I'm working on a larger series for The Coaches Site centred about habits. Skills are great, talent is great, but habits are universal. Habits are repeatable. Players with a lot of skill don't necessarily need good habits, although it will eventually catch up to them and they won't reach their potential. 

Players with average skill can go a lot further with good habits. 

Let's start with the D and let's start in front of our own net - the most important location on the ice. A lot can happen in a few seconds, and it can all go well if a defenceman has good habits. 

Description

• D and F start in faceoff circle
• Coach spots puck to point which activates low F and D
• D ties up forward's stick and boxes out to clear a path for the shot
• Second puck is spotted in corner, net front D retrieves under pressure from net front forward and passes to forward on wall, who passes to point
• Second shot with D boxing out forward driving to net

Key Habits

• Point shot: the D must ignore the puck, focus on tying up the forward's stick
• Retrieval: shoulder check and scan for the available forward (have the forward stand in different spots on every breakout