Helping Minor Hockey Coaches, Parents and Players
play winning hockey since 1995

“ How to Conquer the Competition ”

… secrets for turning your hockey team into a winner in just 10 days

by Hockey Canada Award winner and Author John Shorey

 

9 facts you must know before you’ll become a winning Youth Hockey Coach, Player or Team.  

Why do some Minor Hockey Teams win over 80% of their games while others try everything possible and are lucky to win 25% of theirs? What if there was an easy way you could improve your Team’s winning percentage by 15%, 25% -- even 40% or more, would that improve your position in the League standings?

Answer the following 9 questions to see if any of these apply to you, or your Team, and whether you should continue reading this hockey article or not.

1. Does it frustrate you as a coach that your players are playing at a fraction of their full potential?

2. Is your Team allowing too many goals against because your players are either giving up too many odd man rushes, or allowing
    opposing forwards to stand uncovered in front of your net?

3. Does your Power Play (PP) struggle, or your Penalty Killing (PK) suck? 

4. Do you get upset when your players take bad or undisciplined penalties in the offensive zone (over one hundred and fifty feet from
   your goal) and it results in a power play goal against you? 

5. Do your forwards miss quality scoring opportunities because of the lack of finishing skills? 

6. Do your defencemen get beaten on 1 on 1, or 2 on 1 situations leading to quality scoring chances? 

7. Do you see red when your Team gives up a 1-goal lead late in the game and you end up losing? 

8. Does your goaltender give up soft goals or fails to get into the squared position to make the second and third save on any
    rebounds?  

9. Doesn’t it infuriate you that you could be making five times as much, or more, improvement with your Hockey Team and players if
   you only had more practice time?

If this sounds a little or a lot like you or your Team, or if you’re a rookie or less experienced Youth Hockey Head or Assistant Coach, or a young player who wants to correct these errors, develop more skills to turn your season around and conquer the top teams in your League, you just might want to continue reading.  

If you could read just one article about how to turn a young inexperienced Team, or an underachieving talented Team, or a Team playing under .500 hockey, into an unstoppable winning machine, this is it.

I dare you to read this entire article and not change the way you play, practice or coach youth hockey.

 

If you are…

 

(a)     a Minor/Youth Hockey Coach working with Beginners, Initiation, Novice/Mite, Atom/Squirt or Peewee players,
playing in House League or on the “AAA” Travel Team

(b)     a young Male or Female Youth Hockey Player between 4 and 15 years of age

(c)     a parent or grand parent of a young Minor/Youth Hockey player

 

…you are about to find out the most often overlooked secret about how to turn your young hockey Team into a winner.

 

If you’ve ever wondered what the single most important element is for a Hockey Team, that when initiated would single-handedly account for more wins than any other skill, I would tell you, without a doubt – it’s the ability for coaches (or parents) to teach hockey skills. That’s because the single most important factor for any hockey team to get on the winning track is …skill development.

 

Listen closely. If you do not practice, you will not win many hockey games, you will not improve as a player and you’re Team will be destined to be in the bottom half of the standings. Remember the saying “Practice Makes Perfect” this is especially true for young hockey Teams and young hockey players.

 

Playing hockey games does not improve your skills; practices do, and winning or losing the game is based on what you learned at your practices.

 

In the next 5 minutes, I’ll tell you how to easily master the challenge of turning loses into wins, turning non goal scorers into scorers, turn error prone defencemen into rock solid defenders and change shaky goaltending into a steady puck stopping art. All of this can be accomplished by running specific Skill Development practices. I’ll show you how to train your team from Tryout camp to the Playoffs. 

 

  But first, here are just a few things you will find out by reading this article:

 

(a)     Imagine what it would be like if your team could score 5 goals every game. Would that inspire your troops?

 

(b)     Or your Team’s forechecking and backchecking systems improved to such a degree that your goals against were cut in half.  Would that help make your team more competitive?

 

        (c)  What if there was a way you could improve your Power Play and Penalty Killing success rate by just 10%, 15% or 20%, would that cut your loses and
               add a few more wins in the standings?

 

      (d)  Imagine what you could accomplish with 2-3 hours of additional prime time practice time per week. Would you have more time to correct players’
               errors that led to goals against and eventual loses?

 

(e)     It’s highly unlikely any team is going to go through the Regular season undefeated, but this extra  practice time  would give you and your assistants ample time to teach young male or female  House League or “AAA” Travel Hockey Players the basic skills, systems and strategies required
 to turn some loses into victories and move your Team into the top half of the standings.  It will also help prepare your Team for the exciting and 
 emotional year-end Playoffs.

 

 

The Secret for Success: Off-Ice Practices

 

There is a special system for running successful skill development off-ice practices. Once this system is followed, anyone can achieve hockey success.

 

The very first thing coaches must do if you truly want to turn your season around, become more competitive, or win more games is to book/rent a large hall or school gymnasium for 2-3 hours every week for a minimum of 2- 6 weeks. The more weeks you practice, the more your players will learn the more your team will improve, and the more games you will win. It will also act as a catalyst for bonding your players into a real hockey Team.

 

The hall’s rental cost will be only a fraction of prime-time practice ice and with any luck you can book it in prime time from around 5.30 to 8:30 pm. each week.

 

Head and Assistant Coaches could conduct small group teaching sessions, then demonstrate specific skills, followed by practice opportunities for every player on the hall or school gymnasium floor.
 

Players could rotate from station-to-station after a specific period of time but I will leave that to the coaches running the practice. Conclude your practice with a controlled ball hockey scrimmage at the end of the evening to provide some fun for your players and they will be eager to return next week.

 

In a gym or large hall you will have lots of time, and lots of space, to do conditioning drills at the start of the session, then, when your players are tired out and ready to listen, you start to explain, demonstrate and practice basic shooting skills for accuracy and velocity, creative passing plays, quality scoring plays, effective clearing and breakout plays, aggressive forechecking and backchecking systems, power play and penalty killing strategy etc. Everything that is necessary to play winning hockey and maybe even challenge for the Playoff Championship.

 

Here’s a valuable tip. If your players get board with too much theory and not enough action, have some extra shooting drills or a competitive shoot-out competition between lines, forwards vs defencemen etc. All players get primed up trying to score on a goalie, and this skill will have a positive carry over effect for your League games. 

 

You will be astounded with the individual and team skill development you will accomplish with every single player in a very short period of time by using this time-tested progressive off-ice method.

 

The reason for its success is because you took the time to show your players how to execute the skill correctly. There was no rush, like on the ice, where time is of the essence. You can take your time and explain it slowly, demonstrate the skill step-by-step, practice it again and again, then give your players positive feedback or make any corrective suggestions.

 

Are off-ice practices really the new secret weapon to cut down hockey loses, improve individual skills and jump-start your Team’s overall play? Can this really be possible? You want to believe it!

 

 

But first, you’ll need specific Hockey Information and a proven Teaching Sequence to teach your young players. That’s where the” Hockey Made Easy Instruction Manual” and “The Parents and Coaches Teaching Guide” comes to your rescue. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel because it’s all laid out for you in a specific step-by-step sequence in the Manual and Teaching Guide.

 

You don’t believe it; you think this is a lot of bull.  How could a young team be transformed into a winner in such a short period of time by participating in off-ice practices?

 

Well, I’ve done it, I’ve seen other progressive coaches do it, coaches have even e-mailed me about their success using it, so I know it is very possible!

 

Try it and you‘ll see how much improved your players will play after using this system. As a matter of fact, one weekend after I had taught my 12 students how to score goals, everyone scored at least 1 goal during their next League game.

 

The truth is, Off-Ice Practices will increase your wins, reduce your loses make you a better player and a more competitive team.

 

 

About the Hockey Author

My name is John Shorey and I am the Author of 4 Hockey Instruction Manuals. I started my hockey career many years ago in the Minor Hockey system in Canada. I played on numerous Travel Teams then moved to Junior “A” hockey as a 16 year old. I won the Rookie of the Year award and was invited to play Major Jr. “A” Hockey for the Toronto Marlboros the top Junior farm team of the NHL Toronto Maple Leafs. A very serious broken leg prevented my participation, and it took 7 months to heal. The following winter I returned to Jr. “A” Hockey signing with the Brockville Braves. I finished second, then first, in team scoring in my final 2 years of Junior. I averaged almost 2 points per game playing 3 years of Jr. “A” Hockey.

 

Upon my graduation from Junior “A” hockey, I went to Europe and played 2 seasons of professional hockey. When I returned to Canada I started coaching Junior “B” Hockey and coached for 13 seasons.

 

I was then elected President of the Rideau-St. Lawrence Junior “B” Hockey League, a position I have held for  26 consecutive seasons.

 

Highlights of my hockey career include winning a Junior “B” Championship, a Coach of the Year Award, a Hockey Canada Junior Hockey Recognition Award, an Ottawa District Hockey Association Recognition Award and being inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame.

 

Why did I write a hockey manual? Well after watching the somewhat poor quality of hockey played in many Minor and Junior programs, I wanted to do something about it. So in 1994, I decided to write an easy-to-read, easy-to-understand instructional book called “Hockey Made Easy.” The goal of the book was to help young players, their parents and coaches understand then teach the basic skills, systems and strategies of hockey.

 

The first manual was published in October of 1995. This was a success. It has been reviewed, revised and expanded as new hockey rules were created and the game focus shifted to skating, passing and stickhanding. We are now in our latest 2007/08, 8th Edition.
 

In total there are now 4 e-book Manuals to help Coaches, Parents and Players learn how to play, coach or teach competitive hockey.

 

1.       The 200 page, “Hockey Made Easy Instruction Manual”  - Contains everything a coach, player or parent needs to know about teaching young players the skills, systems and strategy of hockey.   

 

2.       The 30 page,  “Parents and Coaches Teaching Guide” - This is used for teaching young male or female House League to “AAA” players the skills and rules required to play hockey correctly and safely. The teaching can be done either at home by a parent, or at the rink or a gym by the coaches.

 

3.       The 35 page,  “Seasonal Instruction Plan for Minor/Youth Hockey Coaches.” - Includes running a successful tryout camp, skills evaluation and selection of players, teaching basic and complicated skills over the course of an entire hockey season, playoff preparation and a winning strategy.

     

4.       The 48 page, “Coaches Practice Guide.”  - How to run organized practices by rotating small groups of players for different skill instruction, drills and scrimmages. Selection of Assistant coaches, yearly practice plan overview, 6 complete practice plans, and a player evaluation form.   

 

        Over these past 12 years the Hockey Made Easy Manuals have helped thousands upon thousands

        of Youth Hockey coaches, parents and players from around the world learn how to play hockey,

        both correctly and safely.

 

 

Other hockey secrets you’ll need to know, to turn your Team from being a pretender to a contender.

 

Here is an overview of 9 winning secrets I reveal in the “Hockey Made Easy Instruction Manuals”  (I’ll tell you later how you can get your hands on the complete E-book edition at a fraction of the print manual)

 

1. Tryout Camp – the winning formula for selecting players for your Hockey Team

 

Coaches and Assistant Coaches must evaluate each player’s hockey talent at tryout camp by using specific game like drills, scrimmages and exhibition games, then select a combination of Team oriented and skilled players with a winning attitude, good character and who possess the following hockey skills:

 

Forwards

 

(a) Select some Forwards with – Quality Shooting and Scoring Skills

(b) Pick some with – Creative Playmaking and Passing ability

(c) Choose others with – Physical Checking skills i.e. ability to create turnovers & recover loose pucks

(d) Teams need at least 2 balanced scoring lines to succeed, 1 line will not do it against the top teams.

(e) Top lines are usually composed of a gifted goal scorer, a creative playmaker and a tenacious checker.

(f)  If you choose all scorers, who is going to pass then the puck and who is going to go into the corners to dig out loose pucks or create a
     turnover?

 

Defencemen

 

(a) Pick some “D” with offensive puck carrying, stickhandling, shooting & scoring skills

(b) Choose others with good defensive skills; i.e. preventing goals by playing 1 on 1’s, and 2 on 1’s correctly, aggressive corner work, competent
    blanket like coverage in front of your net and shot blocking skills.

(c) Defencemen must have plenty of courage. Make sure you take this into consideration when selecting them

(d) If you pick all offensive defencemen who is going to be back to defend against the rush?

 

Goaltenders

 

      (a) Your goaltender is the backbone of your team and most coaches believe your most important player. You must take your time selecting a
           goaltender and once you do he will need exclusive instruction from you or one of your Assistant Coaches at games and practices.

      (b) Choose goalies with good puck stopping skills and who can almost always stop the first shot. They must understand the theory of cutting the
           angle and setting themselves square to the shooter in order to stop initial shots and control rebounds. Good goalies have quick hands and
           feet and keep the game close, always giving your team a chance to win.

(c)  Big goaltenders take up more room in the goal crease than smaller goaltenders and if both are equal in puck stopping ability I suggest pick the bigger one.

 

2. Run Organized On-Ice and Off-Ice Practices

 

      The purpose of a practice is to teach basic hockey skills, systems and strategies by using specific  drills to prepare for an up coming game,
      or to correct errors made in a previously played game. 

 

      Head and Assistant Coaches must run organized, up-tempo, on-ice and off-ice practices teaching specific skills, systems and strategies to
      turn an average or losing Team into a winning one.

 

      Try to keep the players constantly moving, not standing around too long waiting for their turn in a drill. Break the team into small groups of 5 and
      rotate players from station-to-station through out your practice time period. End every practice with a controlled scrimmage to provide some fun.

 

      3. Objectives of Offensive, Defensive and Transition Hockey 

During the early weeks of the season, coaches must review with their players either at a Team meeting or at a practice the objectives of 

“Offensive Hockey” i.e. Skills used trying to score a goal when your team controls the puck.This includes carrying the puck, passing and head manning the puck, or shooting it in deep if over the Red Line then either start forechecking to regain possession of the puck or if you have
possession in the corner  possibly cycling the puck trying to create a 2 on 1 situation and a high percentage Goal scoring opportunity. 

      “Defensive Hockey” i.e. Skills used trying to create and recover loose pucks by winning the 1 on 1 battles in the offensive zone. Eliminating
       odd man rushes, covering the wide winger and preventing goals against when the opposition controls the puck in the Neutral and Defensive
       zone. Never leave an opponent uncovered in front of your net; this is area where most goals are scored.  

      “Transition Hockey” players need to understand and play a lightning transition game of going from Offensive Hockey to Defensive Hockey
       quickly with every change of possession of the puck. And visa versa, going from Defensive Hockey to Offensive Hockey when your Team
       regains possession of the puck. 

Preventing goals is just as important as scoring goals and will be a major contributor to winning games

    4. Specific Playing Rules

 

      Many young hockey players do not understand the basic rules of hockey and they are much too shy to ask the coaches for an explanation. They
      just nod their head signifying they understand when really they don’t.

 

      Coaches must realize this and should explain to their players in very simple terms or by drawing diagrams on a portable rink board (a picture is
      worth a thousand words) so their players understand what causes and what the consequences are of the following:

 

(a)     Off-sides, Delayed Off-sides and Intentional Off-sides

(b)     Icing and Non Icing of the puck

(c)     Penalties- demonstrate what you can do and cannot do to avoid taking a 2 minute Minor, a 5 minute Major, a Game ejection Match Penalties or a 10-minute Misconduct penalty.

(d)     The new interpretation of the rules states, “the hockey stick must only be used for playing the puck, it is not to be used to impede the progress of the puck carrier” or you’ll get a penalty

(e)     Also you cannot bodycheck a player without the puck, if you do and get caught by the Referee you will also get a penalty.

 

5. Teaching Basic Hockey Skills

 

When coaching young players how to play winning hockey, they need to be taught all of the following from the 5 basic skill groups:

 

(a)     Skating- including forward, backward, stops, starts, turns, crossovers and 180 degree pivots

(b)     Puckhandling, Stickhandling and Deking

(c)     Passing and Receiving on your forehand and backhand. It is imperative to teach the 7 basic types of Passes. These should be explained when they are used, demonstrated, then practiced.

(d)     Shooting and Scoring Skills –explain the 7 basic shots for scoring goals. Demonstrate several; scoring plays by way of shooting, passing etc. If Players are taught correctly they will go from single digit goal scorers to double-digit scorers.

(e)     Checking Skills - used to create turnovers and recover loose pucks.

Demonstrate and practice Stick Checking Skills and Body Checking if allowed – using you hip or shoulder to check the puck carrier off the puck creating a turnover or a loose puck.

 

      6. Systems and Strategy used for Winning Games

 

       Coaches must explain the following Hockey Systems and Strategies and when to use them

 

(a)     Clearing/Breakout Plays – without them it will be hard to get out of your end zone regularly

(b)     Puck Control or Dump and Chase system which will you use to enter the offensive zone and why

(c)     Forechecking Systems – aggressive 2-1-2-puck pursuit system or the more defensive 1-2-2 Neutral Zone Trap the system - which one will you use and why

(d)     Backchecking Systems – 2-1-2 prevent odd man rush system or the 2-2-1 cover both Wingers system

(e)     How to protect a 1goal lead late in the game strategy

 

7. Special Teams

 

If you could improve the success of your Power Play (PP) or Penalty Killing (PK) by just 10%, 15% or 25% it would go a long way towards winning a hockey game. 

 

Players need to practice their Power Play by getting into specific scoring positions by carrying or passing the puck into a high-percentage shooting lane in the slot or on the point.

 

Penalty Killers need to practice keeping the puck carrier to the outside of the floating or rotating box or triangle formation. They must be prepared to block shots and clear rebounds out of the zone.  

 

8. Coaches

 

Head Coaches must surround themselves with knowledgeable Assistant Coaches. One person can no longer coach a winning hockey team all by himself/herself. The coaching team must be on the same page philosophically with non-conflicting ideas. They must be good teachers of hockey skills and must provide leadership and training for every hockey player under their direction.

 

The Head Coach must be organized and provide structure, establish Team rules and discipline. S/he must develop a sound game plan so their team can be competitive and win their fair share of games.

 

And last, but not least, you must prepare written photocopied practice plans for yourself and your assistant coaches identifying what skills need to be taught. Use a practice agenda with both start and finish times.

 

9. Playoff Hockey

 

Coaches must mentally and physically prepare their players for the stress and emotional strain of Playoff hockey.

 

The playoffs are much different that the regular season. There is more checking, more hitting, more turnovers, less quality scoring chances and less goals scored. Players must score on their limited scoring chances or possibly lose the game and be eliminated from further playoff games.

 

These 9 secrets will definitely help a struggling team get better and win a higher percentage of games. But the best part is the in depth version of these and many other tips are in the Manual. 

 

 

Clearly, owning your own copy of the complete 200 Page, 8^th Edition, “ Hockey Made Easy Instruction Manual ” will provide you with in depth detail showing you how to teach your players the skills, systems and strategy to play winning hockey.

 

If you follow the Manual, it will:

 

-          make your Team more competitive in a very short period of time

-          make you a better player or a better coach

-          will turn many loses into victories

 

The Hockey Made Easy Instruction Manual contains over 200 pages of comprehensive hockey content. It also has over 2000 informative hockey tips and 200 descriptive diagrams so you can visualize the plays. What this means is you will have access to everything you need to know so you can teach, coach or play competitive winning hockey.

 

Unlike most other Hockey Manuals, “Hockey Made Easy” is written in such a way that it is easy-to-read, easy-to-understand, easy-to-follow and easy-to-transfer the information to your young players. And within days, the most novice of Youth Hockey coaches, parents or players with little or no hockey experience will understand the rules and the skills required to play winning hockey.

  

Obviously it will also teach young players in House League or on “AAA” Travel Teams the importance of attending practices where the development of individual and team skills is critical so you can make a valuable contribution to your Team.

 

As you know, hockey is a team game and every player must work together for the betterment of the entire Team. It must be fun but each player has specific responsibilities to fulfill. 

 

Here are some of the hockey secrets revealed in the 200 page

Hockey Made Easy Instruction Manual 

• The Manual will walk you, step-by-step, through the process of teaching young players how to improve their fundamental skills in order to play winning hockey.
   

• It’s like having your own personal coaching mentor showing you what to do and how to get the most offensive and defensive effort out of your players and will give you the competitive edge.
   

•  Included is a comprehensive glossary of over 250 hockey terms and expressions that will explain everything you ever wanted to know about playing hockey.
   

• The Manual describes how to run a successful tryout camp using specific drills and scrimmages, how to evaluate and pick talented and good character players for your Team.
   

• It provides suggestions for using effective aerobic and anaerobic conditioning drills to get your players in top physical shape and increase their speed and endurance.
   

•  It offers insight into how to assemble productive forward lines and defence pairing to give you to give you both offensive and defensive
  on-ice balance throughout the shifts.
   

• It shows you how to develop double-digit goal scorers using the easy-to-use how, when and where to shoot to score goals section. It also describes a variety of innovative scoring methods.
   

• Included is an in depth section on preventing goals against by using a variety of challenging shut down back checking skills.
   

•  There are multiple pages describing how to stick check and bodycheck to create loose pucks.
   

• There’s even a section about how to forecheck effectively in the offensive zone using a variety of systems to create a turnover and regain possession of the puck.

• There is also one complete chapter, 20 pages in total, describing how to teach young goaltenders how to play this difficult position and stop the puck.
   

• An overview of the current up-to-date Minor/Youth Hockey rules and penalties are included in every e-Book.

Other Tips Included In the Manuals 

• How to run organized up-tempo, station-to-station practices
   

•  How to prevent odd man rushes thereby eliminating quality scoring chances
   

•  How, when and why defencemen should go into the corner to fight for the puck
   

•  How, when and why his defence partner should cover the front of the net
   

• How to protect a 1-goal lead late in the game
   

• How to score more often on the power play
   

• How to stop goals by using a box or triangle when penalty killing
   

• How to prepare your Team and players for the playoffs
   

• 10 must know tips for Minor/Youth Hockey parents 

That’s it in a nutshell, all the information you’ll need to set your Team on its way to success 

 

             Now it is your turn to act

 

The bottom line is, for about the price of an extra large all dressed pizza, you can get your hands on Canada’s Best Instruction Manual containing the secrets for teaching, playing, competing and winning youth hockey games.

 

The Hockey Made Easy Instruction Manual will transform your Team and Players from also-rans into a first-rate competent and a competitive hockey Team almost immediately.

 

 

  

No-Risk Guarantee

 

Own this comprehensive 200 page Hockey Made Easy Instruction Manual for just $19.75 Cdn. and you’ll win more games, lose fewer games, compete in most games and your players will improve their hockey skills beyond belief.

 

The Manual comes with a risk-free money back guarantee.

 

In the unlikely event that you don’t like the Instruction Manual—we will issue a no hassle refund of your purchase price if notified within 30 days of purchase. – You have my personal Guarantee.

 

Or if it doesn’t improve your coaching or hockey playing skills, make you a more competitive team, increase your knowledge and understanding of this great game, or for any reason, if you’re not completely satisfied with it, just let us know within 30 days of purchase and we will issue a no hassle refund.

 

As a Bonus Offer

 

        When you place your order for the complete 200+ page Instruction Manual, you will also get

        Free of Charge the 30 page bonus book “ The Parents and Coaches Teaching Guide.” 

        This will give you the step-by-step procedures for teaching your son, daughter or players

        the skills required to play winning  hockey correctly and safely. These can be taught either

        at home or at on ice or off ice practices.

 

Additional Bonus Hockey Tips
 

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       I’ve shown you how the “Hockey Made Easy Instruction Manual” can actually turn your game loses into victories.
 

       If you have the desire for success, now is the time for you to act on this.

 

       Order Today. (click through to e-Book order form to get Canada's Best Hockey Instruction Manual)

 

       Well, the good news is you can have your own copy of the newly revised 2007/08, 8^th Edition Hockey Made Easy Instruction Manual
       in e-book format for only $19.75 Canadian Dollars but this is a time limited offer as prices will be going up in the future.

 

       To give you even better value on your investment, you’ll also get Free of Charge the 30 page “Parents and Coaches Teaching Guide”
       when you order right now.

 

       Get started using the Hockey Made Easy Instruction Manual today because it will make your Team a winner starting now.

 

       You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Within minutes the e-book Manual can be downloaded to your computer, and you can start
       reaping the benefits of the latest 8^th Edition. Give it a try.

 

       Imagine in as little as a few days or 2 weeks, you could be on your way to becoming an extremely good coach, or a top notch player on a
       transformed competitive winning hockey team ….. all because you decided to say “Yes” today. 

 

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