If a coach can find a way to teach these facets of the game effectively, then he will be able to develop hockey players with an ability to take their game to the next level (AAA hockey, junior hockey, college hockey, and beyond). In order to begin implementing practice plans that address puck possession skills, we need to develop an understanding of three key concepts (regroup, support and flow). You cannot master a regroup system without a solid understanding of support and flow, as such, these three concepts must be taught with an integrated approach.

Regroup:

Regrouping is simply being able to maintain puck control when forward progression of the puck is impeded or transition from defense to offence when recovering the puck from a turnover. For example, as a puck carrier, your goal is to get the puck into the offensive zone and create a scoring opportunity. However, if forward progression is impossible because of tight coverage, the puck carrier must adapt. Rather than dump the puck or force a pass and risk creating a turnover, the puck carrier should look to pass the puck sideways, and if that option isn’t available, should turn around and pass the puck backward in order to maintain possession of the puck.

A very effective use of this tactic is when you get trapped along the boards in the neutral zone. Rather than shoot the puck up the boards, the puck carrier should execute a sharp turn, and pass to the defenseman. The defenseman should then look to pass the puck to his partner (using the ice) to create a quick up opportunity and gain the zone on the other side. This regroup, when executed properly, will allow a team to gain the offensive zone quickly and create a scoring chance. By demonstrating patience with the puck in the neutral zone (ie. moving the puck from side to side or by moving it  backwards), you give your teammates the opportunity to generate speed through the neutral zone and allow them to create opportunities against a defense that may get caught standing still. Two simple rules that players should try to follow:

1. As a defenseman, you should always look to use your partner as a regrouping option. Do not haphazardly dump the puck up the boards or make a difficult cross-ice pass to a forward.

2. As a forward, whenever you find yourself with the puck on your stick facing one of your defensemen, give them the puck and look to regroup.

The ability to regroup on a turnover in the neutral zone should be a part of any successful team's game plan.

Support:

For the regroup rule to be successful, the puckcarrier must be supported on all sides (ie. front, back, left and right) at all times. This rule has the support players (non-carriers) making themselves available as valid passing options both in front and back of the puck carrier. This means that the support player should be open and reasonably close to the puck carrier.

Puck support can then be defined as a team’s ability to maintain puck control while moving the puck into a scoring opportunity. Efficient puck support requires both a team and individual mentality. From a team perspective, it requires a collective effort to move the puck into the offensive zone and create a scoring opportunity. But, as an individual, it requires each support player to provide options to the puck carrier. To become an effective support player, you must learn to anticipate the puck carrier’s intentions, read the defensive pressure, and adjust your positioning with respect to that of the puck carrier. The ability to read and react by anticipating quickly and making adjustments is of paramount importance because it requires a unified effort (ie. movement of all players) to generate a great scoring chance.

An effective support player needs to be proficient at two key tasks: the ability to get open for a pass and the ability to create space for the puck carrier. When a teammate has the puck, there should be two support players (typically one defenseman and one forward) looking to get open for a pass. Support players need to read, not only, the movement of the puck carrier, but also the movement of the defenders and the open playing surface available and then, make the necessary adjustments to maneuver into an open position and create options for the puck carrier (ie. triangulate the attack).

As an example, when in tight quarters, a give-and-go play works well, providing the puck carrier an opportunity to quickly get past a defender. A second tactic learned from the Europeans is cycling and it is another great method of puck support that enables a team to maintain control of the puck in the offensive end.

The second method for players to support the puck carrier is to create space so that the puck carrier has room to skate with the puck. This method involves the support players spreading out and away from the puckcarrier, creating time and space for that player. By providing the puck carrier with various levels of support (passing, skating, shooting) players can individually contribute for a successful team effort.

Flow:

The final concept that we will explore is flow. Flow can be defined as the movement of players in the process of interacting and reacting to the movement of the puck. The speed in which a team reacts to the movement of the puck defensively (defensive flow) will determine what options are available upon receiving the puck (offensive flow). The way in which a team reacts or responds to defensive flow and pressure will determine how successful their regroup and tranisition game is. Ideally a team would like to hit the blue line with speed and enter the zone with puck possession and an opportunity to create an offensive attack. For this to happen, the offensive team must be able to move the puck away from pressure. Each player, must also keep manuever into passing lanes to provide the puck carrier with multiple options when it comes to moving the puck. This can be accomplished through quick puck movement, close and quick support, and by all four support players becoming passing options. The ability of a team to create space and options to the weak side (ie. away from the defensive flow) will correlate to a team’s success in its transition game.

For teams to be successful in incorporating the above concepts (regroup, support and flow) into their games, the players must develop the proper skills set and the coaches must implement appropriate practice plans. Stay tuned for the next two blog posts outlining 1) what you can do as a player to improve your puck possession ability and 2) what you can do as a coach to improve your team's ability to maintain puck possession. These concepts can be taught and reinforced during summer hockey camps, specialty hockey clinics and private training.