Philosophy: Utilizing the Hockey Development Pyramid




The Hockey Development Pyramid is a great tool to help design your season’s “Road Map”

Before the season begins, it’s a good idea to take inventory of your team’s strengths and weaknesses. I use the Hockey Development Pyramid as a tool to help gather my thoughts, and determine what areas of play should be focused on over the course of the season.

Skills within various tiers of the pyramid can be developed simultaneously (i.e. puckhandling and passing can be developed during a breakout drill). However, it is EXTREMELY important to build from the bottom up, not from the top down. Players who have not developed a solid foundation of Individual and Team Skills will never be as effective at performing the higher-level skills such as Team Systems and Strategy.

ENJOY!

13 thoughts on “Philosophy: Utilizing the Hockey Development Pyramid

  • Jeremy, great work on the book. As you know, more and more youth teams these days are splitting ice, and cutting into smaller area drills. Your drill book is great, and worth 2x the price you’re charging. Next edition please more smaller area drills to keep up with current training trends.

    Thanks Jeremy and keep up the great work.

  • Nathan saydyk

    I am glad I found your site. I keep seeing and using your drills in my coaching. USA Hockey has great training but I still feel that I need to know more on how to develope a program that teaches fundementals as well as more advanced ideas. There is a variety of skill sets on each of my teams, beginners and advanced skaters. A program that is able to address the needs of individual players and the entire team is what I have been working toward. I am excited to complete this program and read your play book and drill book.

  • Reuben

    Hey Jeremy,

    I coach a 4 on 4 floor hockey team for the byos and girls club, and I’ve found your drills and general tips extremely helpful.

    I never played hockey as a kid (other than for fun) nor did I participate in any team-sports until adulthood (23 yrs), so watching your videos and hearing your philosophy has helped reaffirm some things I feel I’ve done well, and some things I feel I need to really work on.

    Thanks!
    Reuben

  • Chase Nelson

    I was wondering if I could get copies of the individual skills and team skills sheets that you had in the video. Thanks for all of this!

  • Hey Jeremy,

    First of all many thanks for what you are doing. For me it is very helpful and the training course is very great.
    I have one question: Is it possible to send me the presentation you have shown us on this video?
    Many Thanks and greetings from Germany

  • Petri Väisänen

    The 70/30 rule sounds reasonable at the start of a new season. My opinion is that team skills and team systems can be taught at the very begin by using game situation type of drills or different type of games. The game situation type of drills should always contain transition, i.e., when you are defending on 2-1 your goals are to prevent the offense to score a goal and to break-out when you get the puck. In other words, not just run 2-1 drill where 2 is on offense and 1 is on defense, have “goals” for both.

  • Marc Savoie

    Thanks so much for what you doing. It’s great stuff to reflex on. Some stuff I know about and I’m also learning new stuff. Thanks again it’s appreciated.

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