Emphasizing Read And React Skills Will Ultimately Determine The Level Of Your Players' HOCKEY SENSE

By Paul Lubanski

Undeniably, hockey at its best is a game of fast-paced action where we sometimes witness 60-to-120 second intervals of furious play without a stoppage.

All you have to do is tune in to the current NHL Stanley Cup final between the Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins for proof!

As such, it is imperative that players at the youngest of ages begin to understand and internalize the importance of "reading and reacting" to the play...AS IT IS EVOLVING.

You see, the ability to read and react to the play, which essentially can be defined as "the art of predicting the puck's ultimate path," is what separates the average player from one that is considered elite.


(In the modern era, this skill is more commonly referred to as having "hockey sense." Although, in my mind--"read and react" is far more accurate and fitting a term.)

While it is generally accepted that the average player can visualize the play one-to-two movements ahead of their occurrence, while the elite player can envision play materializing four-to-five movements ahead.

Furthermore, beyond mastery of core skills, the art of reading and reacting is by far THE MOST critically important skill set a hockey player can develop.

And it is true that in most cases,coaches will need to introduce, teach and reinforce reading and reacting skills.

Generally speaking, there are two are two basic rules that if adhered to, will foster and facilitate more effective and advanced read and react capabilities.

They are:

1) Players must constantly scan the ENTIRE playing surface so that at ALL times, they are fully aware of the position of not only his/her teammates but of ALL opponents as well.

2) Players must never lose sight of where the puck is currently situated on the surface.

These afore-mentioned rules, although quite elementary in nature, serve to establish the foundation for elite player development via the exploitation of both core and read and reacting skills.

In closing coaches, it is incumbent upon you to research and implement practice drills that encourage the use of read and react skills. It is also crucial that, during live game-play, you consistently make your players aware of missed opportunities/options...either offensive or defensive in-nature.

If you do so, players will begin to learn to instinctively/automatically scan for what may be the more effective potion--and hence, you will be setting them on a path toward becoming a more complete and intelligent "team" player.

In other words, one that by his/her mere presence on the ice, makes his/her teammates better players and, of course, your team a BETTER team!

BONUS TIPS

- A player should not be taught to simply FOLLOW the path of the puck, he/she should be educated to actually DICTATE its movement by placing him/herself in strategic positions on the surface--again either defensive or offensive oriented.

- Try to insure that all players are entering the surface "engaged" which literally means the following: each player is following the play so closely while on the bench that they can immediately "jump into and/or make a play" effectively without delay --when they are called upon.


All The Best,

Paul Lubanski






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