COACHES: Begin Practice On A Fun Note

By Paul Lubanski

I am a firm believer that EVERY practice should begin on a fun note. Through experience, I have discovered that a brief period of pure levity ( approximately five-to-seven minutes) serves to foster an atmosphere that relaxes the boys or girls and ultimately helps lead to a more focused and productive practice.

How should you incorporate?

It most certainly does not require a ton of planning--and that obviously, is a good thing.

Here are a few suggestions:

-Divide your players evenly and allow them to scrimmage with a hard plastic roller hockeyball. To add a bit of spice to this "fun" activity, you may want to try something that I personally have found successful in the past. Which is to keep the teams identical for a period of six-to-eight weeks and actually log goals for and against per each session.

Then, alert the players as to when the "game" will end and bring a small/token inexpensive trophy to award the victorious unit. The non-winners should be made to to push-ups or conventional wind-sprints monitored by the "winners."


-Have everyone participate in game known on the higher levels as "Russian Chaos," which is also very simple to set-up. In this game, all participants must play/shoot with their opposite hand; (for example-if right-handed that individual must compete left-handed and vice-versa).

There are also two pucks on the ice at the same time and teams can score on either netminder. So, actually the tenders are playing for each team at the same juncture--hence, those two are in competition with each other ONLY. By the way--there are no off-sides, face-offs or HITTING!

Of course--if you think it through--this is another game that can run continuos over a series of practices assuming once again--assuming the teams remain the same. This is also a game that the winning team can earn a trophy and drill "bragging" rights over their teammates.

In closing coaches, coaches, please keep in mind that I am suggesting that you should begin each practice in a fun manner regardless of what part of the season it may be or (or how how your club may performed in their most recent contest). From game number one throughout the playoffs, I have found that if you can lighten things up on a routine basis you will have molded a more mentally and physically fit unit.

And the more relaxed and psychologically strong teams typically go deeper into the playoffs, EVEN WITH LESS PERCEIVED TALENT.

BONUS TIP

I should not even have to mention the following--but I am afraid that a recent experience tells me I must...forcing players to skate without water until they vomit as a form of punishment is criminal and neanderthal behavior. DO NOT DO IT...if you cannot formulate more appropriate methodology to approach and handle situations that merit and warrant negative consequences to a player or players--then you should NOT be coaching.

My opinion only.

Best of luck.