with Jeff Boeser, University of St. Thomas Head Coach; back-to-back-to-back MIAC Conference Champions (2012-14); 2012 MIAC Coach of the Year; member of the 1976 US Olympic Team and former member of the Finnish Elite League in Europe; and Parker Burgess, University of St. Thomas Assistant Coach
How do you prepare your team in the days leading up to a game? A flow drill-themed practice creates on-ice energy through the use of specific drills that emphasize skating speed, hard tape-to-tape passes, accurate shooting, and, most importantly, communication. Flow day practices, which are practice sessions conducted the day before a game, are important, especially for teams with heavy practice schedules. They ensure individual and small unit skill development under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions without the physical contact levels needed in battle-focused or system-focused practices.
University of St. Thomas coaches Jeff Boeser and Parker Burgess take you through a series of drills that will get your team loose and limber, ready to play through flow day drills. Flow drills are great to use in a pre-game skate or anytime you need a high-energy practice without a lot of contact.
Coach Burgess explains and diagrams 10 flow drills on the whiteboard; Coach Boeser follows with a point-by-point commentary as the drills are run on the ice. Each drill is designed to keep the practice moving. You'll learn how Coach Boeser and his staff vary their drills to ensure a continuous, effective practice with different levels of intensity. Learning these variations will help you align the difficulty and intensity of your flow day practices to your team's unique composition. Drills include:
Each segment of the presentation places an emphasis on the fundamentals of skating, passing, shooting and communicating. With approximately 30 players on the ice, Coaches Boeser and Burgess keep the practice moving at a quick pace while keeping everyone involved and competitive.
These drills will take your players out of their comfort zone and get the competitive juices flowing. Using these methods, Coach Boeser develops his team's game condition readiness and mental toughness despite running a practice focused on skating and skills development.˙Coach Boeser's tips can be applied by any coach to any level of team. 84 minutes. 2015.