POLAR CAPS Practice Planning Rich Smith “Under pressure, you do not rise to the occasion; rather you sink to your level of training.” Navy Top Gun School

What Types of Players are we trying to produce? B0q0 B0q0

How do we get there? “Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect.” Vince Lombardi

Components of Planning Philosophy Evaluation… Player/Team/Game/Practice Space Time Equipment availability Number of coaches Organization

Polar Cap Philosophy We added extra practice sessions at almost every level this year to improve the skill level of our players. At least 75% of your weekly practice time should be devoted to skill development. What is skill development? – Skating – Passing – Shooting

Evaluation If Practices are the lessons, games are the test. How do we do on the tests? What do our players need to improve on? What do we need work on as a team? If we can not break out, why is that happening? What do we struggle with in practice?

Space What Rink are we practicing on? – MIA Main – MIA Studio – Shell How many teams are on the ice? Can we split the ice in a different way to work for what we want to accomplish?

Time How many practices will you have this week? How much time will you devote to different aspects of the game? – Puckhandling? – Skating? – Shooting? – Passing – Team Play – SAG’s

Equipment What equipment is available for you to use? PucksSkating Aids TiresRopes ConesShooter Tutors RingsHeavy Pucks Mini NetsMarkers Multiple Big Nets

Coaches How Many coaches will be on the ice with you? Make sure they all have a job.

Organization How will you group your team? How will you split up the ice? What can you do to create MAXIMUM participation?

The Good Stuff Plenty of good stuff out there, we just need to find it. /84462-skating-and-puck-handling /84462-skating-and-puck-handling / body-contact-and-checking / body-contact-and-checking / age-specific / age-specific / more-videos / more-videos

More Sites Zug&list=PL11569B627057F442&index=10 Zug&list=PL11569B627057F442&index=10 KlfQ KlfQ xc3k xc3k 1PP0 1PP0

Final Thoughts It is incumbent on a coach or club that their youngest players, often only 4-5 years old, develop a relationship with the ball, one where successful manipulation and retention of the ball becomes second nature. If this relationship is not developed… there will be major limitations in the ability of that player to progress beyond a certain point. The demands of sophisticated tactical play will be beyond them because they will not trust their feet enough to execute the requirements. The 4 Pillars of Youth Coaching A well-rounded approach to developing a well- rounded player by Ken Sweda | Monday, August 20, 2012Ken Sweda

Winning is the byproduct of many factors. One of the most important factors is well constructed and executed practices.