In our last U15 game, we saw something interesting.
The opposing team had clearly practiced set faceoff plays designed, scripted plays meant to create quick offense. It was sharp, creative, and honestly, effective in those moments, butting us on our toes.
But as the game went on, a different picture showed up.
Outside of those set plays, they struggled to play as a unit. Support wasn’t consistent, spacing broke down, and it felt like individuals rather than a connected team.
It raises an important question for coaches:
Are we prioritizing hockey IQ… or rehearsed execution?
At this age, players are right in the middle of developing how to read the game, understanding positioning, timing, support, and decision-making. That’s what drives performance on most shifts.
Set plays are situational. They might generate a quick chance, but they don’t teach players how to handle the unpredictability of the game.
If we lean too heavily on structure too early, are we creating players who can execute… but not adapt?
So I’m curious:
- What are you emphasizing with your team, developing hockey IQ or implementing set plays?
- And how do you find the balance between the two?
Because in the long run, players who understand the game will always outperform players who just memorize it.
