Ball Striking 2/12

I think the big adjustment for me was just to play.  Just to get out there and have fun and enjoy myself.  I've been thinking too much and the game hasn't been very fun.  When I think a lot, it hurts my game.
-Rashad McCants

Rashad's quote is a very important one for players to remember and work on.  The more you think during a game, the worse you will play.  You need to prepare for everything in training so in games you can enjoy the game and play.  That is why we have been focusing on long distance shooting so much, because I want our form to become so good that we don't have to think about it during games.  This way we can threaten to score from within 30 yards of goal instead of needing to be inside the 18 to be dangerous.

0-10 Long distance shooting form
10-30 Check, Receive, Turn and Shoot
For the next couple of weeks we will put the girls in different situations while still trying to shoot with no spin or forward spin.  Today it was turning and shooting.  I challenged the girls to explode to the ball when checking to it because it is very difficult to receive the ball while going at full speed and turn. 

Futsol 2/10 Play All Day

For the coaches in the real world of amateur hockey, you’re a winner — without any trophies to prove it — when your players look back at the experience and say, “This was the greatest.”
-Jack Blatherwick

It was a simple day at futsol today.  All we did was let the kids play.  No training just playing.  We played games up to three and switched teams after each game.  These were days I used to love as a player.  As a coach I still love them provided that the kids play hard and try to bring in the topics we have been working on in training.