Colour Coded Breakout System

Drill Diagram

Description

RD starts with the puck in his teams zone. RD attempts to make his way around the net, however, turns back to the strong side. He has two options for this colour coded breakout.

1. Green: attempts a pass to the RW, who in turn skates back towards the hash marks to receive the pass.
2. Red (White): attempts a pass to the C, who in turn skates the puck out of the zone.
3. Yellow: RD skates behind the net, as he is forced by forecheckers, and then has two options (Green LW, or Red (White) C)
4. Blue: RD has forecheckers on either side, performs a bank pass to LD who reads the play, then has two options (Red (White) C or Green LW).
5. RD notices no openings, LD in turn reads the play and drops behind the net and then receives a pass from RD. LD now has two options (Red C or Green LW).

Notes: Structured systems CAN be taught to young hockey players, and a color-coded breakout system is one way of doing this.

Young hockey players are often more advanced physically than mentally. Because of this, players at higher levels of play can typically execute the basic patterns of a breakout (i.e. skate the puck behind the net and pass to a winger on the boards) long before they can read which option to select in a given situation.

Color-coding a breakout system allows the �read� portion of �read and react� to be passed along to the coach, who can call the plays from the bench using the color code. Well-trained players will hear the call, and react accordingly

Tags: Systems, Breakout options