How We Think: Part 3
From Clip to Scripted Start SSGs and the Conceptual Video Library Release
The thought experiment for this one was to take the clip and create scripted start SSG ideas.
What is a scripted start?
It’s a way to further ensure you shine a light on areas of the game that you want to emerge by well… Ensuring they happen to start the game. Using the EcoD framework, we can manipulate different variables, including the start of the game. Location, action, position, retrieval (full possession, 50/50 race, rimmed puck on wall, etc)
Where might scripted starts be of use to you as a coach?
Small group player development sessions to shine a light on the concept of focus
Younger players who need to ‘feel through’ the concept but keep context of defenders, pressure, etc.
Older players who need more confidence/ability in certain areas of the ice or off certain puck receptions (rimmed, direct to backhand under pressure, indirect off wall with pressure, etc)
For example, if you’d like your players to become more confident and better able to create advantages in high ice, you could start a game with a high ice pick, switch or other 2-man action and play live from there. Some other examples are shown below from basketball:
Here are a few of the starts we observed, we’ll create a SSG for each one listed here:
1v2 entry with late-arriving help
Scripted start with player 1 outletting pass to expanded player 2, player 1 jumps his check and activates into supporting position on entry.
Player 2 enters, with player 1 and delays to layered help.
1v2 —> 2v4 —> late players activate to 5v5.
1v2 skate behind the net, with 2 above goalline support players
Start 1v1 within highlighted area with 2 supporting offensive players and 1 help defender.
Must escape painted area 1v1 to activate 2 supporting offensive players.
Ability to change the start
Rimmed start
50/50 race start
Direct pass to offense
1v1 high ice skate to live 3v2
Start with a 1v1 in an area in low ice, Coach can give the puck to the offense or set it in for a battle like previously described. Offensive player must win the puck (if not given it) and skate into high ice where he’ll have 2 teammates ready to activate into attack
You can start the play live in many different ways:
When all 3 players are in high ice
As the 1v1 Offensive player is skating into high ice, one of his teammates can exchange space, pick, switch, etc so 2 remain in high ice and one attacks down
No constraints, play live as soon as the offensive player gets into possession
Since there is a numbers advantage, you might want to add a shot clock to further highlight dominoes principles
D team recovers rebound
D team (in red) starts with a numbers advantage below the half zone line, with attacking team just behind. 2 players from red and 2 players from blue must say above half zone line. Red team can use two players above the half zone line as supporting outlets.
Puck is shot off the goalie's pads and deflected into the corner, Red team rushes to retrieve, create numbers supporting advantage and advance the puck above the half zone line.
Blue team puts forechecking pressure on red team to attempt to force a turnover below the half zone line.
If the Blue team can create a turnover below the half zone line, two more blue players can activate creating a 5v3 numbers advantage and quick attacking opportunity.
If Red team can transition the puck above the half zone line, they can transition the other direction 5v5.
O team recovers rebound
Getting the puck from a numbers disadvantage and low space to more space to manipulate and create from.
Blue players are on offense. Red on defense.
Two blue players start below the line, one starts above. All 4 defenders start above the line. This makes it likely Blue will get first touch on the puck. Blue shoots a puck off the goalie’s pads to simulate a rebound for a race to keep possession and stay on offense.
All 4 defenders are told to defend by swarming the quadrant the puck goes into. The puck must get out of the quadrant in which it begins for the offense to be allowed to shoot. You can pass it out or skate it out of the quadrant.
Full Conceptual Video Library Release
The video library modern hockey coaches have been waiting for.
Coaching is evolving. The old days of dump-and-chase systems and rigid positional play are giving way to something far more dynamic — an approach rooted in Ecological Dynamics, the Constraints-Led Approach, and a deep understanding of how players actually learn and solve problems in real game environments. But here’s the challenge: finding quality video examples of these concepts in action takes hours. You’re searching YouTube, rewatching broadcasts, screenshotting plays at 2am — all before you’ve written a single word of your practice plan. That ends now.
This video library is a fully curated, professionally organized collection of elite game footage built from the ground up around modern coaching philosophy. Over 11 programs — from the Chicago Steel’s dominant USHL era to NHL clubs like the Montreal Canadiens, Minnesota Wild, and Pittsburgh Penguins, to European powerhouses Red Bull Munich and Adler Mannheim, to top junior and university programs — have been combed through to bring you footage that actually illustrates the principles you’re trying to teach. Not generic highlights. Not random goal montages. Purposeful, concept-driven clips organized so you can find exactly what you need, when you need it.Check that out here:
https://carlsonhp.gumroad.com/l/conceptlibrary
https://x.com/drewcarlsonhp/status/2060364624164229479