Teaching Beginners to Forecheck Like They Mean It!

[Tacks92]

You guys know this scene? Puck's in o-zone but their d has it, your forwards skate tentatively towards him on the forecheck afraid of getting burned or I guess accidentally body checking the guy, and they put such soft pressure on him that the d-man can just do whatever he feels like?

I'm trying to teach a team of intermediate players how to be more assertive on the forecheck. None of this "excuse me" poke check stuff while I also stop skating, but real, honest to goodness pressure. The stuff that causes bad passes or maybe even a turnover in the corner. Problem is, I don't really know how to explain it to them. It's like, go all out towards the guy but don't crash into him and also he's probably going to try to make a move when he sees you coming in super fast, so just anticipate that move but don't let him know you anticipate it and then as soon as he shows any sign that he's moving, you just preempt it and try to force him into a panic pass ... but that's a terrible way to explain things!

Anyone recently worked with a coach who helped them with this, or have been in my position coaching intermediate players to do it? Would especially love to hear from people who improved their forechecks and how they did it, and about drills or ways of explaining it that helped.

Thanks!

 

[I am toxic]

You guys know this scene? Puck's in o-zone but their d has it, your forwards skate tentatively towards him on the forecheck afraid of getting burned or I guess accidentally body checking the guy, and they put such soft pressure on him that the d-man can just do whatever he feels like?

I'm trying to teach a team of intermediate players how to be more assertive on the forecheck. None of this "excuse me" poke check stuff while I also stop skating, but real, honest to goodness pressure. The stuff that causes bad passes or maybe even a turnover in the corner. Problem is, I don't really know how to explain it to them. It's like, go all out towards the guy but don't crash into him and also he's probably going to try to make a move when he sees you coming in super fast, so just anticipate that move but don't let him know you anticipate it and then as soon as he shows any sign that he's moving, you just preempt it and try to force him into a panic pass ... but that's a terrible way to explain things!

Anyone recently worked with a coach who helped them with this, or have been in my position coaching intermediate players to do it? Would especially love to hear from people who improved their forechecks and how they did it, and about drills or ways of explaining it that helped.

Thanks!

Am facing similar problem with first year rep players.

Just found this thread, might be useful.

What gets me is that they fight harder to line up behind the goalie to shake hands after the game than they will forecheck.

 

[jazzykat]

I am a defenseman and I love pinching. To me the forecheck is the best part of playing O. You can fly down the ice almost out of control, screaming, banging your stick on the ice, with your shoulder lowered, taking angles on unsuspecting guys in their own zones and generally causing them to poo their pants.

It's not glamorous but if they don't do it, then there is a reasonable chance that the counter rush will have a lot of speed and be very hard to defend against.

 

[leftwinger37]

From my experience with inexperienced players, they don't or won't do certain things because they don't understand it's purpose or how it directly impacts them. It's the same thing with guys who stand around for a pass and don't move their feet on the breakout, why are you making it easier for the other team by standing in one spot?

I think you have the right idea by explaining the consequence and not the action. By not forechecking, you're giving up ground. You're letting the other team march into your zone. Have the mindset that everything you do without the puck is done with the intention of making things difficult on the other team. I always want to be someone that is tough to play against, with or without the puck.

On the bench I'm always preaching "no easy ice." Which is essentially saying "don't give them an inch." Forwards are always looking for open ice, so do your best to take that away. It can be as simple as positioning. Stagger your forwards throughout the neutral zone and have your D hold the line. Make it tough to move the puck into your zone without having a guy in their face or someone getting a stick on their passes. Make them battle. If they have to dump it in, you're doing your job. And remember, it's not about running guys over, because often you're taking yourself out of the play by finishing every check; it's about creating the illusion that you're going to finish every check. Finish your checks early and they will look to get rid of the puck the next time you get in their kitchen.

 

[Goonzilla]

I'm not so sure you can 'teach' it. Guys first have to want to do it and they'll then either be capable or not based on their skating ability and conditioning levels.

Some guys have hunger and desire to put it in extra effort or a will to win and battle for the puck and others just don't. Some guys just won't because they won't have the gas in the tank to do extra stuff and will always be saving themselves for something else, rather than skating further than they have to.

If they actually want to do it they'll pick it up from just doing or trying it and then learning from their mistakes. I know I started out getting burned far too easily but the same guys are a lot more cautious now when I'm pressing them. Individuals that are interested and keen you can help and teach or give advice to, but not sure you can do much with everyone, at a rec team level at least.

 

[TheRedShadow]

You probably just have to yell at them until they get it. Make them move faster, put more pressure on, until it's a habit. Also, there's the fact that in a 60 sec or whatever shift they should be busting their ***** out there.

 

[sanityplease]

First man/woman in the zone forechecks after the puck carrier. Teach the others to recognize passing lanes + outlet options & how to position themselves to intercept the easy pass.

At least the lazy ones will be doing something kinda useful, even if it's covering a neutral zone passing option.

 

[Pez68]

How old are these kids, and what exactly is "intermediate"? How long have they been skating? Are they all good skaters? That all matters for the answer to this question.

 

[Maccas]

From my experience with inexperienced players, they don't or won't do certain things because they don't understand it's purpose or how it directly impacts them. It's the same thing with guys who stand around for a pass and don't move their feet on the breakout, why are you making it easier for the other team by standing in one spot?

I think you have the right idea by explaining the consequence and not the action. By not forechecking, you're giving up ground. You're letting the other team march into your zone. Have the mindset that everything you do without the puck is done with the intention of making things difficult on the other team. I always want to be someone that is tough to play against, with or without the puck.

On the bench I'm always preaching "no easy ice." Which is essentially saying "don't give them an inch." Forwards are always looking for open ice, so do your best to take that away. It can be as simple as positioning. Stagger your forwards throughout the neutral zone and have your D hold the line. Make it tough to move the puck into your zone without having a guy in their face or someone getting a stick on their passes. Make them battle. If they have to dump it in, you're doing your job. And remember, it's not about running guys over, because often you're taking yourself out of the play by finishing every check; it's about creating the illusion that you're going to finish every check. Finish your checks early and they will look to get rid of the puck the next time you get in their kitchen.

This, very much this!
I've found that the best thing to do with stuff like this is to show them, show them video of good forechecking and explain why it's working. Then take to the ice and go through it step by step, set up a D man behind the net with the puck and then place players into the positions you want and then tell them what you want them to do.

With my team it usually is because they aren't confident enough in their skating that they don't want to get burned and then be left chasing the play so instead they "play safe" and hang around between the hash marks and blue line waiting for the D to make their move. To be honest even if they aren't great skaters/players if they are enthusiastic and put the effort in on the forecheck it can really help the team, standing on the blueline doesn't.

Don't think that it's just lower level players though, I've seen some very good skaters not forecheck at all and instead choose to back-up. I've had to shout at one particular player god knows how many times as he was actually entering our zone before me and well before the puck when the other team have been breaking out......

 

[Tacks92]

Thanks guys, awesome responses so far. Outside of the "you have to want it" realm --- you definitely do, for sure --- what I'm trying to teach is the appropriate technique. Not necessarily positioning (i.e. first guy man, second puck, third high --- they get that), but more like, keep your feet moving and attack. What they don't get is how to put hard hard pressure on without taking a penalty or getting burned so they skate hard til about two stick lengths and then coast. Anyone had luck either personally or as a coach figuring out how to make that transition? If so, I would love to hear how you would explain it. Like I noted in my original post, when I try to explain it to them and in my head, it comes out way more complicated than it actually is.

 

[I am toxic]

Thanks guys, awesome responses so far. Outside of the "you have to want it" realm --- you definitely do, for sure --- what I'm trying to teach is the appropriate technique. Not necessarily positioning (i.e. first guy man, second puck, third high --- they get that), but more like, keep your feet moving and attack. What they don't get is how to put hard hard pressure on without taking a penalty or getting burned so they skate hard til about two stick lengths and then coast. Anyone had luck either personally or as a coach figuring out how to make that transition? If so, I would love to hear how you would explain it. Like I noted in my original post, when I try to explain it to them and in my head, it comes out way more complicated than it actually is.

Sorry, this one is something I have been unable to teach (also I am responsible for G and D, so I don't get to work with F).

This might be useful?

And this? (look at the second drill "Angling - Shadowing")

 

[opivy]

Thanks guys, awesome responses so far. Outside of the "you have to want it" realm --- you definitely do, for sure --- what I'm trying to teach is the appropriate technique. Not necessarily positioning (i.e. first guy man, second puck, third high --- they get that), but more like, keep your feet moving and attack. What they don't get is how to put hard hard pressure on without taking a penalty or getting burned so they skate hard til about two stick lengths and then coast. Anyone had luck either personally or as a coach figuring out how to make that transition? If so, I would love to hear how you would explain it. Like I noted in my original post, when I try to explain it to them and in my head, it comes out way more complicated than it actually is.

The first piece is teaching defense and learning to angle, if you put your stick out stick on stick and blocking the passing lane and then quickly close them down and angle them off then you win the battle, even if they make a pass, good or bad you pressured them and they had to make the first play they saw and not really the one they wanted. If the other two forwards are either shadowing their men (just a simple 1 person forecheck) or if you do a 2 or 3 they just have to recognize lanes and be in them or within a step to try and force a turnover. That's a lot harder to teach and to me just hockey sense. Beginner and intermediate players might not "see" it but some video clips of it happening are how I'd explain it. Also on the bench when a player steps up into a passing lane and takes it the other way, explain how the pressure forced the bad pass and created the opportunity.

Sorry if that's a lot to digest, but to me it boils down to angling and playing proper defense.

 

[Tacks92]

The first piece is teaching defense and learning to angle, if you put your stick out stick on stick and blocking the passing lane and then quickly close them down and angle them off then you win the battle, even if they make a pass, good or bad you pressured them and they had to make the first play they saw and not really the one they wanted. If the other two forwards are either shadowing their men (just a simple 1 person forecheck) or if you do a 2 or 3 they just have to recognize lanes and be in them or within a step to try and force a turnover. That's a lot harder to teach and to me just hockey sense. Beginner and intermediate players might not "see" it but some video clips of it happening are how I'd explain it. Also on the bench when a player steps up into a passing lane and takes it the other way, explain how the pressure forced the bad pass and created the opportunity.

Sorry if that's a lot to digest, but to me it boils down to angling and playing proper defense.

Very awesome and helpful. Thank you.