Circle chaos

04/09/96 - 11:20 AM ET - Click reload often for latest version

Each week, USA TODAY will feature a leading college coach providing tips on improving hockey skills. This week's guest coach is Mike Schafer of the Cornell University.

Circle chaos

by Coach Mike Schafer, Cornell University

This drill incorporates many different hockey skills such as stick handling, edge control, skating, conditioning. Among its benefits are that it is good for all age and talent levels, and that it keeps a lot of players moving simultaneously - a key objective for all good drills.

Set up:

The drill begins with all players in one corner of the ice, each with a puck.
Extra pucks should be around each circle.

The procedure:

On the first whistle, players No. 1, 2 and 3 dash to the nearest circle. Once in the circle, they stickhandle within the lines, going anywhere they want. However, the players are NOT to skate in a circular motion. The goal is to challenge themselves and the other players in the circle.
On the second whistle, the three players sprint to the center-ice circle and three more players dash to the first circle.
On the third whistle, the two groups of three sprint to their next respective circles, and three more players enter the first circle.
On the fourth whistle, each group of three moves to the next circle and another group of three moves into the first circle.
On the fifth whistle, the first group of three sprints back to the other end of the ice and rejoins the line in the starting corner. The other groups of three sprint to the next circle and three more players join the drill.

Key points:

Players needs to use good stickhandling posture with their heads up.
The players should not skate in a circular motion but change directions frequently when inside the faceoff circles.
The players should challenge themselves and their teammates by working hard.
Players who lose their pucks should get new ones and rejoin the drill.
Coaches should keep the repetitions short at first and when working with young players. Repetitions should start at 10 seconds and eventually move up to 30 seconds per circle (adjust appropriately to age group).

Mike Schafer is in his first year as the coach at Cornell University, leading his squad to the ECAC playoff title and the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1990-91. Schafer returned to his alma mater after serving as an assistant (1991-94) and then associate (1995) coach at Western Michigan University for the past five years. Prior to WMU, Schafer was an assistant coach at Cornell from 1987-90 and junior varsity coach for the 1987-88 season. Schafer graduated in 1986 from Cornell with a bachelor's degree in business management and marketing. During his Big Red playing career, he was a four-year letterwinning defenseman and a two-time team captain, including the '86 squad that advanced to the NCAA Tournament. He was selected to the All-Ivy second team twice and honorable mention ECAC in 1985-86.