Part 3: Reps That Stick - Habit Building Through Ecological Design
By Coach Barry Jones | IIHF Level 3 | USA Hockey Level 3
Part 3 of 5 - From the “Planning the Unplannable” Series: Coaching Women’s High-Performance Hockey Through the Chaos
The Problem with Traditional Reps
Ever watch a player look like a superstar in drills… and disappear in games?
They pass every rep. Nail every drill. Perfect technique.
But then the puck drops, and their decision doesn’t.
Why?
Because the rep was clean. The game isn’t.
Most traditional reps live in sterile environments:
- Predictable patterns
- Linear execution
- No pressure, time, or real consequence
And those reps? They build rehearsal, not readiness.
Habit Formation in Ecological Dynamics
In an ecological model, habits don’t come from memory.
They come from interaction with teammates, space, time, opponents, pressure, and opportunity.
A habit is an emergent solution to a repeated problem.
So we don’t build habits by saying “do this.”
We build habits by recreating the game, again and again, with just enough variation that the player must adapt, not copy.
This is what the theory calls repetition without repetition:
- Similar problems
- Different contexts
- Same principle
- Multiple solutions
Sticky Habits vs Scripted Movements
Traditional Coaching
· Teaches the move
· Isolates technique
· Rewards execution
· Predictable reps
· Builds memory
Ecological Coaching
· Teaches the moment
· Embeds technique in context
· Rewards decision
· Variable reps
· Builds adaptability
In women’s high-performance hockey, especially, this matters.
Athletes often thrive in structured environments, but their games demand chaos-handling.
So we give them structure in the macro (themes, cues) and chaos in the micro (task design, game form).
Coach’s Corner: Designing for Stickiness
Let’s say you want to develop this habit:
“Second effort after contact.”
Instead of:
- Line drill with cones
- Coach yelling “finish your check”
Try:
- Game 1: 1v1 rebound chase, net-front, after battle
- Game 2: 2v2 corner battle, only second touch scores
- Game 3: 3v3 with constraint: only second efforts count as goals
What’s the habit?
- Don’t stop on contact.
- Expect the rebound.
- Stay engaged until the moment is over.
You haven’t told them. You’ve shown them, with reps they can feel.
Repetition Without Repetition in Practice
Goal: Build a habit around protecting the middle
- Week 1: 3v2 zone collapse with reward for blocks/intercepts
- Week 2: 4v3 powerplay PK drill with rotating net-front box
- Week 3: 2v2 slot mini-game with passive backchecker triggering collapse
Same principle.
Different task design.
Emerging habit.
Language That Sticks
- “Solve it, don’t memorise it.”
- “Every rep is a riddle.”
- “Let the game teach the habit.”
- “If they can't do it under pressure, they don't own it yet.”
Reflective Questions for Coaches
1. Are your reps teaching players how to solve, or how to repeat?
2. Where do habits break down under game pressure?
3. Can you design an environment where the correct habit becomes the best option?
Next in the Series
➡️ Part 4: Culture is the Constraint, Coaching the Human Before the Skill
“Planning the Unplannable” Series: Coaching Women’s High-Performance Hockey Through the Chaos
Part 1: The Periodisation Paradox - Why Planning Still Matters in a Nonlinear World
Part 2: Principles Over Plays - Building a Game Model Around What Transfers
Part 3: Reps That Stick - Habit Building Through Ecological Design
Part 4: Culture is the Constraint - Coaching the Human Before the Skill
Part 5: Designing the Season - Themes, Adjustments, and the Coaching Compass
