Throughout a player’s talent journey we expect them to access a varied hockey diet.This hockey diet will provide different learning experiences.
These can be seen on the player experience model as extremes on the left being Leadership Hockey and the right being Stretch Hockey.
LEADERSHIP HOCKEY is an environment that the player excels within.
They will have to take responsibility to lead others in the team. They are playing with and against players that are similar in level and others that are less developed. Challenges are likely to be ones they recognise and have developed a tool box to deal with them. e.g school hockey
STRETCH HOCKEY is an environment that challenges players to perform at a higher level than their current playing ability. The following may be worth considering:
Playing with and against players that are higher performing than them
Having some sessions where the ‘failure rate’ is purposefully higher
Manipulating time, space and speed of sessions to increase the stretch
Providing new problems, where players have to find the solutions
Highlighting areas of potential improvement (and matching this with support)
UNSTRUCTURED PRACTICE
Sitting outside of the formal organised hockey diet is UNSTRUCTURED PRACTICE. This is an opportunity like ‘backyard hockey’. An individual or group of players will get together to ‘play’ or train, with no coach involved. It will be self-directed, with just their own imagination, self analysis and peer-to-peer coaching to help progress. e.g. playing in your garden with your siblings/parents
