Once again, I’d like to share with you one of my coaching/managing/administrative articles from my 25 years as a hockey coach, camp director, and USA Hockey Coaches Certification clinic instructor.
This week’s topic is ‘Playoff Preparations.’ Once again, many of the ideas and concepts here are transferable to business, school and everyday life.
Preparing for the playoffs actually starts long before the end of the regular season. Depending on the age of the participants (consult your local league or national organization for specific guidelines), it actually starts with a philosophy of the team/organization.
Some teams are synonymous with winning: The New York Yankees, Boston Celtics, Montreal Canadiens, and the Pittsburgh Steelers. They have tradition and the expectation of winning. That starts at the top and a commitment to excellence that permeates throughout the organization from the best players down to the equipment manager.
Developing a “Culture of Champions”
Have traditions, quotes, orientation/expectations in place for new players.
- Sign in the Montreal Canadiens Locker room: “To you from failing hands we throw the torch; be yours to hold it high.”
- Notre Dame football: ‘Play Like A Champion Today’
- Penn State Icers “Champions Find a Way”
Season Objectives:
- Champions are built in practice.
- “Perfect practice makes perfect.”
- Paterno: “You either get better or worse, no one stays the same.’
- “You don’t have to be sick to get better.”
- Be Flexible/re-evaluate. “Improvise, adapt and overcome!”
- “Surround yourself with people who make you better!”
Developing a theme for the season:
- Analyze your team, staff, schedule
- Team building
- Leadership (This is crucial! It’s their team.)
Playoff Details (factor this in to season objectives):
- What does it take to make it to the playoffs? How important is the “home” advantage?
- What is the playoff format: round robin, single elimination, “Best of three, five, or seven series”, number of days, location (home, away, neutral site)
The Stretch Run:
Do you show all your cards now? It depends. If you might face the opponent again in the playoffs you may want to hold a few surprises for them.
- Conditioning vs. “overtraining”
- Energy Levels (You need enough gas in the tank to win the whole thing.)
- Getting everyone rested and healthy vs. being rusty
- Overcoming Adversity, Everyone on the same page.
- May need a “Unity Council” (Get any and all issues out weeks beforehand.
- Encourage team meetings and meals (senior dinner, captains meetings)
- Limit distractions
- Know what to practice. (This is age-specific.)
- Have a solid foundation. Review the basics. Don’t introduce too many new things.
- Know what to add/delete from your game plan.
- Make it fun. Have creative games and contests to keep them loose but focused.
Playoff Time (It’s a Whole New Season, Anything is Possible):
Know what your seeding means. (Top Dog=Pressure. Middle Seed=toughest road sometimes. Underdogs=nothing to lose.)
Theme for the Playoffs:
Have a championship attitude. Expect to win. “You must have an intense burning desire to succeed.”
Championship hockey is not for cowards:
- Will you make the tough calls as coach?
- Get input from the team and staff, but it’s ultimately the coach’s call.
- How far down the bench or depth chart do you go?
- What will be your personnel decisions?
- Keep your non-dressing cast (Black Aces) involved or away from the team.
“Out-preparing” your opponent vs. “Paralysis by Analysis”:
- Advanced scouting
- Use of video for scouting/review
- Formal game plan?
Strategies:
- Shorten the bench.
- Go after them vs. “weather the storm”
- Offense wins games, defense wins championships (most of the time)
- “Gamesmanship”
Champions Find A Way
- 1990 Icers were seeded 6th and upset three teams to win the National Title.
- 2000 Icers won three straight come-from-behind overtime games to win Nationals.
- 2003 Icers were down 2-0 with 5:00 remaining in 2nd round and won 3-2 in OT
Remember to “Eat the Heart of the Watermelon” and celebrate your successes. Have an “Attitude of Gratitude!”
All of that is why Penn State Ice Hockey has seven ACHA National Championships!
“The Championship Tradition……….Continues!!!!!!
