or level when players can be expected to learn this.  So, let me give that a whirl, and let me add ... http://www.coachchic.com/hockey-line-changes/ For anyone who stopped by here thinking that I'm going to be talking about one-touch passing, naw; that's a subject for another time. What I do want to share with you is my feelings on the passes players often make to themselves. -- Dennis Chighisola Soft "Touch" Passing Just supposing a player is going ... http://www.coachchic.com/soft-touch-passing/ Although I had my share of notoriety and recognition as a young football player, I'll tell you -- right up front -- that I wasn't all that hot.  However, I did have great hands (from my baseball background), and I could run like a deer (from honest to goodness great ... http://www.coachchic.com/the-angle-of-pursuit/ This is about a note I took as I watched our beginner (or Mighty Mites) team play in one of their earliest games a few weeks back... Let me start by stating that my kids seemed as though they already skated faster than most opponents.  What caused me to jot ... http://www.coachchic.com/a-beginner-hockey-players-skating-speed/ For sure, breakaways are among hockey's most exciting plays.  That being the case, I'm really surprised at how often I notice these -- and related skills -- being taught wrongly.  Anyway, hear me out, huh?  I think what is to follow should make sense. -- Dennis Chighisola Proper Breakaway Skills Every time I ... http://www.coachchic.com/proper-breakaway-skills/ Like a lot of adult members, I wear many hats. For sure, I'm thinking hockey nearly 24/7; that's what I love, and that's what I love to immerse myself in.  At the same time, I'm a businessman.  And, whether I like it or not, I can't keep doing what I ... http://www.coachchic.com/reacting-to-adversity/ This won't likely be the last post on this subject...  Naw, I have the feeling my search for "finishing skills" around the net will be a season-long thing for me (with both my Mighty Mites and my Jr High School Team). Coach Kelly did kind of get the ball (errrrr... puck) ... http://www.coachchic.com/coach-kellys-hockey-shooting-drill/ Todd Jacobson is still off with his women's team at Notre Dame Academy for the next few months.  Of course, that won't prevent him from occasionally sending us updates, ideas or further insight into goalie training. In the meantime, my Team NEHI kids keep training, and I'm still here to show ... http://www.coachchic.com/creative-training-ideas-for-goalers-part-3/ I know I've mentioned "controlling" drills in the past, but probably haven't explained that very well.  So, I thought I'd take this brief opportunity to tell you why I do this, as well as describe a few of the ways I manage to accomplish it... -- Dennis Chighisola Controlling Hockey Drills To begin, ... http://www.coachchic.com/controlling-hockey-drills/ Okay, this might not seem like the greatest tip in the world.  However, anything that makes our jobs easier has to be worthwhile. If you think about it, a typical youth coach -- working with his or her team on the average of only twice per week for thirty-five winter ... http://www.coachchic.com/carrying-our-hockey-pucks/ ON SALE! Ya, that's pretty much what the pitchman said on the radio this morning... -- Dennis Chighisola On Sale:  Hockey Skates & Sticks! :)  The reason I've decided to comment on this particular advertisement is because I immediately thought of our buddy, Jerry Z, as I heard it! Actually, the sponsor was a well ... http://www.coachchic.com/on-sale-hockey-skates-sticks/ Man, where has this article -- or this line of thinking -- been all my coaching life? !!! Now, I'm going to bite my tongue (for as long as I can stand it), and let you read this unbelievable piece by Mental Edge's Shaun Goodsell.  Thereafter, you know I'm going to have ... http://www.coachchic.com/blinded-by-winning/ As promised (at least to Eric S), here are some video clips of the speed oriented drills I described in the earlier entry (High Intensity Skating Drills). -- Dennis Chighisola High Intensity Skating Drills - Part 2 [caption id="attachment_3111" align="alignleft" width="75" caption="Take-off 1"][/caption] In the initial one, my kids work on their forward take-offs ... http://www.coachchic.com/high-intensity-skating-drills-part-2/ Now, I hope you've had a chance to read my earlier entry on Whole Body Vibration, because -- as I said there, it's pretty fascinating stuff.  And, as I also intimated there, it sort of sets the groundwork for how I ultimately arrived at my WakeBoard.  So, please do that ... http://www.coachchic.com/wbv-leads-to-coach-chics-wakeboard/ I've had the chance to grow-up through many generations of training approaches, and it's amazing how things have changed over my 50-ish years as both an athlete and a coach. I'm actually shaking my head at the atmosphere and thinking that dominated my youth -- mainly through the 1950's and ... http://www.coachchic.com/in-season-hockey-stength-training/ One of the things I've promised you, my valued member, is that I'll do all the long, exhausting research, and then pass my findings on to you. That said, the following excerpt explains a little side project I've been into for about the past 5 or so years.  It's from an ... http://www.coachchic.com/whole-body-vibration-strength-training/ Okay, by now you probably know I like to be descriptive -- or maybe colorful -- when it comes to hockey technique.  That's the teacher in me, really. I've done that with the following skill because I want my players to picture a given kind of movement as they practice.  But ... http://www.coachchic.com/bunting-the-hockey-puck/ One of our outstanding strength coaches and good friend, Jason Price, wrote this piece for Athletes Equation, and it does have a slant towards strength training.  However, I'd like players, parents and coaches to look at it more from a "player's" perspective -- in other words, as this same line ... http://www.coachchic.com/error-recognition-awareness/ The following question was submitted by member Eric S.  It's a good one, but it can be difficult answering long distance (or without being able to actually see where his players are at a given time). Nonetheless, I do know that Eric works with a fairly talented teen group, so I'll ... http://www.coachchic.com/high-intensity-skating-drills/ Today's entry is just sort of a muse on my part... You see, besides being an incessant not-taker, I also clip and save a lot of little bits of information from the nightly newspaper or from other on-line sources.  These usually contain ideas I either want to explore more for my ... http://www.coachchic.com/on-lopsided-hockey-scores/ By Dennis Chighisola Last week I lightened the training for my NEHI High School Prep guys.  Hey, they were in good enough shape (actually, better than good enough), so I just wanted to keep them working some without risking a last minute injury or sending them off to their respective school ... http://www.coachchic.com/maybe-its-time-for-a-new-kind-of-hockey-practice/ As you might recall, a big part of the reason I took-on Jerry Z (as sort of a private project) was that I felt this would greatly help you.  Of course, Jerry has said that our work together has also helped him plenty. My reason for raising that point again ... http://www.coachchic.com/improving-your-hockey-skating-at-home/ Here's a huge :) (<= SMILE) right off the bat! Actually, as Jerry Z and I were standing outside my office after a session in The MOTION Lab, I could tell he was amused by my stories about making some of the training devices I use.  So, while I'm preparing to ... http://www.coachchic.com/new-england-hockey-recycles/ Now, before coaches of older players see the below photo and think this is all about beginner hockey, I want you to know that I have some very important tidbits to share with advanced folks at the end of this piece. And, while the early part of this IS ... http://www.coachchic.com/off-ice-hockey-tactical-practice/ Todd Jacobson is off with his women's team at Notre Dame Academy for the next few months.  Still, that won't prevent him from occasionally sending us updates, ideas or further insight into goalie training. In the meantime, my Team NEHI kids keep training, and I'm still here to show you a ... http://www.coachchic.com/creative-training-ideas-for-goalers-part-2/ By Dennis Chighisola The last post in this section ("Quickening the Slapshot Setup") showed my Team NEHI guys working on this drill while in an off-ice setting.  And, since I said back then that the same exact drill could be used on the ice, I thought I'd gather some video footage ... http://www.coachchic.com/quickening-the-slapshot-setup-2/ Please see Drill Submission Rules and Help below. Contributor: Dennis Chighisola -- Whitman, MA USA Drill Category: Point shooting, decision-making, passing, reading and reacting, point coverage Drill Description: Comments: This is one of my all-time favorite drills, and I sense that my players love it as well.  Really, the video below probably shows it ... http://www.coachchic.com/defensemans-point-decisions/ As much as I work on it (and harp on it during games), my older (even high school-aged) players still end-up waltzing with a partner or two in the bench doorway as they change on the fly. I mean, the kids coming off the ice think that’s as important ... http://www.coachchic.com/buzzer-hockey-line-changes/ By Dennis Chighisola A lot of years ago a young coach wrote me to ask about making his own agility ladder. For sure, these are available through sporting goods stores and on-line. But, that young coach was asking about building one for a very good reason. You see, he’d watched ... http://www.coachchic.com/my-kind-of-agility-ladder/ Although I'll show you some of my Team NEHI guys working at the drill I eventually created, the inspiration for that drill came from watching my babies (or my little Mighty Mite team). Oh, you know how I am about taking notes -- especially during games.  Well, I'm doing the same ... http://www.coachchic.com/i-need-to-quicken-my-players-shots/ Okay, while I'm certainly celebrating Jerry finally investing in a better, lighter stick, I can appreciate how you wouldn't necessarily jump for joy at that. :) Still, some of the discussions he and I have had surrounding his new stick -- and his change in skates -- should provide some ... http://www.coachchic.com/jerry-zs-new-stick/ Talk about getting goose bumps...  That's exactly what I told my young friend, John Galluzzo, when I read the following article.  Never mind that his brief recap of the Miracle at Placid really touched me, but I know (or knew) many of the characters John mentions here.  Actually, the author's ... http://www.coachchic.com/olympic-hockey/ I should have prefaced my previous post (Goaler Warm-ups) with a reminder, in that our goaltenders start learning to juggle on their very first days with us.  Most of them need to start with one ball, and then very slowly progress to a second and a third. Yes, a little at ... http://www.coachchic.com/a-real-goaler-challenge/ I like to pre-program (if that's the right term) a number of things that 1) get a given job done with my players while also 2) freeing me to get done what I need to. Such is the case with my Team NEHI pre-game warm-ups.  My team captains know where to ... http://www.coachchic.com/goaler-warm-ups/ As I've mentioned elsewhere, practicing the slapshot in a stationary pose is okay.  In fact, I think it's necessary to do this as one attempts to polish his or her technique.  Of course, the other side of the argument is that one hardly gets to stand still for very long ... http://www.coachchic.com/quickening-the-slapshot-setup/ Our friend Jerry visited The MOTION Lab tonight.  And, while he warmed to do some new stickhandling tricks, something struck me -- that I needed to share with him, and also with you... -- Dennis Chighisola Eyes-up Puckhandling (or Not?) As Jerry did a little light dribbling in anticipation of learning some new ... http://www.coachchic.com/eyes-up-puckhandling-or-not/ Dennis Chighisola here, with what I feel is one of the most important posts I'll ever make within these pages. To begin, despite my inclination to frequently think outside the proverbial box, I'd like members to know that I don't make hockey related decisions without a lot of serious thought. In ... http://www.coachchic.com/the-nature-of-our-game/ What is Consistency? By Brady Greco, Performance Coach -- The Mental Edge A common performance concept that is rarely taught but always referred to by coaches is playing a more consistent game.  You hear coaches all the time say, "play with more consistency day in and day out."  There is ... http://www.coachchic.com/what-is-consistency/ Please see Drill Submission Rules and Help below. Contributor: Dennis Chighisola -- Whitman, MA USA Drill Category: Team Defense, Backchecking Drill Description: Comments: I've only used 3 pairs of players per drill because it's easier to keep an eye on and inspect the efforts of a few at a time.  Also, all positional players ... http://www.coachchic.com/backchecking-drill-12-ice/ One of my NEHI HS Prep assistant coaches called me the other day with something he'd noticed in some of our closer games.  (Actually, anything that goes wrong tends to only become noticeable when we lose or when a game is close.  Seldom can anything be learned from a lopsided ... http://www.coachchic.com/preventing-odd-man-rushes/ Although I'm a little late in making this special entry, I'd like members to know that I've been evaluating Jerry's roller hockey gear from Day One. If you can appreciate it, one can't learn to move around the roller court (or the ice) if the skates aren't right; nor ... http://www.coachchic.com/evaluating-roller-hockey-gear/ Over the coming months (and seasons) I'm hoping to share with members what I'm doing in my various Team NEHI programs.  And a lot of the time I'll also want to let you in on my thinking as I prepare for each of those.  Let's face it, you're not going ... http://www.coachchic.com/our-first-mighty-mite-hockey-practice/ I was psyched to receive the following article -- about hockey warm-ups, and I was even more excited to see the awesome videos Maryse Senecal produced for us! To be perfectly honest, though -- and as much as I learned from the following, I ended-up having a ton of questions (let's ... http://www.coachchic.com/a-different-kind-of-hockey-warm-ups/ A new section debuts in late-October of 2009, this aimed at advising members on the very latest known about stretching and warming-up in preparation for hockey practices and games. http://www.coachchic.com/coming-a-new-section-about-stretching-for-ice-hockey/