On Thursday night I packed my armour and went down the Ice Arena for a Knight's training session. It went for about 70 minutes. There were close to twenty players, all from Div I (Bombers), Div II (Knights) or the Ice Academy so the skill levels weren't as far apart as they have been during some sessions in past. For a change I donned my North Vikings I.H.C. jersey, it fits quite well over full armour on the ice.
As is usual with Justine's sessions, our time was divided pretty evenly between an opening game of 'baseball' to warm up and kick the aerobic system into gear, a three player free form passing game, defence (1 on 1) and breakout (3 on 2) drills to push us anaerobically and a quick blast of 3 on 3 hockey to pull it all together.
My baseball game was good. 'At bat', I got the puck into the backzone and myself across the line before the 'fielders' were able to score a goal In the 'field' I picked up several deep hits and passed them into the OZ (only to see the rest of my team waste the opportunity to pass - pass - score by lack of communication and puck chasing).
My passing game started poorly due the fact I wasn't looking properly before making my pass. I got better once I started concentrating again.
My defence game was inconsistent. I was not getting good backwards acceleration, letting simple shots through my legs, not keeping a close gap to the better skaters as they cut across the ice or put on the afterburners to get by me on the transition. Encouragingly, I seem to be developing a reasonably active stick, stripping the puck from more of the skilled players than not (nothing glorious, but neutralised their attacks). The trick to doing this seems to be quick pokes, keeping the central ice, not stretching or committing too soon. What really pleased me was that, even with only four defenders (ie work-rest ratio of 1 to 1 due drills being run simultaneously each way), I had a lot of legs left and didn't tire at all.
My favourite moment in this drill was 'standing up' on a big fast skating forward who got mesmerised by his own puck as he cut across the ice on the forward diagonal. All I had to do was apply a small amount of deceleration and brace myself before he slammed into me. Quite legal, probably looked good (it drew a bit of applause from the sideline).
We then moved into the breakout/rush game, where D passes to W on the boards, chips it out to C as forwards leave the zone, then the three turn around and return into the zone but this time the D is trying to stop them. I played in a forward line with Cam and a new Knight, Richard. Cam played C (he wants to move there this season from D). We actually got it together quite nice a few times, weaving and tape to tape with our passes, someone on net and someone else in the high slot for outlet passes and so on. Quite funny when you think we're a defence unit.
For a final drill we played a few minutes of three on three. I didn't get out there overly much as some of the younger ones seemed much keener. It wasn't that I wasn't able, more that enjoyed watching.
My skates didn't cause major issues in either slippage or comfort. They should be right for start of season. Fitness and conditioning held up, I would have been in the top third in this regard. My skating technique needs to sharpen up and I will need to adjust to the relative speed of play in contrast to inline. Apart from that, pretty happy with the session.
Ice 28
Fridge
Showing posts with label 3 on 3. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 3 on 3. Show all posts
Friday, 21 August 2015
Friday, 19 June 2015
Knights training - more applause!
I got on the ice last night for the first time in months. The occasion that brought me out was a training session organised by Justine. It was a mixture of 12 assorted rookies, Knights, Bombers and Blackhawks who were present, together with Tom the Goalie.
We started with a game of 'Baseball'. Setup: Two teams (white and dark) one gathered in a corner, goalie in goal nearby, second scattered around the ice. Aim, score more goals than the other team. Player A1 in corner hits puck out amongst the scattered players from Team B. A1 then has to skate around the rink along the boards and get back to the red line before Team B scores a goal. To score, Team B must collect the puck and then make at least three passes before having a shot (which the goalie of course tries to prevent). The play is over either when A1 crosses the line or Team B scores, whichever happens first. The exercise is repeated for each of Team A's skaters, one at a time until all have had a go. Roles are then reversed, with Team A scattered on the ice and Team B sending out skaters from the corner one at a time to race against the attacking team who pass and shoot. The team that scores the most goals, wins.
We then played a series of tug'o'war battles, pairing up with players of approximately similar strength/stature. The pairs of skaters faced each other across the blue lines, at stick distance. We then held up our sticks so that the other player could grasp it with their free hand. The idea was to then try and pull the other player across the blue line, while preventing them from pulling you across. When one player pulled the other across, start another play. Do this for a defined period of time (5 minutes?). I paired up with Cam. He won our two bouts before saying we should stop due his back. I didn't disagree and we spent the remaining time of the drill passing tape to tape to each other. I joked to him afterwards that I'd never used my 'pension card' before (Cam is also an older player, though younger than me).
Next was D's in Centre, with defenders gathered in centre with the pucks, two groups of forwards facing each other from two diagonally opposed corners. Two of the defenders would simultaneously pass a puck in an opposite direction to each other, to one of the forwards in the group in front of them. The forwards would then set off, aiming to carry the puck from their corner, down the ice, and shoot a goal at the opposite end. The two defenders would meanwhile loop around the centre circle the 'difficult' way (ie, behind the circle) and then try and prevent the forward to whom the other defender had initially passed their puck to from scoring. By skating behind the circle the defender gives the forward enough time to get at least to the half way line with a head of speed. I found that I was letting the better forwards into centre ice more than not, swapped with Christian to play a forward role. As a defender I was effectively stripping their sticks at the moment of shooting (efficient if not pretty) and seizing it from the rookies. My failing was letting better forwards into the slot. As an attacker, I am protecting the puck better than I used to, and getting shots off more often than not (though didn't score). Afterwards, Christian told me of the trick of keeping my shoulder lined up with the oncoming forwards, up close, so that I could better keep them on the outside. Good advice.
Next, the 'Army Crawl'. Again, pair up with player of similar stature. One pair at a time, starting in opposite corners on the red line, goalie in goal at far end, puck in the middle of the first blue line in front of the pair. On the whistle, drop flat to the ice and then crawl to the puck. Must keep stomach on ice the whole way. Very difficult! First player to crawl to the puck gets to their feet and races to goal for a shot. The second crawling player gets to their feet and tries to defend against a score. I was beaten to the puck by a few centimetres, swung my stick and disrupted his collection of it as he got to his feet. Still lying flat on the ice I disrupted his second attempt to collect the puck, starting dragging it towards me as I began to get to my feet. He kicked it forwards and clear, but I was already chasing, a step behind as he set off. I got the inside track on him as he crossed into the zone and he had no shot left on goal. For the second night in a row I got a stick tapping applause (at my second lunge at the puck from my sprawled position) from some of my colleagues (those who had done the drill already, clustering on the sideboards).
We then split into three groups of four, one group in each zone, to play 'Piggy in the Middle'. One of the group went into the middle. Their goal was to get the puck. The others had to keep it off them by making successful passes to each other within the zone. Rotate through the role of 'piggy'. Then, step it up and play two-on-two battles for possession. Mad scramble!
Then, a few shootout rounds. I tried both backhand and forehand swoops. The backhand missed, the forehand was stopped by a glove save. Partway through this exercise, Tommy got cramp and had to leave the ice, leaving us goalieless.
With ten minutes to go, we shifted into a 3 on 3 shinny, with goals at each end facing the back boards.
It was a good hour. I had more technique than I thought I would after all this time off the ice, but lack strength in the upper legs and core. Will have to work on this. Was aching about a couple hours after the session. By this afternoon, felt very physically tired. I will have to put some work into my conditioning.
Great fun to be back on the ice. Five Knights turned up, was great to be back.
Ice 24
We started with a game of 'Baseball'. Setup: Two teams (white and dark) one gathered in a corner, goalie in goal nearby, second scattered around the ice. Aim, score more goals than the other team. Player A1 in corner hits puck out amongst the scattered players from Team B. A1 then has to skate around the rink along the boards and get back to the red line before Team B scores a goal. To score, Team B must collect the puck and then make at least three passes before having a shot (which the goalie of course tries to prevent). The play is over either when A1 crosses the line or Team B scores, whichever happens first. The exercise is repeated for each of Team A's skaters, one at a time until all have had a go. Roles are then reversed, with Team A scattered on the ice and Team B sending out skaters from the corner one at a time to race against the attacking team who pass and shoot. The team that scores the most goals, wins.
We then played a series of tug'o'war battles, pairing up with players of approximately similar strength/stature. The pairs of skaters faced each other across the blue lines, at stick distance. We then held up our sticks so that the other player could grasp it with their free hand. The idea was to then try and pull the other player across the blue line, while preventing them from pulling you across. When one player pulled the other across, start another play. Do this for a defined period of time (5 minutes?). I paired up with Cam. He won our two bouts before saying we should stop due his back. I didn't disagree and we spent the remaining time of the drill passing tape to tape to each other. I joked to him afterwards that I'd never used my 'pension card' before (Cam is also an older player, though younger than me).
Next was D's in Centre, with defenders gathered in centre with the pucks, two groups of forwards facing each other from two diagonally opposed corners. Two of the defenders would simultaneously pass a puck in an opposite direction to each other, to one of the forwards in the group in front of them. The forwards would then set off, aiming to carry the puck from their corner, down the ice, and shoot a goal at the opposite end. The two defenders would meanwhile loop around the centre circle the 'difficult' way (ie, behind the circle) and then try and prevent the forward to whom the other defender had initially passed their puck to from scoring. By skating behind the circle the defender gives the forward enough time to get at least to the half way line with a head of speed. I found that I was letting the better forwards into centre ice more than not, swapped with Christian to play a forward role. As a defender I was effectively stripping their sticks at the moment of shooting (efficient if not pretty) and seizing it from the rookies. My failing was letting better forwards into the slot. As an attacker, I am protecting the puck better than I used to, and getting shots off more often than not (though didn't score). Afterwards, Christian told me of the trick of keeping my shoulder lined up with the oncoming forwards, up close, so that I could better keep them on the outside. Good advice.
Next, the 'Army Crawl'. Again, pair up with player of similar stature. One pair at a time, starting in opposite corners on the red line, goalie in goal at far end, puck in the middle of the first blue line in front of the pair. On the whistle, drop flat to the ice and then crawl to the puck. Must keep stomach on ice the whole way. Very difficult! First player to crawl to the puck gets to their feet and races to goal for a shot. The second crawling player gets to their feet and tries to defend against a score. I was beaten to the puck by a few centimetres, swung my stick and disrupted his collection of it as he got to his feet. Still lying flat on the ice I disrupted his second attempt to collect the puck, starting dragging it towards me as I began to get to my feet. He kicked it forwards and clear, but I was already chasing, a step behind as he set off. I got the inside track on him as he crossed into the zone and he had no shot left on goal. For the second night in a row I got a stick tapping applause (at my second lunge at the puck from my sprawled position) from some of my colleagues (those who had done the drill already, clustering on the sideboards).
We then split into three groups of four, one group in each zone, to play 'Piggy in the Middle'. One of the group went into the middle. Their goal was to get the puck. The others had to keep it off them by making successful passes to each other within the zone. Rotate through the role of 'piggy'. Then, step it up and play two-on-two battles for possession. Mad scramble!
Then, a few shootout rounds. I tried both backhand and forehand swoops. The backhand missed, the forehand was stopped by a glove save. Partway through this exercise, Tommy got cramp and had to leave the ice, leaving us goalieless.
With ten minutes to go, we shifted into a 3 on 3 shinny, with goals at each end facing the back boards.
It was a good hour. I had more technique than I thought I would after all this time off the ice, but lack strength in the upper legs and core. Will have to work on this. Was aching about a couple hours after the session. By this afternoon, felt very physically tired. I will have to put some work into my conditioning.
Great fun to be back on the ice. Five Knights turned up, was great to be back.
Ice 24
Friday, 11 July 2014
3 on 3 - AHL Overtime Changes will broaden the base
3rd in an occasional series of posts about 3 on 3 hockey.
I have previously commented that there is a dearth of material looking at the strategy and play of 3 on 3 hockey. Indeed, that was one of the reasons I began writing this occasional series of posts. Imagine my surprise and joy to read that the American Hockey League is going to change its rules about extra time from next year. Basically, there will be a portion played 3 on 3 (several minutes additional to a lengthened 4 on 4 period, with the teams going to the usual shoot out if there is no score in ET).
I can already imagine some of the league's professional heads considering the peculiarities of 3 on 3 hockey. Eventually, besides an exposure of viewers and players to it, there will leak out published philosophies, strategies, drills and plays. The process will intensify if the change makes it into the NHL.
Or, so I hope.
I can already imagine some of the league's professional heads considering the peculiarities of 3 on 3 hockey. Eventually, besides an exposure of viewers and players to it, there will leak out published philosophies, strategies, drills and plays. The process will intensify if the change makes it into the NHL.
Or, so I hope.
Friday, 13 June 2014
3 on 3 - Playing D
Second in a series of intermittent posts about the tactics and strategies of 3 on 3 hockey.
The three skaters of an inline team have quite a bit of floor space to cover and a number of roles to fulfill. Perhaps the most basic tactical formation is '2 up and 1 back', where the two wings are regarded as offensive roles and the centre is regarded as defence. Generally speaking, one of the wings takes the puck into the offensive zone, the other gives support, and the D remains always between the opposition and the goal.
Generally speaking, a line of three skaters will rotate through the D role during a shift, allowing the D opportunity to carry the puck up rather than pass it off to a winger. The nearest wing should take up a supporting role, and the other drop back to become the new D. Thus, D is on the lookout for opportunity for a counter attack.
When the puck is in the offensive zone the D moves up to about half way, with the intent of either providing a 'reset' option if an attack bogs down, a 'lock' to keep the puck in the offensive zone if the opposition tries to chip it out, and a potential sniper for a shot from the point if left unchecked. The temptation, of course, is to pinch down into the attacking zone and try and overload the opposition by rushing the net or stealing the puck on the boards. The danger in doing so is, of course, that the puck will get behind the adventurous D allowing a breakout and rush for the opposition (as they should in theory be facing that way and thus get a headstart over the stranded D in the mad scramble back).
I have found that playing D the most valuable skills are backwards skating, poke checking, position identification (ie, try and keep the attackers on the outside lanes) and the ability to keep both the play and the 'high' attacker (there'll usually be an opposition player who stays around the centre or even back in their attack zone, waiting an outlet pass from defence or to steal it on a reset for a rush). This last is best achieved by constantly moving across the floor so that one can keep one's opponent and the play in one's view at one glance.
For the 'easiest' position in the team to fill the role still has a lot of tasks, failure to perform any of which can have dire consequences for the team. Prime responsibility therefore lies in preventing the opposition getting a free shot on goal. All the rest is a bonus.
The three skaters of an inline team have quite a bit of floor space to cover and a number of roles to fulfill. Perhaps the most basic tactical formation is '2 up and 1 back', where the two wings are regarded as offensive roles and the centre is regarded as defence. Generally speaking, one of the wings takes the puck into the offensive zone, the other gives support, and the D remains always between the opposition and the goal.
Generally speaking, a line of three skaters will rotate through the D role during a shift, allowing the D opportunity to carry the puck up rather than pass it off to a winger. The nearest wing should take up a supporting role, and the other drop back to become the new D. Thus, D is on the lookout for opportunity for a counter attack.
When the puck is in the offensive zone the D moves up to about half way, with the intent of either providing a 'reset' option if an attack bogs down, a 'lock' to keep the puck in the offensive zone if the opposition tries to chip it out, and a potential sniper for a shot from the point if left unchecked. The temptation, of course, is to pinch down into the attacking zone and try and overload the opposition by rushing the net or stealing the puck on the boards. The danger in doing so is, of course, that the puck will get behind the adventurous D allowing a breakout and rush for the opposition (as they should in theory be facing that way and thus get a headstart over the stranded D in the mad scramble back).
I have found that playing D the most valuable skills are backwards skating, poke checking, position identification (ie, try and keep the attackers on the outside lanes) and the ability to keep both the play and the 'high' attacker (there'll usually be an opposition player who stays around the centre or even back in their attack zone, waiting an outlet pass from defence or to steal it on a reset for a rush). This last is best achieved by constantly moving across the floor so that one can keep one's opponent and the play in one's view at one glance.
For the 'easiest' position in the team to fill the role still has a lot of tasks, failure to perform any of which can have dire consequences for the team. Prime responsibility therefore lies in preventing the opposition getting a free shot on goal. All the rest is a bonus.
Thursday, 12 June 2014
3 on 3 - structural differences between shinny and league
There isn't a lot available on the web about 3 on 3 tactics and strategy, so this post is the first of what will be several that contain some of my own observations on the subject.
I am being well exposed to 3 on 3 hockey these days, both inline and ice (Vikings league and Noarlunga shinnies respectively). Despite their similarities, there are structural differences between the two forms of 3 on 3, brought about primarily by the rules.
On the ice, we share a goalie so it's a game of not having to rush back for the backcheck. The teams assume their offensive/defensive roles when the defender carries the puck over the far goal line for a 'reset' before mounting an attack on the goal, now defended by the other team. As they reset the offensive team will generally have at least two players near the far wall, if not all three. There are no real breakouts or rushes in this type of game.
Inline 3 on 3, on the other hand, is composed mainly of rushes and mad backchecking. It is a game of punch and counterpunch. It, too, has a standardised reset option available to the teams, created by the permanent presence of the dedicated 'defender' available for a back pass should the going get too tough in the offensive zone (it seems all teams try and keep one of their players in the back half to help insure against falling victim to an offensive breakdown and resultant rush against).
I am being well exposed to 3 on 3 hockey these days, both inline and ice (Vikings league and Noarlunga shinnies respectively). Despite their similarities, there are structural differences between the two forms of 3 on 3, brought about primarily by the rules.
On the ice, we share a goalie so it's a game of not having to rush back for the backcheck. The teams assume their offensive/defensive roles when the defender carries the puck over the far goal line for a 'reset' before mounting an attack on the goal, now defended by the other team. As they reset the offensive team will generally have at least two players near the far wall, if not all three. There are no real breakouts or rushes in this type of game.
Inline 3 on 3, on the other hand, is composed mainly of rushes and mad backchecking. It is a game of punch and counterpunch. It, too, has a standardised reset option available to the teams, created by the permanent presence of the dedicated 'defender' available for a back pass should the going get too tough in the offensive zone (it seems all teams try and keep one of their players in the back half to help insure against falling victim to an offensive breakdown and resultant rush against).
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