Feature Story

Developing your “tool kit”

 

Each year, for 22 years, I’ve chosen a “guest writer” for my column. My intent has always been to provide (good) different points of view and concepts from young up-and-coming coaches that are well recognized as state-of-the-art leaders. This year’s pick is the (fairly) new head coach of the University of Minnesota Women’s Program, Brad Frost. Brad was an outstanding player and captain at Bethel University where he still ranks as one of its all-time leading scorers. After college, he was a high school teacher and coach for four years, then joined the U of M coaching staff in 2000, and became associate head coach in 2006. He was named the head coach in 2007 and has since been selected to the coaching staff of two national teams. For the next two weeks, I turn my column over to Brad Frost.

 

By Brad Frost

 

Do you want to score more goals? As a coach, do you want your players to score more goals? I’m sure the answer to these questions is “yes.” A few years back, a good friend of mine, Charlie Burggraf (head coach for the women’s hockey Team at Bethel University and former Assistant Coach at the University of Minnesota) introduced me to the phrase “tool kit.” When he said it, my first thought was, “What does a tool kit have to do with playing hockey?” He then went on to tell me all about it, and now I want to tell you. 

When you think of a contractor or a construction worker going to a job site, they bring their tool kit with them. Depending on the job, they will use certain tools. Similarly, a hockey player needs to bring their tool kit with them to the ice and use the correct tools, depending on the situation.

In the game of hockey, scoring goals is the most important thing. The more goals your team scores, the better chance your team has to win. Goals, particularly in the girls’/women’s game are really hard to come by. For the most part, the goaltenders are better than the shooters.

Hockey players only have so many opportunities to score goals, so it is important that they cash in on their chances. How do you do that? Answer: By developing your tool kit.

In a nutshell, your tool kit has different shots for different situations. When a player has a breakaway, they should have two moves they go to. If the goalie is far out of the net, they should go to their special deke. If the goalie is back in their net, they should shoot to that special spot where they know exactly where it is going, because they have practiced that shot time and time again. Repetition and practice will make your certain shots automatic. 

Krissy Wendell was one of the players with the best “tool kit” move I have ever seen. As a left handed shot, when she was on a breakaway, Krissy would fake the shot low stick side, pull it to her backhand and slide it into the net. Even when goalies knew it was coming, it was nearly impossible to stop. That is one of the reasons she is considered one of the best goal scorers around. 

Bobbi Ross, one of our former players also had a great “tool kit.” When she was in the slot with the puck, it was off her stick quickly and accurately, into the upper right corner. She could hit that spot with her eyes closed, literally. 

Hockey is a fast game and sometimes players don’t even have time to look where they are shooting. That is where the “tool kit” comes in handy. Knowing where you are shooting because of the practice and repetition. It becomes automatic. 

How many times do players have great scoring opportunities and they shoot the puck right into the goalie’s chest? In my experiences, I have seen it more often than not. As a coach, it irks me when the players’ linemates pat the player on the back or on the shin pads and say “good job, nice try.” Shooting in the goalie’s chest is not good enough. There are limited opportunities to score, so shoot the puck in a place that gives you a good chance to score. Force the goalie to make a great save.

One of the best products I have seen to develop your tool kit is called the Sure Shot (www.sureshothockey.com). It is a product similar to the different shooter tutors out there, but it is very durable, easy to set up and able to produce game like rebounds. Our team and many other college hockey programs use the Sure Shot. Whether you use this shooting tool or not, it is critical that players practice their shooting continually. 

My advice for players in developing their “tool kit”:

1) Shoot to score (don’t be satisfied with shooting the puck in the goalie’s chest).

2) Use the summer to really develop your tool kit. Shoot 200 pucks or more a day. You will be surprised at how good your shot is when you take the ice again.

3) Don’t forget to practice your backhand.

4) Practice your celebrations, because you’re going to start scoring more goals.

 

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