Strategy.
Every sport has it.
When Marty Schottenheimer was the head coach of the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs, his motto was simple:
Three yards and a cloud of dust. The coach had the NFL’s top rusher in Christian Okoye, a solid defense that featured Hall of Fame linebacker Derrick Thomas and a talented offensive line. As long as Okoye and the Chiefs offense was grinding out yards, the opponent couldn’t put points on the scoreboard.
Out on the West Coast, former San Diego Chargers coach Don Coryell believed in the “Air Coryell” strategy as Hall of Famer quarterback Dan Fouts would light up the scoreboard and the skies with pass, after pass, after pass to fellow Hall of Famers Charlie Joiner and Kellen Winslow.
Former Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver believed in the long ball – and with greats like Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, Cal Ripken and Eddie Murray, it was easy to sit in the private corner of the dugout and wait for the long ball as he sneaked in a few puffs on a well concealed cigarette.
St. Louis Cardinals manger Tony La Russa is a fan of small ball. Even though he manages the greatest player in the game today in Fort Osage graduate Albert Pujols, La Russa is always looking for a way to advance a runner to pick up a run at a key moment in the game.
Phil Jackson believed in the Michael Factor when he was coaching the Chicago Bulls. It was simple and to the point – give the ball to Michael Jordan, sit back and enjoy the victory.
There are countless strategies in hockey, and each coach and player has his favorite.
In this edition of Hockey 101, we’re going to explore a few of those strategies and let fans know when they can expect them.
• The beginning of the game and each period is crucial, so Missouri Mavericks coach Scott Hillman anticipates a great deal of energy from each of his players.
“The first few minutes can set the pace for the entire game,” Hillman said. “You score first, you have a big psychological lift – especially for a first-year team that has struggled early in the season.”
One of the Central Hockey League’s all-time scoring leaders, Jeff Christian, agrees.
“You want to be aggressive and do your best to get this first goal,” Christian added. “It gives everyone a big boost and puts your opponent back on his heels.”
A good strategy to get momentum is dump and chase. As soon your team gets possession, dump the puck into the opponent’s corner. Try to gain possession with aggressive forechecking after the dump and chase to improve your odds of scoring in the first few minutes.
• Much like football, the last minute of the first and second period are also key moments in the game. A goal scored at this time can be a significant lift for a team and a major setback for the team that allows the goal.
“You don’t want to head into that locker room after you’ve just given up a goal,” Hillman said.
• In soccer, coaches go ballistic when a goal is scored against their team moments after their team puts the ball in the back of the net. Hockey coaches feel much the same way.
“When you have momentum,” Hillman said, “you want to keep it.”
Some coaches believe that after a line scores a goal, it should be replaced by the next line because the line that was in will relax and is likely to give up a goal. The other theory is that the scoring line should stay out if they have not played a full shift because they have momentum and are likely to score again.
• Hillman believes his team must develop a solid power play when it has a man advantage because of a penalty on the opposing team.
“It’s a huge part of the game, and something we have struggled with early this season,” the coach said. “Right now, it’s all a confidence thing and we’re getting closer to where I want to be.”
• A coach can watch his team when it trails late in a game to judge its true character.
“Believe me, our boys will never give up,” Hillman said. “Any team can play well when it is ahead, but the team that comes from behind shows it has character. We have done that this season. I have been disappointed in the outcome of some games, but never in the work ethic.”
The Mavericks are a team that the city and surrounding area can be proud of despite their record. Many expansion teams get off to a slow start – especially when the season opens with a nine-game road trip.
Sometimes it is helpful to slow down the game by icing or clearing the puck more often to get face-offs.
Or maybe it’s best for the goalkeeper to hold more shots for face-offs. Hillman is experimenting with line changes and matchups as his team jells and becomes a cohesive unit.
Experience is a key right now for the Mavericks, and they gain that each time they slip on the skates.
“We’re a work in progress,” Hillman said, “and I guarantee the people in Independence, Blue Springs, Lee’s Summit and the surrounding areas are going to like what they see.”
In Wednesday’s Examiner we will take a look at the equipment used by the Mavericks.
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Strategy.
Every sport has it.
When Marty Schottenheimer was the head coach of the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs, his motto was simple:
Three yards and a cloud of dust. The coach had the NFL’s top rusher in Christian Okoye, a solid defense that featured Hall of Fame linebacker Derrick Thomas and a talented offensive line. As long as Okoye and the Chiefs offense was grinding out yards, the opponent couldn’t put points on the scoreboard.
Out on the West Coast, former San Diego Chargers coach Don Coryell believed in the “Air Coryell” strategy as Hall of Famer quarterback Dan Fouts would light up the scoreboard and the skies with pass, after pass, after pass to fellow Hall of Famers Charlie Joiner and Kellen Winslow.
Former Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver believed in the long ball – and with greats like Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, Cal Ripken and Eddie Murray, it was easy to sit in the private corner of the dugout and wait for the long ball as he sneaked in a few puffs on a well concealed cigarette.
St. Louis Cardinals manger Tony La Russa is a fan of small ball. Even though he manages the greatest player in the game today in Fort Osage graduate Albert Pujols, La Russa is always looking for a way to advance a runner to pick up a run at a key moment in the game.
Phil Jackson believed in the Michael Factor when he was coaching the Chicago Bulls. It was simple and to the point – give the ball to Michael Jordan, sit back and enjoy the victory.
There are countless strategies in hockey, and each coach and player has his favorite.
In this edition of Hockey 101, we’re going to explore a few of those strategies and let fans know when they can expect them.
• The beginning of the game and each period is crucial, so Missouri Mavericks coach Scott Hillman anticipates a great deal of energy from each of his players.
“The first few minutes can set the pace for the entire game,” Hillman said. “You score first, you have a big psychological lift – especially for a first-year team that has struggled early in the season.”
One of the Central Hockey League’s all-time scoring leaders, Jeff Christian, agrees.
“You want to be aggressive and do your best to get this first goal,” Christian added. “It gives everyone a big boost and puts your opponent back on his heels.”
A good strategy to get momentum is dump and chase. As soon your team gets possession, dump the puck into the opponent’s corner. Try to gain possession with aggressive forechecking after the dump and chase to improve your odds of scoring in the first few minutes.
• Much like football, the last minute of the first and second period are also key moments in the game. A goal scored at this time can be a significant lift for a team and a major setback for the team that allows the goal.
“You don’t want to head into that locker room after you’ve just given up a goal,” Hillman said.
• In soccer, coaches go ballistic when a goal is scored against their team moments after their team puts the ball in the back of the net. Hockey coaches feel much the same way.
“When you have momentum,” Hillman said, “you want to keep it.”
Some coaches believe that after a line scores a goal, it should be replaced by the next line because the line that was in will relax and is likely to give up a goal. The other theory is that the scoring line should stay out if they have not played a full shift because they have momentum and are likely to score again.
• Hillman believes his team must develop a solid power play when it has a man advantage because of a penalty on the opposing team.
“It’s a huge part of the game, and something we have struggled with early this season,” the coach said. “Right now, it’s all a confidence thing and we’re getting closer to where I want to be.”
• A coach can watch his team when it trails late in a game to judge its true character.
“Believe me, our boys will never give up,” Hillman said. “Any team can play well when it is ahead, but the team that comes from behind shows it has character. We have done that this season. I have been disappointed in the outcome of some games, but never in the work ethic.”
The Mavericks are a team that the city and surrounding area can be proud of despite their record. Many expansion teams get off to a slow start – especially when the season opens with a nine-game road trip.
Sometimes it is helpful to slow down the game by icing or clearing the puck more often to get face-offs.
Or maybe it’s best for the goalkeeper to hold more shots for face-offs. Hillman is experimenting with line changes and matchups as his team jells and becomes a cohesive unit.
Experience is a key right now for the Mavericks, and they gain that each time they slip on the skates.
“We’re a work in progress,” Hillman said, “and I guarantee the people in Independence, Blue Springs, Lee’s Summit and the surrounding areas are going to like what they see.”
In Wednesday’s Examiner we will take a look at the equipment used by the Mavericks.
