Barry Smith Chicago Blackhawks with Nate Leslie
Barry Smith is a straight shooter. He tells it like it is, whether he is teaching kids, pros, or coaches like me. I spend my professional life teaching hockey skills to players, and helping coaches improve their own ability to teach their players. If I am not careful, I fall into the habit of using my favourite drills throughout the season. When I get around coaches like Barry, I’m reminded I have to stay current and push my game understanding forward. I love updating my drill bank, and learning new ways to approach teaching the game. In the words of our mentor and friend Andy Murray (IIHF Hall of Fame Member), “In this game, if you aren’t getting better then you are going backwards. There is no standing still.” Check out Andy telling me that in this video.
At our West Coast Hockey Prep Camp I had the esteemed pleasure of hiring the likes of:
- Mike Johnston (Pittsburgh Penguins Head Coach)
- Barry Smith (Chicago Blackhawks Director of player development)
- Ryan Walter (1000 NHL games played, leadership trainer, youngest ever captain of Washington Capitals)
- Rich Sutter (yes from that family)
- And more…
What a treat. I seized the chance to capture ideas in interviews with the above coaches, and many more. Join our mailing list on the right to make sure you don’t miss any of these interviews we’ll post this season.
Barry Smith mentoring Andy Mills of the New Zealand Ice Hockey Federation
Bonus interview with coach Barry Smith of the Chicago Blackhawks! Barry and I talk player development escaping the heat in a ball diamond dugout across the street from the Alberni Valley Multiplex. (So sorry for the the odd car muffler in the background, Barry was pressed for time to get back on the ice, and the content is so gold anyway you won’t mind!). NOTE: Barry addresses the issue of running an AHL practice like an NHL practice. We must account for modifications when we pick up tips from pro coaches, to insure success at the youth levels.
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[maxbutton id=”2″ ]Coach Barry Smith’s Tip of the Summer:
Use players and coaches to provide passive resistance as often as possible in drills.
This tip has served me really well so far this season. At LGS, we do most of our skill work in small areas on the ice. We isolate and develop skills then implement them in game situations. Add resistance to any of our downloadable skill drills here!
Two simple options to simulate game situations in skill drills:
Add resistance from the coach:
Angle, pressure, defend the player coming in to shoot, but just enough to be a pest. Allow the player to still achieve success in the drill (shot on goal). No one needs a drill buster! Don’t be the coach proud because you can knock the puck away from a child:)
Add resistance from the last shooter:
After a player takes the shot/looks for rebound, they have to gap up and give passive resistance to the next player coming in to shoot. I can’t tell you how many players of all ages this week would shoot, and think they are done, and go back in line, no matter how many times I reminded them!
- Make players think one step ahead, just like in a real game (sequential thinking).
- A conditioning aspect improves the quality of the drill because they have to start and stop a few more times, adding the resistance, increasing their time under stress.
- Lower work to rest ratio: You actually double the number of players moving in the drill at any one time by adding the resisting player. Smaller lines, more action, more fun. NOTE: Remind the players they are not there to bust up the drill either, the shooter should struggle to execute the shot, but still be able to get it away.
So far this fall kids and coaches have both reacted in favour of this simple tip, so give it a try and let me know what you think by commenting below!
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