10 Tips for Running Successful Hockey Scrimmages

Scrimmages are an essential part of hockey practice, as they offer players an opportunity to apply their skills in a game-like situation without the pressure of an actual match. Whether you're coaching a youth team, high school squad, or even at the professional level, running a successful scrimmage can help improve player development, teamwork, and understanding of the game.

This article will provide you with 10 key tips for running effective and successful hockey scrimmages that will not only challenge your players but also ensure that they learn and develop essential skills.

Set Clear Objectives for the Scrimmage

Before the scrimmage begins, it's crucial to have specific objectives in mind. A scrimmage is more than just a fun game -- it's a tool for teaching. Setting clear objectives will help players focus on improving specific skills, whether it's power play execution, defensive zone coverage, or transition play.

Tips for Setting Objectives:

• Focus on Skills: For example, if you want to work on face-offs, emphasize winning clean draws and using them to control possession.
• Team Play Goals: Objectives like improving puck support or enhancing offensive zone cycling can be incorporated.
• Situational Play: If you're looking to work on penalty kill strategies or special teams, structure the scrimmage to include power play and penalty kill situations.

By having a clear purpose for the scrimmage, you ensure that players understand the goal of the session, and they will work towards it during the practice.

Create Realistic Game Scenarios

One of the benefits of a scrimmage is its ability to replicate game situations. Instead of simply having players skate around and shoot, simulate realistic scenarios that will occur in actual games. This could include setting up a situation where one team is down by a goal with two minutes remaining, or creating a power-play scenario.

Benefits of Realistic Scenarios:

• Game Situations Under Pressure: Simulating scenarios like penalty kills or trailing by a goal under time pressure prepares players for high-stakes moments in actual games.
• Positional Awareness: Encourage players to develop their understanding of positional play in different scenarios (e.g., breakout strategies during a forecheck, playing without the puck).
• Adaptability: Players will learn how to adapt to various game situations, improving their hockey IQ.

Making your scrimmages feel like real game situations will help players take them seriously and give them the necessary mental preparation for competitive matches.

Use Small-Sided Games to Focus on Individual Skills

While full-team scrimmages are valuable for understanding team dynamics, small-sided games (e.g., 3v3 or 4v4) can be just as effective in honing individual skills. Small-sided games force players to be more involved in the action, as they get more puck touches, defensive responsibilities, and offensive opportunities.

Advantages of Small-Sided Games:

• Skill Development: Players get more opportunities to handle the puck, shoot, pass, and play defense.
• Increased Ice Time: With fewer players on the ice, each player gets more time to be actively involved, making it an ideal environment for skill development.
• Improved Decision-Making: With fewer players, decisions need to be made faster, pushing players to develop better decision-making skills in tight spaces.

By incorporating small-sided games into your scrimmages, you help players work on essential skills that will benefit them in larger team settings.

Ensure Equal Ice Time for All Players

One of the main goals of a scrimmage is to give every player an equal opportunity to improve, which means that all players should get a fair amount of ice time. This is especially important for teams with mixed skill levels, as players need equal opportunities to develop.

Tips for Managing Ice Time:

• Line Rotation: Rotate your lines frequently to ensure all players get an equal chance to play, regardless of their skill level or position.
• Monitor Fatigue: Keep an eye on players who might be getting fatigued and make sure they get proper rest between shifts.
• Goalkeeper Considerations: For goalies, ensure that each goalie gets a fair amount of time in net during the scrimmage to keep them engaged and ready for real game situations.

By distributing ice time fairly, you keep the morale high and ensure that all players are equally invested in the success of the scrimmage.

Focus on Teamwork and Communication

Hockey is a team sport, and it's important that players understand the value of teamwork and communication during scrimmages. Make sure to emphasize team play and the importance of talking on the ice. Players should be encouraged to communicate with each other through verbal cues and non-verbal signals to ensure smoother transitions and better execution of plays.

Tips to Encourage Teamwork:

• Verbal Communication: Encourage players to call for passes, direct teammates on defense, and provide feedback during the game.
• Defensive Responsibilities: Make sure players understand their defensive zone roles, including covering their man and supporting each other.
• Offensive Flow: Emphasize passing, puck movement, and cycling to keep the offensive game flowing.

A well-communicating and well-coordinated team is often more effective than a group of individual players. During scrimmages, this teamwork is where players will begin to mesh their skills together in a game-like environment.

Incorporate Different Line Combinations

Scrimmages are a great opportunity to experiment with different line combinations and defensive pairings. Trying out new combinations allows you to discover which players work well together and to develop chemistry among teammates. It's also a chance to try different formations and see what best suits your team's playing style.

Why Experiment with Line Combinations:

• Team Chemistry: Mixing up players during scrimmages gives them a chance to build chemistry with new teammates, which can be beneficial for future games.
• Versatility: Players who are comfortable playing with multiple teammates will be more adaptable to changes during actual games.
• Matchup Opportunities: Experimenting with different line combinations helps you identify which players perform well against certain types of opposition.

By using scrimmages to test various line combinations, you can find the most effective setups for your team's success.

Incorporate Special Teams Play

Special teams (power play and penalty kill) are critical aspects of any hockey game, so make sure to incorporate special teams situations into your scrimmages. Scrimmages are the perfect environment to fine-tune these areas, ensuring that players understand their roles and responsibilities during these high-stakes moments.

Implementing Special Teams in Scrimmages:

• Power Play Drills: Set up power-play scenarios where one team is given a man advantage. Work on puck movement, creating scoring chances, and defensive positioning.
• Penalty Kill Drills: Similarly, create penalty kill situations where players practice defending with one less player on the ice. Focus on blocking shots, clearing the puck, and maintaining defensive discipline.
• Situational Scrimmages: Alternate between full-strength and special teams situations to give your players a balanced experience during practice.

Incorporating special teams situations into your scrimmages will better prepare your team for the high-pressure moments of a real game.

Keep the Pace Up

The pace of the scrimmage is crucial to ensuring that players stay engaged and are actively involved in the play. If the pace is too slow, players can become disengaged, and the scrimmage will lose its value. On the other hand, a fast-paced scrimmage keeps players on their toes and encourages them to work at game speed.

How to Maintain a High Pace:

• Quick Line Changes: Keep line changes fast and efficient to maintain a high tempo throughout the scrimmage.
• Encourage Fast Transitions: Encourage players to move the puck quickly from defense to offense and vice versa. This helps simulate game-like conditions and keeps the intensity high.
• Limit Breaks: While breaks are necessary, limit downtime between shifts to keep the energy up.

By maintaining a high pace, you ensure that your players get the most out of their scrimmage experience and that they stay sharp throughout the practice.

Provide Feedback During and After the Scrimmage

Providing feedback is essential for player development. Scrimmages provide a unique opportunity to observe players in action, and as a coach, it's important to offer constructive criticism to help players improve.

Tips for Giving Effective Feedback:

• During the Scrimmage: Offer brief feedback during stoppages or line changes, but avoid overwhelming players with too much information. Focus on specific skills or tactics you want them to improve.
• Post-Scrimmage Review: After the scrimmage, take time to review key moments of the game. Show video clips or break down plays to give players a better understanding of what they did well and what they can work on.
• Positivity: Make sure to balance constructive criticism with positive reinforcement to keep players motivated.

Feedback helps players understand their strengths and areas for improvement, and it provides a roadmap for future growth.

Have Fun

Finally, one of the most important aspects of a successful scrimmage is ensuring that it's enjoyable for everyone involved. Players are more likely to give their best effort when they are having fun, and a positive atmosphere helps build team morale.

Creating a Fun Environment:

• Positive Attitude: Lead by example and maintain a positive, encouraging attitude throughout the scrimmage.
• Celebrate Successes: Recognize and celebrate individual and team successes, whether it's a great pass, a fantastic save, or a well-executed play.
• Keep the Atmosphere Light: While competitiveness is important, make sure players feel comfortable and relaxed during the scrimmage. This encourages creativity and risk-taking, which are essential to skill development.

When players enjoy themselves, they are more likely to take what they've learned during the scrimmage and apply it in future games and practices.

Conclusion

Running a successful hockey scrimmage requires careful planning, clear objectives, and an understanding of the needs of your team. By focusing on realistic game scenarios, skill development, teamwork, and special teams play, you can create a scrimmage environment that pushes players to grow while also fostering an enjoyable experience. Remember to keep the pace high, give constructive feedback, and most importantly, encourage fun and positivity. With these tips, your hockey scrimmages will not only improve your players' abilities but also strengthen your team as a whole.

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