Become More Productive on Every Shift

FOR Coaches/Players & Parents...

In Today's Post  --  Paul Lubanski Offers Extremely Simple Yet VERY Effective Methodology For Youngsters To Learn How To Become More Productive Throughout Each And Every Shift ... via his FIVE-SECOND-INTERVAL-FOCUS technique  --  ANOTHER MUST READ!

By Paul Lubanski

A fantastic method for getting players to focus on their assignment EVERY shift is to teach what I invented and refer to as five-second-interval-focus or FSIF.

Please let me explain...

We all have heard and most likely utilized the "one shift at a time" mantra in order to stress and encourage our players to remain in the proverbial competitive "moment." However, what I propose in my opening takes the aforementioned concept to an entirely new level.

In other words, instead of generically requesting that our youngsters compete "all out" for an entire 40 second or so shift, we aid them in accomplishing that very important goal by requiring them to psychologically "break-down" the shift into five-second intervals.

How so?


We simply consistently remind/teach them to ALWAYS be thinking/visualizing a minimum of two-to-three three puck  movements ahead. The advantages of doing so are multitude. One only has to consider the amazing career of perhaps the greatest professional ice player of all time--Wayne Gretzky--to understand "why." Gretzky was not the biggest, strongest, fastest nor toughest man in the National Hockey League yet his production levels were off-the-charts extraordinary. He personally owns over 60 offensive-oriented records. Amazing stuff.

So how did he mange to deliver so consistently--devoid of all the superior superman-like physical attributes you would expect one would require in order to compile all that hardware? Gretzky's magic involved his innate well-exploited ability to anticipate where the biscuit was headed--AHEAD of his competitors! And, he and his stick were virtually always in position to render an effective offensive or defensive-oriented maneuver once the play turned to him. 800 + goals and a ridiculous number of helpers (and team championships) will attest to that declaration!

Of course, we do not dare expect nor request that our young players amass numbers ala "The Great One." Teaching them to "think" two or three passes ahead (i.e. in five-second intervals) is the first step towards grooming the next Gretzky.

So coaches, if you are not already doing so, please consider committing to introducing and consistently stressing the FSIF concept I carefully outline above -- immediately. The benefits of resolving to do as I recommend are numerous. Not the least of which is preparing your players to move-up the competitive ladder in a much more "confident" fashion. While, at the same time, you will be erecting a stronger and more intelligent team. One that will assuredly be rewarded in the form of a higher position in the standings which always translates to more fun for you, your players and parents.

BONUS TIP

Of course, being recognized as an elite-level competitor requires mastery of the requisite ice hockey core skills that include: skating, puckhandling, shooting, stick and safe body-checking, passing, shot-blocking and board-battle tenacity. Yet, even if a player can demonstrate high-proficiency in most or all of the above areas, he/she will not earn a shift on a AAA, high school, Junior, college, or professional squad devoid of the ability to "think-the-game." And "thinking" the game involves visualizing a minimum of two-to-three puck movements ahead in all even-strength situations. Again, this is precisely why it is critical that the average youngster be introduced to and adopt the FSIF mantra.

Best of luck,

Coach Lubanski



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