1.1 How to Use the Playbook
What Are Tactical Skills?
This playbook is an inventory of hockey tactical skills. Tactical skills (tactics) combine technical skills (skating, puck control, passing, shooting) and decision-making (what to do, when to do it) to help you create an advantage over your opponents in a game.
Playbook Organization
Tactics are first organized into sections based on whether they are offensive or defensive.
Tactics are then categorized into modules based on the game role they apply to - the on-puck player, the off-puck (support) players or to the team strategies & systems.
Within each module are lessons containing breakdowns of tactical skills. These are the primary tactical skills available to the player(s) in that specific game role.
Also within each module are pillars. Pillars are the skills & habits that serve as the foundation for all other tactical skills inside that role. Without having these pillars in place first, any tactics you choose to use after can fall apart.