23Jun 2012 by Jeremy Weiss No Comments

Who IS my Competition Anyways…?

Coaches' Corner, Philosophy
"Who is my competition anyways...?" This is the question EVERY player should ask him or herself! The purpose of this blog is to help build better teams, by providing players, coaches, and parents with useful drills, tools, and information. You often hear me talking about on-ice strategies and tactics, or off-ice drills and workouts that will give you an EDGE over your competition. They're all the same... Well... Almost! As you move into higher levels of play, the skill-sets of each player become more and more similar. Think about it... who scores the most goals at mite hockey? It's the kid who can skate the fastest! Who scores the most goals at Peewee? Now that most kids can skate, other tactics like shooting, playmaking, and read & react abilities start…
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06Sep 2011 by Jeremy Weiss No Comments

Neutral Zone: Backchecking

Neutral Zone, Team Systems
Some simple Backchecking tips to improve effectiveness Believe it or not, there is actually some technique to backchecking in hockey. Most players just put their head down and get back into the defensive zone as quickly as possible... this is a good start, but players need to do more if they want to REALLY stop the scoring threat. Here are a few key points from the video: 1. Backcheck with a purpose: Keep your head on a swivel while backchecking, and pick up any loose opponents along the way. Make sure you stick with them ALL THE WAY back into the zone (many players release their man at the blueline for some reason). 2. Revert to "5-Card" Formation: I explain this in the video, but use the "5-Card" set-up as…
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