Finally… A High-Quality Hockey Drill Diagramming Software for Mac Users!

I’m sure you know by now, I’m a BIG DrillDraw fanboy. I’ve been using it for years now, and I really like it. The one drawback to DrillDraw is that it is only available for Windows, which interferes with the fact that I’m also an Apple fanboy, who does most of his work on a Mac.

Over the past few years I’ve had a lot of folks ask if I knew of a decent drill diagramming alternative for Mac users, and up until now I haven’t had a good answer… but those days are over now!

My good friend, Kevin Muller from HockeyShare has just released a CROSS-PLATFORM, drill diagramming software that you can use with any operating system. In fact, the software is web-based, which means you can access your drills, and use the software from ANY computer too!

On top of that, he’s integrated the software into his existing database of hockey drills, so you can share YOUR drills, access OTHER coaches’ shared drills, and even import shared drills from other coaches straight into your own practice plan. The concept is incredible!

CLICK HERE to set up your free account at HockeyShare
CLICK HERE to check out the Drill Diagrammer “demo model”
CLICK HERE to take a look at HockeyShare’s huge drill database

Enjoy!

Jeremy

Technorati Tags: Apple, Cross Platform, Demo Model, Diagramming Software, Drawback, Drill Database, Friend Kevin, Good Answer, Good Friend, High Quality, Hockey Drill, Hockey Drills, Integrated Software, Mac Users, Operating System, Quality Hockey, Quality Software, Software For Mac, Software Mac, Web Based

Here’s Another One of my Favorite Hockey Passing Drills

I love this hockey passing drill because it just flows well––especially when you have the right group of players for it. At it’s best, this is a quick-paced, “tic-tac-toe” type of drill. However, if you have the wrong group of players, this drill will grind to a halt pretty quickly. So, just make sure your players are advanced enough before attempting this one!

Enjoy!!

CLICK HERE for a PDF of the Spice Figure 8 Passing Drill

Technorati Tags: Burkhart, Figure 8, Hockey Drill, Hockey Drills, Love, Passing Drills, Pdf, Spice, Tic Tac Toe, Wrong Group

During the course of a practice, it is not uncommon for players to get uninterested and become detached, especially at younger ages while working on boring skills like technical skating. Adding Hockey Shooting Drills into the mix is a wonderful way to liven up your practice and keep your players motivated and up beat. High tempo shooting drills can also help spark some competition and mentally rejuvenate your players during longer practices.

When working with Hockey Shooting Drills, I try to implement a few key points that help my players to get the most benefit possible:

1. Make sure your players keep their feet in motion while shooting, this is called shooting in stride. Many players slow down and glide just before shooting, not only does this affirm to the goalie that a shot is forthcoming, but it also gives the backchecker a chance to get a stick on the shooter and muck up the shot. Shooting in stride is a great custom to get in to!

2. Follow up on rebounds. Coach your players to take their shot, then drive home any rebound. Again, this constructs a good habit that will be useful in games!

3. Add a shot at the end of a skating drill. You can entirely change a skating drill in the mind of a youngster by putting a shot to the end of it, motivating him or her to practice all kinds of skills he or she doesn’t really like. I use this a lot when working on backward skating with the really young kids.

4. Designate what types of shots to use. It is tempting for players to walk the puck all the way in and deke. There is a time and a place for dekes, but most shots in games will not be dekes. Sometimes its helpful to clearly spell out what type of shot you’d like your players to focus on, and where you’d like to see the shot come from. This will guarantee that players are adequately developing a wide range of skills around the net.

As you progress through the season, you’ll get a good feel for your team, and you’ll be able to acknowledge when they need some good Hockey Shooting Drills to get them revved back up again. Give these easy pointers a try and see how it goes in your next practice!

Technorati Tags: Benefit, Coach, Constructs, Dekes, Feet In Motion, Focus, Games, Good Habit, Guarantee, Hockey Drills, Hockey Shooting Drills, Muck, Puck, Rebound, Rebounds, Shooter, Tempo, Time And A Place, Wonderful Way, Young Kids, Youngster

1 on 1 Hockey Drills: Man in the Box

This is another one of my favorite 1 on 1 hockey drills. The set-up is very simple, but there are SO MANY important concepts that can be worked on… it is VERY effective!

Don’t let your defensemen complain that the drill isn’t fair––by the end of the season, EVERY defenseman should be able to keep up with the forwards. They’ll have to do this in the games… might as well work on it in practice!!

You can also do this same drill with a 2 on 1, just start two lines from the corner. Same rules still apply.

ENJOY!!

Click Here for the printout of the Man in the Box Drill

Click Here for the Importable DrillDraw file

Technorati Tags: Defenseman, Defensemen, Forwards, Games, Hockey Drills, Important Concepts, Man In The Box

Coaching hockey can be a complicated endeavor. The required skill-set to be a good coach is much different than the skill-set to be a good player. Because of this difference, many people find it difficult to make the transition from player to coach. I often hear new coaches say “I know what my players should be doing, but I don’t know how to get them to do it…” or “I don’t know how to explain proper skating technique, I just know how to show it…”

In these situations, I usually recommend that the coach try to break each skill down into three key points that he or she can verbalize. For example, if I were explaining proper forward skating technique, I would say that each player needs to (1) maintain a good knee bend, (2) push each stride to the side at about a 45° angle (not straight back), and (3) avoid head-bobbing. These three steps are easy for players to remember, and will become a reference point for you to come back to if skating technique becomes sloppy in subsequent hockey drills.

Once you have one or two players who are able to execute the given skill correctly, ask them to demonstrate the skill, and tell the other players to “watch the demonstration, visualize themselves executing with the same precision, and imitate the final result.” Reminding the players to watch, visualize, and imitate helps to encourage and motivate the precise execution of the given skill.

This coaching strategy can be applied to most situations, and can include everything from individual skills to team systems and positioning. Breaking skills and concepts down into three simple steps can help you, as a coach, to verbalize what you want the players to do. It will also help the players to comprehend and implement the instructions you are giving them. Once the players are executing the given skill correctly, you will them be able to make small tweaks that will further enhance their playing abilities.

Technorati Tags: Break, Coach, coaching hockey, Demonstration, Endeavor, Final Result, Hockey Coaching, Hockey Drills, Precise Execution, Reference Point, Simple Steps, Three Steps, Transition, Tweaks