In this post we discuss a little 4 on 4 philosphy, and outline a forecheck that can be used in a 4 on 4 situation as well as on the penalty kill. Like I always say – there are many different opinions when it comes to hockey systems, and many correct ways of doing things… often the right way depends on the strengths and weaknesses of your team. The concepts in this video have worked well for me in the past… feel free to apply them how you see fit for your own team. Also, click here for a printout you can bring to the rink with you.
Simple and effective hockey breakout drills use progressions to teach recurring breakout patterns.
Many hockey situations occur in patterns. This simple hockey breakout drill breaks down these patterns into their simplest form, then puts them back together in sequence to mimic a game situation. CLICK HERE for the printout.
Tactical discussion on initiating a hockey breakout and hockey systems.
Initiating a proper hockey breakout is a very important aspect of hockey systems. All to often you see young players who are coached to do nothing more than “dump it in” or “dump it out.” While I agree that there is a time and place for “dump and chase” hockey, I believe we do our players a disservice by teaching those tactics at too young an age.
Teach possession hockey first, then implement “dump and chase” for specific situations as players develop and mature.
Since I posted the original 1-2-2 “Foosball” Forecheck video back in October, I’ve had a lot of feedback. Many of you have had a lot of success using this forechecking system… this is great! I am always interested in hearing about your experiences with the drills, systems, and other material I post here.
Over the past few months, there have been a few recurring questions and comments about this particular forecheck. Rather than answering the same questions over and over, I decided to post a video that addresses the three main questions people have asked:
What happens if the defenseman reverses the puck (or beats F1 in some other way)?
How to you convert this forecheck into an offensive attack once the puck is turned over?
After the initial “flush” what does F1 do?
Hopefully this video helps to clear these three issues up. Remember… ANY forecheck is beatable. This one is no different. The idea is to perfect multiple forechecks so that once a team starts keying in on what you’re doing, you can switch it up on them.
Have fun with this, and let me know if you have any additional questions or comments!
Click here for a printout of the 1-2-2 “Foosball” Hockey Systems Forecheck that you can bring to the rink with you.
The 1-2-2 “Foosball” Forecheck is a great one to add to your hockey systems repertoire. When executed correctly, it is effective at all levels of play, from youth hockey all the way up through Junior and College level hockey.
The key to making this forechecking system work is to have everybody know, understand, and execute their roles properly. When this happens, the 1-2-2 “Foosball” Forecheck works similarly to a neutral zone trap – except that it happens in the offensive zone! Have fun with this one!
