The Culver Way: Teaching Foundations for Ice Hockey

with Steve Palmer,
Culver Academy (IN) Director of Hockey;
Culver boys began and ended their 2017-18 campaign as the No. 1 ranked team in the nation by USA Hockey (43-4-1 record);
13-year professional playing career;
2x All-American as a player at Clarkson University

Coach Palmer meticulously builds his players' skill sets by training on- and off-ice habits using the Culver hockey development model: Skating (Power/Speed) agility, Posture and Technique. This video will give you the chance to see how Palmer sets his players up for success by improving their play-making awareness and skills through small area games with a purpose. Additionally, he introduces the seven Culver practice habits that have turned many high school players into college and pro prospects.

Practice Habits that Translate to Games

On the white board, Coach Palmer illustrates numerous drills that propel players to start thinking the game of hockey, so they can make correct decisions on the ice. Playing hockey at a high level requires being a good, fluid skater. Palmer works from the base of all skating skills by working on players' edge work. He builds from executing drills slowly until they are as perfect as can be, then adding the skill with pucks.

You'll see how to incorporate on-ice awareness into any drill by using constant head movement, which allows athletes to make cognitive and intuitive decisions during a game. When players are given specific rules or habits on a constant basis, Coach Palmer will stop the practice or drill and instruct the player about implementing the correct habit.

Small Area Games

Palmer uses many small area games with different stipulations that can heighten the educational and physical aspect of practice.

You'll learn games like:

• 4v2 One-Touch
• 3v1 Hard One-Touch
• One vs One, no goalie
• Situations Game

In the "Situations Game," a player must retrieve a puck spotted by the coach and a defensive player comes in to play 1v1. The coaches can add players, so all the athletes involved need to constantly look over the ice to see who else has joined the game and what the situation will be. This is a great drill to train keeping your head on a swivel to survey the ice and gather information.

This video takes you behind the scenes of a well-thought out practice by Coach Palmer that will develop your players' on-ice production in many facets. His excellent communication skills, clear explanations and consistent message makes this video a must-have for coaches at all levels!

132 minutes. 2019.