Great example of a high-pressure retrieval. This is one of the scariest situations for young defenceman when they enter hit Hockey. 

Learning to make contact early, absorb/carry pressure is the 🔑 

Connection is not about trying to be the most popular person in the room. That's one of the central messages in John O'Sullivan's foundational course Transformational Coaching. 

O'Sullivan's course is one of the first we released here at The Coaches Site, and it's more relevant than ever. Not only because it's sport agnostic, but because it comes at a time when young athletes need all the positive reinforcement they can get. The adults in their lives have an enormous impact, for good or otherwise, and as coaches it's our responsibility to seize that opportunity to make a difference. 

One child developed by sport is a child changed, a team improved, and a family enriched. That's the task we have as coaches, and it's why O'Sullivan has dedicated his post-coaching career to changing the game. 

In the opening chapter, John O'Sullivan starts with a simple idea that sits at the heart of great coaching: connection comes first. Before players buy into systems, drills, or feedback, they need to know their coach genuinely cares about them as people.

You can view the entire course here.

Click to download the PDF

 

 

Click to download the PDF

 

Dear friends,

Today I’ve prepared an interesting drill for you. Let’s take a closer look at it.

Key setup details:

• The optimal number of players for this drill is around 16 skaters.

• During each rep, four players are actively involved (approximately 15 seconds of workload), plus two players participating in the passing sequence.

• This is the most basic version of the setup, which can later be developed into a full offensive-zone game on both sides: without pressure, with pressure from the coach, with passive or active defensive pressure. The possibilities for creativity, development, and game-plan integration are virtually unlimited.

• I recommend this drill for U16–U17 Elite and older.

• The team should already possess a solid level of puck skills, as the goal is to run the drill at high tempo and maximum execution quality.

---

How the drill works

• The drill begins with player movement in the neutral zone, featuring a series of different skating patterns and passes. Every pass should be firm and crisp to simulate real game pace.

• The puck is immediately transitioned from the center lane to the winger.

• The winger drives the play with an immediate net drive.

• Players apply active pressure on the coach (who acts as the puck distributor or opponent).

• If the puck is recovered, the forward rims the puck along the boards.

• The attacking group then retrieves the puck, makes at least two quick passes, and finishes with a shot, while another player is already providing a net-front screen in the slot/crease area.

Why this drill? What’s the objective?

• A skill-based drill built around core game fundamentals.

• Quick puck transition from the middle lane to the wing.

• Net drive, pressure on the goaltender, attacking the crease and the goalie’s sightline, and proper behavior in the net-front area.

• Active play after the shot, regardless of whether the puck results in a goal or a rebound opportunity.

If you are interested, feel free to contact me anytime (24/7). I’m honored to be part of this ecosystem and to have the opportunity to share my ideas.

Oldřich “Olly” Jindra 🏒

Where’s The Disconnect?

 

Every player has a ceiling, every player’s ceiling is unique, but what the hell are we doing to help raise that ceiling or help that player get to the next level? That’s where everything gets disconnected.

Everyone wants to know why a marquee prospect isn’t having success at the next level or living up to their billing? Obviously, some things take time, every player develops at their own pace, and there’s always an adjustment period, but in some cases, there were signs of potential struggle well before it ever started.

In many cases it was predictable. How could it be predictable? You see it all started when the player took shortcuts or developed poor habits or tendencies in their game, and those tendencies went uncorrected or flat out ignored. Sometimes those subtle nuances, tendencies or bad habits could have existed in their game for years.

Now it’s hard to believe and fathom that no one would hold them accountable or try to correct or provide feedback, but that’s why things might not trend or translate for them when the time comes.

Everyone talks about player development and getting to the next level. Coaches and programs pride themselves on that ability and to produce players, but the main focus in any process should always be on identifying aspects of a player’s game that might not translate to the higher level and work on those endlessly until they’re completely eradicated from their game. Coaching isn’t easy and it’s a pretty thankless job, but that’s all part of it. Clearly coaches want to always add to the toolbox, but in some cases, players need to take certain elements out of their game to maximize efficiency and effectiveness. Case in point, why are coaches repeatedly working on individual skill development with pucks when the main issue with let’s say a towering defenceman is their lack of lateral mobility, foot work and agility in small areas?

Don’t get me wrong you could work on all of those skills collectively if coaches design “player specific drills” to build capacity for everyone within the team framework and systems.

The biggest disservice a coach could ever make is not providing feedback or corrections, or I hate to say it “not coach” highly touted prospects and address the deficiencies in their game that could hold them back at the next level.

Now everyone is out there thinking I’m full of shit for saying that, and that it doesn’t happen, but there were tons of times over the years especially at the U18 AAA level that I have observed a “high-profile” player that was given a “free pass” just because of who they were or what they may have meant to getting the almighty “W.”

You see those tendencies became glaring holes in a player’s overall style of play which in turn starts to hold them back or is the root cause of their struggles or lack of success at the next level. At that point everyone starts asking questions about the player and questioning their skill or their deficiencies rather than discussing their strengths or what they are capable of bringing to the table. That’s where things get lost in translation, but sadly that disconnect happened years before.

There’s a massive disconnect during a players climb in minor hockey; everyone gets fixated on just how “good” the kid is and how many points they amass rather than looking at the aspects of their game that might not translate.

As I’ve written countless times, “gone are the days where the player will figure it out on their own when they get there.” If that’s the case those players are already behind their counterparts and let’s be brutally honest playing catch up nowadays just doesn’t float.

What’s the main goal of any coach? Win championships/banners or prepare players for the next level? A while back I was able to catch a period and half of a U15 AAA game. Obviously, everyone can spot the up and comers or the top performers at that level, unfortunately most of those “top players” had some gaping holes and some glaring tendencies and deficiencies in their game especially away from the puck that were ever present. Now I realize they’re young and that’s the reality of the age group, but if those tendencies don’t get addressed or discussed or even worse ignored how the hell is the player going to survive when they make the jump?

At every rung of the ladder there should be continual and impactful development and growth occur. There’s always going to be an adjustment period at a higher level and of course that period varies from player to player, but that shouldn’t be dependent on unpreparedness or elements that were never built in, reinforced or taught during the player’s developmental path.

You want to know why a player isn’t having success or reaching their full potential, well perhaps they have reached their ceiling, but more than likely there’s been a disconnect in their path years before.

The biggest disservice a coach could ever make is not providing feedback or corrections or address the deficiencies in a player’s game.

Is the player’s fault or the coaches fault? Is the player receptive to change and criticism in order to get better or is the coach so fixated on winning than the hell with everything else.

There’s a disconnect out there and it’s still ever present, and you don’t have to look too far to see it.

 

 

If you've got a group of kids on the ice for skill development over the spring and summer, it's important to remember that it's not a normal practice. There's no bargaining with these kids when ice time doesn't matter, so you need to keep them engaged and entertained just because.

Jokes aside, spring skills can be a riot if you section out the ice properly and keep kids in motion more often than not. For this practice plan, we're drawing from the skills taught in Brandon Naurato's Pro Shot Selection & Goal Scoring. Naurato's concepts can be taught to any age group. The stations in the middle of this practice give you time to slow things down and be purposeful with every technique. He mentions it in the course. These skills are universal. It's all in how you present them to the players and the progressions you add, or don't add.

We start with some skating, stolen from another course, this time Victor Kraatz's Foundation of Skating, while the goalies get warm. From there, we move into the stations and finish with a chaotic full-ice game at the end. Enjoy!

 

Click to download the PDF

 

 

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Linktree

In episode 333 of the Glass and Out Podcast we had the honour of being joined by the greatest hockey coach of all time, Scotty Bowman.

As a head coach, Bowman led the Montreal Canadians, Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings to a combined 9 Stanley Cups. He also captured another five cups in front office roles. He is the NHL’s all-time wins leader, with a total of 1,467 between the regular season and playoffs and was twice awarded the Jack Adams trophy as the NHL’s Coach of the Year.

But above all else, Scotty Bowman is the ultimate student of the game. He was able to adapt to new rules, new generations of players, the introduction of Europeans to the NHL, and eventually, the influx of Russians that arrived with the collapse of the Soviet Union. He saw drastically different versions of the game from the rough and tumble 70’s to the high flying 80’s and the dead puck era in the 90’s.

At 92, his memory, as you are about to hear, is simply remarkable and there is no doubt that ability helped him gain a competitive advantage from behind the bench based on his ability to recall the slightest detail and nuance within a game.

Listen as he shares a lesson in hockey history, practice tips from the legend Dick Irvin, and the how he views the current state of today's game.

Video Timestamps:

• 0:00 Benchmark/TCS Live
• 2:10 Jackie Robinson/Saturday night hockey in Montreal
• 9:15 Coaching influences in Verdun
• 13:15 Coaching career beginnings
• 16:20 Passion for coaching
• 21:20 Practice tips from Dick Irvin/Being ready as a young coach
• 29:50 Winning with expansion St. Louis
• 35:05 Getting the most out of your players
• 41:10 Pregame communication/relying on veterans
• 45:55 Bench management
• 47:55 Soviet influence
• 53:05 Rule changes to the game
• 57:15 Coaching today's game
• 1:03:40 Young teams taking the next step

Most youth sport organizations say the same thing:

“We prioritize development.”

But if you ask coaches what success looks like during the season, you often hear something different.

Win games.
Select the strongest players.
Compete at the highest level.

This is where many youth sport systems begin to drift.

Not because leaders don’t care.

But because the coaching environment isn’t aligned with the development philosophy.

When alignment is strong:
• Coaches understand the development priorities
• Practice environments look similar across teams
• Players experience consistent expectations
• Parents hear the same message across the organization

When alignment is weak:
• Every team becomes its own system
• Coaches interpret development differently
• Players experience completely different environments depending on their team

Leadership decisions shape the structure.

If the board isn't clear, then the coaches can't be clear, then the parents won't be clear - and that's when problems arise.

One question I often ask youth sport leaders:

How consistent are the development environments across your teams?

This is one of the pillars I’ve been exploring through the Youth Sport System Health framework.

Curious how others approach this in their organizations.

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Linktree

In episode 6 of Coaching Crossover we feature legends from the dugouts of Major League Baseball and behind the bench of Canada’s hockey program.

Clint Hurdle - Former MLB Manager

Clint Hurdle is a former Major League Baseball player and manager known for his leadership and player-development approach. A first overall pick in the 1975 MLB Draft, Hurdle played 10 seasons in the majors with the Kansas City Royals and New York Mets before transitioning into coaching. He gained national recognition as manager of the Colorado Rockies, leading the club to its first-ever World Series appearance in 2007. Hurdle later managed the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2011 to 2019, guiding the team to three consecutive playoff appearances and earning National League Manager of the Year Award honors in 2013. Hurdle has built a reputation as a respected leader and mentor throughout professional baseball.

Dave King - Former NHL & Team Canada Head Coach

Dave King is one of Canada’s most respected hockey coaches, with a career spanning more than four decades across international, collegiate, and professional levels. He first rose to prominence with University of Saskatchewan Huskies Men's Ice Hockey, leading the program to a national championship in 1983 before becoming head coach and general manager of Hockey Canada’s men’s national team program. King coached Canada at three Olympic Games, won a silver medal at the 1992 Winter Olympics, and led the country to gold at the 1982 World Junior Championships. At the professional level he served as head coach of the Calgary Flames and the inaugural coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets. King has had a lasting impact on coaching development and was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame.

Together we’ll discuss a mutual respect for each other’s sport, relying on instincts over data, and the challenge of in-game decision making.

The season has come to an end. The day to day grind for players, coaches, and everyone involved comes to a halt. Practices stop, no more pregame meetings, no more video sessions. Just like that, it is over.

The end of a hockey season is always an interesting place. Every season is different, every team is different, but one thing is always the same. When it ends, it ends. You have had your last practice, your last game, your last time in the locker room as that group, and it feels a little weird.

As athletes, and really just as creatures of habit, we are used to structure. We are used to showing up every day, competing, and being around the team. When that suddenly disappears, it feels off. We like to let the season settle for about a week, give players and coaches time to reflect, but sometimes you do not have that luxury. Players move on, move up, or head home.

That is where exit meetings become extremely important and powerful for a program.

The season usually ends abruptly and often emotionally. Exit meetings give you a chance to wrap things up the right way. It is a chance to go over the season, reinforce what was learned, and give players direction moving forward. It is also an opportunity to clearly express what you have been saying and teaching all year in a way that sticks.

These meetings do not need to be long or complicated. Five to ten minutes is plenty. The key is keeping it simple, clear, and consistent so players actually take something with them.

A good conversation should follow a simple structure. Start with something they did well and be specific so it means something. Not just that they worked hard, but how they improved or what they brought to the team. Move into what they need to improve, keeping it to one or two things so it stays focused and actionable. From there, give them a plan for the offseason so they know exactly what to work on. If it is skating, say it. If it is puck touches, strength, or compete level, say it. Then finish on a positive note so they leave with confidence and belief.

It is not about sugarcoating anything. Honesty matters in these conversations, and players respect it when it is delivered the right way. These meetings do not have to be all positive, but they should be consistent across the board. Every player has areas to improve, and that is part of development.

One part that often gets overlooked is letting the player talk. Coaches do not need to carry the entire conversation. Sometimes less is more. Ask a couple of simple questions and let them reflect. What did you feel good about this season, and what do you think you need to improve? You learn a lot about how they see themselves, and it helps them take ownership of their development.

The most important piece is where you leave it for next year. Every player should walk out of that meeting understanding that next season has already started. What they do in the offseason matters, and improvement leads to opportunity. Give them something to build on and a clear reason to stay motivated.

Another piece we believe in is sending players home with something tangible. A simple sheet with key points from the meeting, a few reminders, maybe a quote or two that sticks. Something they can look back on when the season feels far away.

It does not need to be complicated. It can be as simple as a few bullet points. Work on your skating. Get touches every day. Stay consistent in the weight room. Stay away from distractions. Small reminders that keep them on track.

There is real value in that. Individual success leads to team success, and the offseason is where a lot of that is built. What a player does when no one is watching usually shows up when the season starts again.

It also raises a good question for coaches. What are you sending your players home with? Is it just a conversation, or are you giving them something they can come back to? Homework over the summer, a plan, or at least a direction?

Seasons end fast, but the players who continue to get better are the ones who leave with a plan. That is our job as coaches, to make sure they have one.

 

A few simple examples of how this can sound in a meeting:

You became one of our most reliable players in the defensive zone. You were in the right spots, and we trusted you late in games. This offseason, focus on your first three strides and getting quicker out of stops. If you come back faster, you are putting yourself in a much bigger role next year.

You competed at a high level all season, and it showed, especially in puck battles. The next step for you is getting more comfortable with the puck under pressure. Spend time this offseason handling pucks, small area work, and making plays in tight. That will open up your game a lot.

You improved a lot as the season went on, and your confidence started to show. Keep building on that. This offseason, get as many touches as you can and keep working on your shot. Come back ready to use it more because you have it.

These do not need to be perfect speeches. They just need to be real, clear, and consistent. Players remember simple and specific messages a lot more than long conversations.

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Linktree

In episode 334 of the Glass and Out Podcast we're pleased to be joined by Matt Mueller, Chief Operating Office for Hudl.

If you’re a member of The Coaches Site or have attended one of our events, then you are likely aware that we are proud partners with Hudl. Their sports technology software, video capture and data insights helps coaches, athletes, teams and organizations succeed at every level. 

Today in hockey, they serves coaches of all levels. From grassroots coaches all the way to the National Hockey League where 19 of the 32 teams rely on Hudl to provide them transparency into all facets of their team’s performance.

Mueller has been with Hudl since day one and worn many hats during his time with the company. He started as a Software Engineer and then became the company’s first Support Manager. Mueller built Hudl’s global sales, marketing and operations teams, and eventually became the General Manager of Hudl’s core subscription business, Coaching Tools. In his current role, he is focused on helping them build and achieve its long-term strategies and overall, enhancing the experience enjoyed by coaches and athletes.

Listen as he shares the origins story of the company, why you have to be ruthless with team culture and Hudl's goal of making every athlete get their shot.

LEARN MORE ABOUT HUDL

Video Timestamps:

• 0:00 TCS Live
• 1:15 New York Jets fandom/Hudl origins
• 5:05 Focusing on high school sports
• 8:05 Empowering coaches/Maintaining culture
• 15:10 Gaining a coaches trust
• 18:25 Mentors and challenges
• 22:15 Designing for intentionality
• 25:45 Key hiring characteristics
• 29:45 Impact of InStat addition
• 33:00 Recruiting landscape
• 38:00 Utilizing AI
• 43:30 Pricing strategy/athletes missing out
• 47:20 Balancing screen time
• 51:40 Hudl's growth in hockey 
• 54:55 Broomball and Nerf gun culture