CEP Level 3 Manual - Rushmore Hockey Association

T A B L E O F C O N T E N T SSuggestions for CoachingSuggestions for CoachingCommon Errors• Teach your players to set up the move with aslight move to the backhand (and/or headand shoulders fake to the backhand side).This move should be strong enough to getthe defender to react. As the defenderreacts, initiate the shift in the other direction.• As the players advance in skill, allow them touse the lower hand only to hold the stick.This frees the upper hand so that it can beused to ward off the defender.BACKHAND SHIFTThe backhand shift must be developed tocompliment the skill developed in the forehandshift. As your players master both of these skills andcan reliably use them at full speed, they can createenormous difficulties for the defensemen. Thismove is illustrated in Figure 2.Key Elements• The puck is shifted to the backhand side• The arms are extended• The body screens the puck from thedefender• The head is upCommon Errors• Keeping the puck too close to the body• Watching the puck rather than the defenderAs with the forehand shift, the backhand shiftcan be set up with a fake to the forehand side. Aswith many of the other skills of hockey, teach themoves of the backhand shift at slow to moderatespeeds before working on them at full speed.CHANGE OF PACEIn this move, players skate under control atmoderate speed. Just as they reach the defender,they accelerate to full speed. Figure 3 shows thesequence of events involved in the change-of-pacemove. Puck carriers should approach the defenderat moderate speed, then they should accelerate andcut around the defender carrying the puck onhis/her forehand side. Note that the puck is kept faraway from defenders, and that the puck carriersshould use the arm closest to the defender to aid inbrushing past them. The combination of timing andfast skating will allow the puck carrier to beat thedefender. This maneuver may also be done to thebackhand side.Key Elements• Distinct acceleration• Shift the puck to the backhand and/orforehand side• Shield the puck with the arm closest to thedefender• Accelerating prior to reaching the defender• Failing to execute the forehand and/orbackhand shift• Leaving the puck too close to the defenderFigure 3.Sequence involved in thechange-of-pace move.This move is especially useful when adefenseman is skating backward slowly and there isroom to move on either side.SLIP THROUGHIn this move, the puck is pushed through thedefender’s stick and skates or between the skates.This move is illustrated in Figure 4.Figure 4. Executing the slip throughSLIP ACROSSThe slip across is another important move toteach your players to help them beat a defenderone-on-one. To execute this skill, shift the puck toone side and then slip the puck between the skatesand the heel of the stick of the defender. The slipacross is illustrated in Figure 5.Key Elements• Set this move up by a shift to one side to getthe defender to shift weight to that side• The puck is slipped across between thedefender’s skates and the heel of the stick• The player shifts direction and picks up thepuck on the other side of the defenderCommon Errors• Failing to get the defender to react to the firstshift (fake)• Slipping the puck too hard and thus losingcontrol of the puckSuggestions for Coaching• The slip across differs from the slip through inthat the puck travels across the body insteadof straight ahead.Figure 2. Backhand Shift.Key Elements• Push the puck forward with the appropriatevelocity• Pull the stick back away from the defenderCommon Errors• Inappropriate timing for pushing the puckthroughSuggestions for CoachingThe defender should have slowed down, thehead should be down, and a large space should bebetween legs or between the stick and the skates.224 | USA Hockey Coaching Education Program Level 3 ManualOffensive Team Tactics | 225