Small Games Adding Fun to Practice

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Small GamesAdding Fun to Practice

• Presented by Tom Peart
• Minnesota Hockey Girls Associate Coach-in-Chief

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Adding small games to your practice

• What Are Small-Area Games?
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• Game-like, competitive drills where the size of
  the playing surface has been reduced
• Number of participants is lowered
• Special rules and conditions often are applied
• Games are designed to focus on multiple skills
  and situations, increasing puck touches
• and situational repetition
• 4 Corners Keep-Away (warm-up drill)

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• Why Use Small-Area Games?
• Games promote creativity/experimentation
• Create a competitive practice environment
• Eliminate need for conditioning drills
• Develop and improve individual and team skills
• Players learn to excel in tight situations
• Keep more players moving and duplicate real
  game situations
• Players of all ability levels will improve
• Players will have a greater enthusiasm for
  practice
• FUN!!!
• The average person says, Thats the way its
  always been done here. The visionary person
  says, There ought to be a better way to do it.
• - Anonymous

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• Skills Developed Using Small Games
• Skating
• Shooting
• Puck Handling
• Passing
• Body Control
• Team Concepts
• HOCKEY SENSE!
• I skate to where the puck is going to benot
  where its been!
• -Wayne Gretzky

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• Hockey Sense A players ability to think the
  game and execute in a timely
• manner.
• Can you train hockey sense?
• Can you train players to recognize situations and
  execute faster?
• Can you train players to make the correct
  decision?
• Decision Training
• Decision Training Training a players ability
  to think the game
• Helps develop in a player
• - A mindset of taking advantage of opportunities
  
• - An understanding of the games finer points
• - The ability to anticipate plays
• - The ability to improve problem solving
• - An increased awareness on the ice
• Better creativity in their play
• Creativity involves breaking out of established
  patterns in order to look at things in a
  different
• way. -Edward de Bono

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• Conditions and Rules of Small-Area Games
• Placement/number of nets
• Increase/decrease area of play
• Add support players
• Increase/decrease number of participants
• Confine players to specific areas
• Require number of passes/puck touches
• The only limit on the number or type of games is
  the coachs creativity

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• Small-Area Games
• Four Corner Keep Away
• Safe Zone 3 on 3
• Backdoor 3 on 3
• 3 on 3 Score Anywhere
• Triple Threat 1 on 1
• Progressive 4 on 4
• Survivor
• Goalie Small-Area Games
• Sharks
• 1 Goalie/2 Nets

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Four Corner Keep Away Setup of Four Corner Keep
Away ? No nets are used in this game. ? Teams
are aligned at center ice. ? Four players occupy
the four corners of the zone as passing stations.
These players are not allowed to move they must
stay in their corner of the ice. ? The coach
dumps the puck in one end to begin play. ? Three
players for each team enter play. ? Play may not
come outside of the blue line. ? Coach dumps in
a new puck if the play comes outside the blue
line. Four Corner Keep Away Rules of Play ? The
team in possession of the puck may use their
teammates and all four corner passing stations to
pass the puck to. ? The four corner passing
stations are always part of the team in
possession of the puck. ? Players are not
required to move the puck to a passing station
teammates may pass the puck solely to other
teammates moving about the ice. ? Players may
not carry the puck for more than three to four
strides before making a pass. Teaching
Points for Four Corner Keep Away ? Players
should work to face to puck (chest on the puck)
and move toward the pass. ? Constant
communication. All players, including the passing
stations, should be talking. ? Players must be
aware of their teammates location on the ice.
With only three or four strides to make a pass,
players must read the situation and react
quickly. ? Defenders must stick with their
opponent, working to take away passing lanes and
looking to create the turnover in order to become
the offensive team.
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Safe Zone 3 on 3 Setup of Safe Zone 3 on 3 ?
Two nets are placed on outsides of the circles
with a goaltender is in each net. ? Teams are
aligned at center ice. ? The coach dumps the
puck in one end to begin play. ? The first
player from each team enters the Safe Zone in
the corner opposite their net. ? The next two
players from each team enter play. ? Play may
not come outside of the blue line. ? Coach dumps
in a new puck if a goal is scored or if the puck
is put out of play or comes over the blue line.
Safe Zone 3 on 3 Rules of Play ? Players
attempt to score on the net opposite their line.
? The Safe Zone player cannot be pressured by
the opposing team and may not leave the corner
area. ? Prior to attempting a shot on net,
players must make a pass to their Safe Zone and
have the Safe Zone player make a return pass to
a teammate. ? On a turnover, the new offensive
team must make a pass to their Safe Zone and
receive a return pass. ? After a save, the
offensive team must make a pass to the Safe
Zone if the initial rebound attempt fails.
Teaching Points for Safe Zone 3 on 3 ? Players
must work to keep their feet moving and find open
space on the ice. ? Encourage players to use the
area behind the net as well as other open areas
of the ice. ? Puck support is a key element of
this game. Players must support the puck carrier
as well as the Safe Zone player, putting them
in position to receive a pass and create
scoring opportunities. ? Players should hustle
to take advantage of potential breakaway and
odd-man rush situations.
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Backdoor 3 on 3 Setup of Backdoor 3 on 3 ? Two
nets are placed back-to-back between the face-off
circles. ? Teams are aligned at center ice. ?
One goaltender covers both nets. ? The coach
dumps the puck in one end to begin play. ? Three
players for each team enter play. ? Play may not
come outside of the blue line. ? Coach dumps in
a new puck if a goal is scored or if the puck is
put out of play or comes over the blue line.
Backdoor 3 on 3 Rules of Play ? Players attempt
to score on the net opposite their line. ? When
possible, goaltenders are alternated every other
shift to avoid exhaustion and a negative impact
on goaltending technique. ? Cherry-picking is
not allowed. Players must play both the offensive
and defensive sides of the ice and may not camp
in front of the opposition goal while play is in
their end of the ice. ? Puck is live until
frozen. Coach dumps in a new puck if the
goaltender freezes the puck. Teaching Points for
Backdoor 3 on 3 ? Encourage players to spread
the ice and take advantage of the full ice
surface. ? Communication is a key component to
this game. Players should be encouraged to talk
and move the puck to open teammates. ? Focus on
goaltender movement and technique. Goaltender
quickness and positioning will be challenged
throughout the game. ? Players should be
encouraged to shoot the puck quickly and
accurately to take advantage of a net that may be
partially or completely open.
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3 on 3 Score Anywhere Setup of 3 on 3 Score
Anywhere ? Two nets are placed on the outsides
of the circles with a goaltender in each net. ?
Teams are aligned at center ice. ? The coach
dumps the puck in one end to begin play. ? Three
players for each team enter play. ? Play may not
come outside of the blue line. ? Coach dumps in
a new puck if a goal is scored or if the puck is
put out of play or comes over the blue line. 3
on 3 Score Anywhere Rules of Play ? Players are
allowed to attack and score on either net. They
may continue to score on either net throughout
their shift. ? All rebounds are live. Goalie
courtesy must be practiced the puck is dead
when the goaltender covers it. Coach should
restart play with a new puck. ? Play should
frequently change directions, with players
looking to create odd-man rushes and potential
breakaway situations. ? Coaches must encourage
creativity. Teaching Points for 3 on 3 Score
Anywhere ? All players will need to transition
from offense to defense very quickly on a
turnover, as they may be forced to defend the
same net they were attacking. ? Communication
between teammates is a must. Constant change of
direction will force players to talk. ? Players
will learn to think more creatively and get to
open areas of the ice that will allow them to
create scoring opportunities. ? Defensive
players will have to frequently switch coverage
responsibilities all players must be aware
where everyone is on the ice.
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Triple Threat 1 on 1 Setup of Triple Threat 1 on
1 ? Two nets are placed on the outside of the
circles with a goaltender in each net. ? Teams
are aligned at center ice. ? The coach dumps
three pucks in one end to begin. ? Three players
for each team enter play to compete in three
separate 1 on 1 games. ? Play may not come
outside of the blue line. ? Coach dumps in a new
puck if the puck is put out of play or comes over
the blue line. Triple Threat 1 on 1 Rules of
Play ? Players attempt to score on the net
opposite their line at center ice. ? Goaltender
respect players may not shoot when the
goaltender is focused on another player shooting.
? After the first goal is scored, players that
were involved in that 1 on 1 choose a different
puck to attack this will either create a 2 on 2
(plus the remaining 1 on 1) or two separate 2 on
1 situations. ? After the second goal is scored,
all players attack the remaining puck to create a
3 on 3. Teaching Points for Triple Threat 1 on 1
? Defensive players will need angling and gap
control skills as well as skating and
transitioning ability. ? Puck protection and 1
on 1 skills are key for the offensive players
create a quality scoring chance. ? Players must
be aware of their surroundings and account for
other players to avoid collisions. ?
Communication between players is crucial
especially after the first goal is scored and
players must determine which teammate to support.
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Progressive 4 on 4 Setup of Progressive 4 on 4 ?
Two lines of players are on each side of a coach
just outside the blue line. One
line is designated the offensive team and one the
defensive team. ? The coach dumps a puck
in to begin the game. ? One player from each
team starts. The coach then slap her/his stick to
add a player (first slap-offensive, second
slap-defensive.) ? Players may be added up to 4
on 4. ? The offensive team gets one point for
each goal and the defensive team gets one point
for each time they successfully carry the puck
out of the zone. Progressive 4 on 4 Rules of
Play ? Offensive player attempt to score on
goal. ? Defensive players must carry the puck
out of the zone and can not ice the puck. ?
Players on both teams must know the score of
their teams at all times and if they dont lose a
point if the coach asks them what their score is
if they dont know their score. Teaching Points
for Progressive 4 on 4 ? Defensive players will
need angling and gap control skills as well as
skating and transitioning ability. ? Puck
protection and 1 on 1 skills are key for the
offensive players create a quality scoring
chance. ? Players must be aware of their
surroundings and account for other players to
avoid collisions. ? Communication between
players is crucial especially after more
players are added and players must determine
which teammates to support.
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Survivor Setup of Survivor ? Teams are aligned
at center ice on each side of the coach along the
boards. ? The coach dumps the puck and starts 3 -
1 on 1s ? There should be three 1 on 1s going
on at all times. ? Play continues full ice until
one player scores. Coach then starts a new
pair. Four Corner Keep Away Rules of Play ?
Players must play by the rules of the game. ?
Players should keep their heads up and not shoot
at the goaltenders heads especially if the
goaltender is playing a shot from another
player. Teaching Points for Four Corner Keep
Away ? This is a conditioning and puck
protection skill game. ? Players must use puck
protection skills, as well as shear will to
survive in Survivor! Note A variation is to
play down to a single winner.
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Goaltender Small Games Sharks Setup of Sharks ?
One net is used in this game ? This is a great
game for the goaltenders for the day before a
game. ? All the goaltenders on the team are
involved in this game unless one is needed in the
other end. ? A coach or shooter shoots a puck
from mid-slot. Two or three goalies tip/screen
and rebound. ? The goaltender in the net tries
to cover the puck or clear it out past the tops
of the circles. Sharks Rules of Play ? The
goaltender in the net has to catch/cover or clear
the puck. ? The other goaltenders and the
coach/shooter are attempting to score. ? Play
carries on until a goal is scored or the
goaltender catches/covers or clears the puck. ?
The goaltender in the net gets a point for every
puck they cover or clear. ? The
screeners/tippers get a point for every goal
scored. Play to five and then switch
goaltenders. Teaching Points for Four Corner
Keep Away ? The goaltender should work on
playing the first shot and then concentrate on
the second shot/rebound. ? The screen/tippers
must work hard so the goaltender in the nets does
not have an easy time of his/her play in the
nets. ? Recover to the basic stance and
reaction to the puck are key for the goaltender
in the nets.
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1 Goalie/2 Nets Setup of 1 Goalie/2 Nets ? Two
nets are used in this game. The nets are side by
side. ? The team is lined up at the blue lines
at the boards. ? The goaltender is in the nets.
? The players skate to the middle and shoot at
the nets when they reach the middle of the
rink. The goaltender has to cover both nets. 1
Goalie/2 Nets Rules of Play ? The goaltender
cannot come out more than s/he would if there was
only one net. ? Players can not shoot
before the middle of the rink. ? The goaltender
gets a point for every shot they stop. The
players get a point for every goal they
score. Teaching Points for Four Corner Keep
Away ? Goaltenders should work on lateral
movement and quickness. ? Shooters should work
on a variety of shots. ? Players can learn to
shoot for corners in this game as there is more
net to shoot at.