The Nature of Our Game

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The old coach is here and at it again, this time with what I feel is one of the most important posts I’ll ever make within these pages.  I know members already have access to my book on this subject (if not, please let me know), but I suspect everyone needs a reminder when it comes to “the nature of our game”…

To begin, despite my inclination to frequently think outside the proverbial box, I’d like members to know that I don’t make hockey related decisions without a lot of serious thought.  In fact, over my near-fifty years in coaching, I’ve mostly relied upon a set of standards I’ve come to call “The Nature of Our Game”.

Now, I’m sure you’ll agree that playing ice hockey is very unlike trying your hand at the likes of chess, sumo wrestling, or cricket.  And, although we might share some similarities with other games — like basketball, soccer, and the other skating sports, there are probably far more differences.

Yes, every game has its very own nature.  Factors like unique rules, a special playing surface and the specific aims for each game make this so.

That said, I’ve always felt that the ability to analyze a given game or sport — and to understand the true challenges and demands on its participants — is critical to preparation.  For, with this we can go to work on developing the proper traits needed to excel in that specific sport.

I feel the need to add this side note, since I’m famous for borrowing lots of training ideas from other sports.  I mean, I incorporate sprint training in my teams’ off-ice practices, I use lots of football-type agility drills and ideas for explosiveness, and the list of training methods I’ve obtained from other sports goes on and on.  As I said in the opening, though, I don’t take such decisions lightly.  No, I’m more often than not asking myself the simple (or sometimes not so simple) question: “Does this really relate to the challenges my players face out there in the game action?”

If you think about it, training time is extremely limited — especially for amateur players. So, to go off on tangents that have little to do with our game isn’t such a good idea. Moreover, to incorporate training methods that don’t fit with the nature of our game just might hinder a player.

Truthfully, I always thought I could write a book on this topic, and I did.  However, to give you the gist of that nature thing in about one page, let me at least briefly touch upon the determining factors I noted earlier.

So, let’s consider the surface we play on…  The rink is surrounded by boards and glass, these aiding a player in trapping an opponent or banking the puck around or over defenders.  And, while basketball players might be able to scale a ball the length of their playing surface, our rink’s lines and related rules influence quite a different approach.

Actually, those rink lines deserve more consideration here, in that hockey teams use them for the development of strategies and tactics.  I mean — a lot like military tacticians, teams work hard to defend each line as their opponents attempt to attack, while attacking teams work just as hard to gain each zone on their way up-ice.  (Thus we also have forechecking schemes, breakouts, defensive zone coverage, etc.)

While we’re on the subject of our playing surface, consider this…  Supposing our game was played on a rink measuring about 20′ by 60′, but still included 5-skaters and a goalie per side.  How much fast skating and stickhandling would take place?  Not much, huh?  In fact, we’d probably recruit sumo-sized guys, and develop plays that look more like rugby scrums.  On the other hand, what if we played on a rink the size of a football field?  Ha, there would hardly be any physical contact, and the star players would likely be fast skaters and great puck-movers.  Of course, our game is played on a surface somewhere between those two extremes, suggesting that the most desirable players should probably be both quick and strong.

Also appreciate the fact that soccer, basketball, lacrosse, field hockey and our game are considered so-called “transition sports”.  In other words — and in contrast to a game like baseball, the ball or puck is constantly up for grabs. And, this kind of continuous action puts a premium on players who can quickly switch roles, from offense to defense to offense to defense, and so on.

Even something like a roster size influences the nature of our game.  For, given a certain number of players, coaches deploy them in waves, with traditional set-ups (for the sake of discussion) using three forward lines and two to three pairs of defensemen.  Oh, some might take this lightly.  However, that kind of player rotation is where the prescribed work-to-rest ratio comes from — as in a player typically practicing so he or she can efficiently work for x-seconds, and rest for twice that time.  (In other words, a unit goes out for a brief shift, then rests while two other units do their thing.)

Now, I’ll bet I wrote and lectured on the following at least 30-years ago, although it’s been only recently that I’ve seen it documented in some scientific studies.  What I’m getting at is that the typical on-ice shift is really a series of alternating bursts and coasts.  In fact, some of the studies I’ve read lately state that the better players cruise with both skates on the ice for a great deal of they’re time out there.  Of course, how well one coasts is not the measure of a hockey player.  

However, that coasting phase is important, allowing him or her to briefly rest in anticipation of going all-out.  And, make no mistake about it:   the most consequential plays — either offensively or defensively — are carried out in a matter of seconds, during those brief spurts.

The latter few paragraphs should give us fairly good guidelines for conditioning a hockey player… Yes, he or she should be aerobically (long distance) fit. But, I’ll suggest, not to the point of robbing the anaerobic (explosiveness, quickness) system. Remember, it’s the brief, all-out confrontations that usually spell a player’s — and a team’s — success.

Of course, our sport includes its fair share of collisions and incidental contact (whether we’re playing in a body-checking league or not).  So, besides the areas of strength development that aid in skills like skating and shooting, the nature of our game suggests that a player be very stable on the skates, as well as be able to safely deliver or withstand heavy hits.

That said — about the need for strength in our sport, I’ll suggest that there’s a tricky balance required — between the want for strength, speed, agility and smooth, efficient movements.  Just being strong doesn’t make one an effective player, nor does just being fast, just being pretty, just being…

Even our decisions about hockey equipment should be influenced by the nature of our game.  For, as I just suggested, a solid player needs to possess a number of different physical qualities.  And it’s important that the gear helps.  Quite obviously, the first consideration is that it should protect the player. However, equipment has to also be light enough to aid quickness, as well as allow for smooth movements.

Then, while I’m hoping all the above noted physical traits make sense to you, a study of our game wouldn’t be complete without considering the mental aspects. For, an ice hockey player surely does have to be able to think and skate at the same time.  And, because our game is a “read and react” sport, it’s important for a player to instinctively know what to do in each unique confrontation.  Moreover, smart players can follow a game plan, and they have awareness when it comes to the game-clock and the score. And, while some might feel otherwise, I happen to believe that “thinking skills” CAN be taught — IF players are helped early enough.  (Actually, I’ve developed several drill formats — like my “Think ‘n Skate Program” — to help enhance this area in my players.)

Then, please allow me to briefly suggest that training for other important game skills — like puckhandling, passing, receiving and shooting — should also pass that nature of our game test.  And, here’s what I see as two related observations… 

First, all of those skills have to be accomplished in combination with other skills (or amid lots of problem solving).  

Secondly, the best players are able to execute all of those skills in unbalanced postures (with defenders draped all over them, whatever).

Finally, the above is a combination of science, personal observation and experiences; so, take it for what it’s worth.  Still, I think it should be helpful that players, parents and coaches have some frame of reference when it comes to the daunting number of choices we have to make.  So, hey, maybe this is one of those pieces you’ll want to clip and save!

PS:   A major reason for discussing this topic (again), is that it’s going to act as great background information for several important future posts about hockey-specific conditioning.