Directions: think back to our games this past weekend at the World Invite. Then complete the following instructions below in your journal.

Purpose: To help you think about why things happened in the game, not just what happened. This helps you be a smarter player next time!

1. My Top 3 "Wins"

What were the three best things you did? 

2. The Turning Point

Find one moment where our team's energy or the score changed.

• What happened right before that moment? (Examples; We took a penalty or maybe we had a big save).

• Bonus: Did your body language change after this moment? How?

3. The Communication Check

Find one time you used your voice to help a teammate and one time you wish you had talked more.

• Best Call: (What did you yell?)

• Missed Chance: (When did you stay quiet when you should have helped?)

4. My New Pre-Game Goal

Based on these game, what is one small thing you will focus on achieving in the first period of our next game? (Examples; "Take two shots," "Win my first battle," "Make three hard stops").

WATCH

Watch the below video. Then take notes on 3 positives and 3 negatives plays for each example.

Positives:
1.
2.
3

Negatives:
1.
2.
3.

Scenario 1 | Play for Each Other

Imagine you score a big goal and everyone cheers. On the next shift, your teammate scores after you pass them puck.

What do you do?

A) Skate to the bench and wait. A coach or another player will recognize you in front of the team for setting up the play.

B) Rush to celebrate  with the goal scorer and be the first to say, "What a finish! Let's do that again!"

C) Remind your parents on the car ride home how awesome your goal and assist were. Then say, "2-1, we can't win without me"

Leadership Challenge:

The answer is probably obvious, but it is important to understand the impact of every action. Starting today, take more leadership choices at home this week that might feel different from how you might want to respond.

Examples: Offer to let a sibling go first. Help cleanup without asking (even if it is not your mess). Take out a full trash vs stuffing it full.

Scenario 2 | Own  It

In practice you mess up a drill. The next player messes up the same drill, too. So, the coach calls the team over to show and explain the drill again. Things are going fine now, but then two players begin messing around. They are at the front of the line, but missed the start when the whistle blew. Now the coach is mad. He tells those two players to "get on the line" and get ready to skate.

What is your best response?

A) Complain to a teammate about the same kids not paying attention. Confront them later in the locker room with some players who agree.

B) Be thankful you tried hard on the first attempt. You messed up, but at least learned the drill in time not to skate. Phew!

C) Join the players skating. Later, you have earned the right to speak with those teammates about focus and how it impacts us as team.

Leadership Challenge:

This week, take ownership of something you can control that you tend to let others lead (or ask) you to do:

Examples: Air out your hockey gear and repack your bag for practice, make your bed every morning, or do your homework before video games.

Scenario 3 | Bounce Back

You get knocked down in the 3rd period and lose the puck. This happens right in front of our net. Of course the other team gets a shot off and then scores on the rebound.  You are still lying on the ice, because it happened so fast. You probably have about 2 shifts left with the amount of time left on the clock.

What should happen now?

A) You know it was a penalty and are frustrated. You decide to quickly change to keep attention off of you, while the coach talks to the ref

B) Slam your stick hard! You need to show accountability and that you care. Then wait for the coach's plan to fix things.

C) Recognize the mistake, not to take risks in front of our net. You tap the goalie and let him know you're battling until the clock expires.

Leadership Challenge:

When something doesn’t go your way this week, say something to reset your mind like; “battle on”, "next shift", or "I'm not done" out loud. A refocus on how you will make an impact, goes a long way.

Steps to Success:

1. Identify the Mistake —  examples: Fall down in a drill, goal allowed, or penalty assessed 

2. Reset — Use forward thinking words or a phrase that matters to you — "Next Shift"

3. Visualize — Think about a time when you executed this exact play well and what was different

4. Execute — Perform again with the confidence you've earned from hard work and experience

Directions: Explore the tabs and sections of this website. Be sure to watch the videos &  study the ice diagrams most carefully. Players PLEASE ask your coaches questions if you have them. Now, grab your journal and follow the instructions below:

Part 1 | Breakout Reads

We are going to walk through one full Defensive Zone Breakout play. Your answers should be specific to your position (Center, Winger, Defense, or Goalie).

Imagine the puck is moving into the corner farthest away from you and is now loose.

• What is your first job ("read") without the puck since you are furthest away? 

• Then what do you do as the puck changes direction?
  Remember we have puck control & possession now. Think about how the puck may have changed sides because of a D-to-D pass or "Wheel the Net" play. Now the puck is on your side!

• Finally, the puck is on your stick. What are your immediate next action(s) to get out of the defensive zone?
  
  

Part 2 | Playing Without the Puck

Everything you wrote down so far was related to one play, the breakout.  A lot is happening in just a few quick seconds! Most of it is without the puck ever touching your stick. Define or Explain the terms below that we use to play better without the puck:

Shoulder Check or Scanning -  ??? 

F2 Support - ???

Boxing Out - ???

Part 3 | Draw Our Zone Entry Patterns

You may notice the zone entries tab on the site is left blank. Draw up and diagram the Zone Entry plays we've worked on in your journal.

HINT: The titles are there to help you get started.

Parent Context:
It is clear we need to bring more intensity and focus into our 3rd periods. In practice, we’ve been skating hard to build endurance — but we can extend that effort at home too. Structured activity helps our high-energy players learn how to sustain effort and sharpen focus.

Mental mistakes don’t happen because the moment is too big — they happen when the brain is tired. Hockey is fast and chaotic, so training focus under fatigue is key to finishing strong.

Player Homework:

We’ve been strong early in games — but the 3rd period is where focus and energy start to fade. This week’s homework is all about training our minds and bodies to finish strong no matter how tired we get.

Here is a two part simple challenge to help us build that habit outside of practice this week:

Part 1: 10-Minute Hustle

Complete 10 minutes of nonstop/continuos activity.

Ideas: run sprints, jog distance, jump rope, burpees, lunges, skater jumps — anything that gets your legs moving continuously for 10 minutes.

Why it matters: We build stamina the same way we build skills — with repetition. These 10 minutes teach our bodies and minds to keep working when we’re tired

Part 2: Shooting Focus to Finish

Now shoot 50 pucks at home, make your last 5 shots your best 5 — hardest & most accurate. Laser your focus!

Why it matters: Champions finish strong. The way we end drills, games, or practice becomes our habit in the 3rd period. Train to focus when it matters most.

Recap

Then write in your journal:

• What did you tell yourself when you started to feel tired?

• Did it help you keep going?

• How could that same mindset help you push harder on your next shift instead of thinking about tired legs?

Between now and our next CSDHL game on Friday, there are 26 NHL preseason games on TV. Your job is to:

1. Watch at least 1 full period of NHL hockey (pick any team you like).

2. Keep your hockey journal nearby.

3. While you watch, write a few sentences about what you notice from players who play your position (Forward or Defense)

Pay extra attention to the three parts of the game; Forecheck, Backcheck & Defensive Zone Coverage.  Then write down:

• Where they are on the ice related to the puck

• What their body language looks like

• How they use their head (looking around, scanning, pointing, talking)

1. The Forecheck

Forwards: How do they attack the puck and pressure the other team?
Defense: If the puck changes directions or the forecheck gains possession what happens to the defense (in the offensive zone)?

2. The Backcheck

Forwards: Where are they looking when backchecking? What effort level is the furthest player giving?
Defense: What area(s) do they keep their body positioned  (use the markings on the ice to help describe)?

3. Defensive Zone Coverage

Forwards: Where do they go when the puck is in their own end? HINT: Pay close attention to stick position and their hands.
Defense: How do they protect the net and support the goalie? What happens if/when an offensive player gets behind them near the goalie? What part of their body are they using to box out the other team (before the whistle)?

BONUS: Now write down one sentence you want to take with you to practice and try? What is something you can copy or do differently in the next game?

Directions

• Shoot 50 pucks each day this week.

• Hit the net — accuracy matters more than power.

• In your journal:

  1. Record your longest streak of shots in a row that hit the net (out of the 50).

  2. Write what improved each day.

  3. Note what you focused on while shooting.

Purpose & Coaching Cues
Kobe was obsessed with mastering the details, and his free throw routine was a great example of how he approached practice. Here’s how he structured it and why it worked:

1. Massive Repetition

• Kobe was known to shoot 500–1,000 shots a day, and a significant portion of those were free throws.

• He broke them up into sets—often 10 at a time, tracking his makes and never leaving the gym until he hit his target.

2. Consistency of Routine

• Every rep looked the same:

  1. Spin or bounce the ball the same number of times.

  2. Deep breath.

  3. Focus on form and follow-through.

• His routine created muscle memory, so pressure situations felt automatic.

3. Pressure Simulation

• Kobe practiced free throws when tired—after sprints, scrimmages, or heavy shooting workouts.

• He’d say: “You have to make free throws when your legs are dead—because that’s how it feels in the 4th quarter.”

4. Accountability Goals

• He often set rules like:

  • “Make 10 in a row before leaving.”

  • “Miss two in a row, restart the set.”

• This forced focus, even when alone in the gym.

Instructions: Do the assigned reps. Break them up into small sets and write it down in your journal when you finish. Form matters more than speed!

Push-Ups (50 total)

☐ 10  ☐ 10  ☐ 10  ☐ 10  ☐ 10

Sit-Ups (100 total)

☐ 20  ☐ 20  ☐ 20  ☐ 20  ☐ 20

Air Squats (100 total)

☐ 20  ☐ 20  ☐ 20  ☐ 20  ☐ 20

Low-Plank (60 seconds total)

☐ 20 sec  ☐ 20 sec  ☐ 20 sec

Burpees (50 total)

☐ 10  ☐ 10  ☐ 10  ☐ 10  ☐ 10

Extra Challenge: Time yourself on the 25 burpees and write your best time down.

Think about what is the same in each video.

In your journal, write a few sentences to answer:

• What did the Sabres do well?
  ANSWER: They drove wide and pulled defenders out of the middle, which opened up space to attack.
  
  

• What can we get better at?
  ANSWER: Protect the puck with our hips, not just our hands. Use area passes (move the puck to space) in the offensive zone so teammates can skate onto it.
  
  

• Now compare when the Bombers enter the zone. What do they do differently? (HINT: What is F2 doing?)
  ANSWER: Their F2 drives the net hard, creating pressure and rebound chances. The players without the puck are dangerous because they get involved, not just watching.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1c9_VIIJjYa5Ssvgt9MQ2HEgUg375zW5vcffJAXLtxas/edit?usp=sharing