March 29, 2026
This session took place in Region 4, and while it ended up being just one day due to weather, there were still a number of clear themes that came through.
What stood out most to me was how much overlap there was with what we saw in Region 3. Different group, different environment—but many of the same development areas continue to show up.
Before getting into the coaching notes, I do want to address something I’ve heard before: the idea that Region 4 doesn’t have the same level of hockey.
I would push back on that.
There were quite a few players at this site who were very strong, well-trained, and clearly capable of competing at a high level. Many of them have been selected in previous years and will likely continue to move along the pathway. The ability is there.
But like any region, the difference comes down to consistency—what is trained, what is demanded, and what becomes the standard every day.
Defensive Effort Has to Be a Choice
One of the biggest gaps I noticed was on the defensive side of the ball.
The effort and intent to defend weren’t always there. Pressure was inconsistent, and at times it felt like players were reacting rather than choosing to engage defensively.
And that’s really what it comes down to—defense is a mindset before it’s anything else.
You can teach structure, shape, and systems, but if the willingness to apply pressure, to work, and to take pride in defending isn’t there, those systems fall apart quickly.
It’s worth asking: are players choosing to defend, or are they waiting until they have to?
And upon further reflection – I am wondering if we as coaches have neglected to teach defense appropriately. The skillset is not massive, but the decision making and presence are very important. The lack of urgency defensively could be due to a lack of instruction and clearly-laid out expectations.
This is definitely something that all coaches across the country would benefit from focusing on.
Passing and Receiving With Purpose
Another consistent theme was the lack of intention in both passing and receiving.
Too many passes didn’t actually help the next player. Balls were played into pressure, into stick lanes, or without a clear purpose. On the receiving side, players weren’t always preparing early or thinking about what came next.
At a higher level, this becomes a major limiter.
Passing isn’t just execution—it’s decision-making.
Receiving isn’t just control—it’s preparation.
Every touch should be setting something up. Every action should make the next action easier, not harder. This improved a bit across the day, but 3.5 hours is not enough to make sweeping adjustments and see big improvements. I would love to see them all again on weekend 3 to see how much they have all improved.
Speed of Play Starts Before the Ball Arrives
The pace of play was, at times, slower than what I’m used to seeing.
That showed up in a few key ways:
Players were trapping the ball while stationary instead of on the move. They also took extra touches without a clear plan, other than to play keep away while they figured out their next move. Finally, I also noticed some delayed decision-making after receiving the ball. They would scan once they found space while in possession – but rarely in advance of the reception.
This became a major point of emphasis throughout the session.
We challenged players to play faster, think earlier, and commit to their decisions. Their response to this coaching was encouraging.
When pushed, they were able to raise their level and speed of play.
Which tells me this isn’t a capability issue—it’s an expectation and coaching issue.
Players Will Rise to the Standard
This was one of the most important takeaways from the day.
When the demand increased—whether that was speed, effort, or decision-making—the players responded. They showed that they can play faster. They can defend with more intent. They can make better decisions.
But that level didn’t always sustain itself on its own.
And that’s where coaching, and more importantly environment, becomes critical.
If we only see that level in moments of challenge, then we haven’t yet made it the standard.
Team Defense Needs More Than Understanding
Similar to what we saw at the Brown site, team defensive concepts were difficult to translate into actual play.
Players may have understood the ideas when we talked about them, but applying them consistently in the game environment was a different challenge.
This is a good reminder that understanding something isn’t the same as being able to execute it.
That translation takes repetition, clarity, and accountability—especially within game-like constraints.
Playing to Space, Not Just to What You See
Decision-making continues to be an area that needs growth.
In particular, passing to space and recognizing opportunities before they fully develop.
Too often, players are reacting to what is directly in front of them instead of anticipating what’s about to happen.
At higher levels, the game moves too quickly to play that way.
We have to help players shift from reacting to reading—from seeing the game late to seeing it early.
The Foundation Still Matters
For some of the younger or newer players, there’s still work to be done on the fundamentals.
Ball control, comfort on the ball, and repetition of core skills are essential. Without that foundation, it’s very difficult to increase speed of play or make higher-level decisions.
This isn’t a negative—it’s just part of the process of individual and group development.
However, it does reinforce that skill development has to be prioritized consistently.
The Training Environment Question
One thing I kept coming back to throughout the day was this:
How often are these players able to train and compete at a truly high level?
What does their day-to-day environment look like?
Because development doesn’t just happen in moments like this—it’s shaped by what players experience every week in their club and high school environments.
I would be very interested to see what that looks like more consistently across the region.
Learning Requires Discipline
Another challenge was the ability to stay disciplined within the constraints of the game.
At times, players defaulted to autopilot. Even with coaching feedback, adjustments didn’t always stick over longer stretches.
And this is an important piece of development.
Learning through the game requires focus. It requires intention and awareness. It requires players to stay engaged with what they’re trying to improve, even when it’s difficult, and especially when they are playing with people they don’t often train with.
Growth doesn’t happen when we fall back into habits—it happens when we stay present and push through them.
Raising the Standard
There is real ability and strength in Region 4. That’s clear.
But like many environments, the opportunity lies in raising the consistency of the standard.
Not just what players can do at their best—but what they do all the time.
Because when the demand increased this weekend, the players showed exactly what they’re capable of. And it was special to see.
Now the challenge is to make that level the expectation, not the exception.
Want more? Be sure to explore the “Practice with Purpose Reflection Tool” in my coach resources. You might also be interested in my player tools for your team – be sure to browse those as well. See you next week!
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