PATTERN & CREATIVE PLAYERS

After years of working with many different types of characters and personalities I discovered you could probably place athletes into two distinct groups for learning the sport of hockey, “Pattern Players” and “Creative Players”.

Let me explain. While you’re at the drill board, on ice, explaining and drawing out a drill the “Pattern Players” look on feeling very intimidated. They don’t have any idea what you’re doing drawing all those lines and your explanation is so quick. Then you dismiss everyone to line up and actually DO the drill you just scribbled on the board. What you don’t know is they lost you just after you started speaking. The “Pattern Players” will almost always do whatever is necessary to be the last ones in line for every drill. They have a specific way of learning and understanding. They need to understand the “PATTERN” prior to executing the task. So, what they will do is stand at the back of the line, still intimidated, watching their teammates go through the drill, player after player, until it’s their turn. This usually works, however, if the players in front of them are also “Pattern Players” then who knows how they will execute the drill? This can then cause even more confusion for the player.

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The Coaches reaction to the “Pattern Player” is usually: “What are you doing?” “Didn’t you pay attention at the drill board?” “Go do a lap and listen next time!” “What is the matter with that kid?” “What are you thinking?!?!” etc., etc. This type of reaction from the player’s Coach or Assistant Coach adds even more distress and intimidation!!!

Now the “Creative Players” are watching every stroke of the marker on the drill board. They follow virtually every move you make and every statement of explanation. Not only are they listening but they are processing this information and adding to it, thinking they can improve on it or try to add various other things to the drill. Their execution of the drill can be just as disrupting as the “Pattern Player” who doesn’t get it. The “Creative Players” are usually the first in line to do the drills, almost every time. They will race to be first.

At first most would conclude that the “Pattern Players” are not as intelligent as the “Creative Players”. This is NOT TRUE. They simply have a different way of learning. Once, as Coaches, we understand that, we can impart the information and knowledge to both groups of players.

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Let’s break it down here so you can get a real grasp of the teaching techniques needed. You need to know that the Pattern Player gets lost with all those lines on the board and your quick conversation. They are staring at you but don’t get it. Does that mean that you stop using the drill board??? No Way! The drill board will be a tool that you will use for the Pattern Players too and if you use it properly they will learn not to be intimidated by it. For you, the Coach, learning this process is huge in the teaching curve. So let’s say you are teaching your team a simple break out play using both forwards and defensemen. You need to see yourself at the drill board with all the players gathered around you watching, down on their knees. You and the board are the players’ focal point. You begin speaking and drawing your explanation of a drill, like a “Static Breakout”.

“Ok, we’re going to do a simple static breakout. I would like a line of forwards at the far blue line and two defensemen at the centre red line at each side of the circle facing the forwards. Pucks will be at the boards at centre ice. The other forwards need to be at the blue line standing as close as they can to the boards ready to line up next. The extra defensemen need to line up against the boards at the centre red line ready to start the next group. The two goalies can each be in a goal and take three break outs and or shots and then switch ends.”

You continue...

The Coach will start the drill by blowing his whistle and shooting a puck into the defensive end. The Coach will dump the puck into either corner, rim it or shoot on net. If the puck is rimmed the goalie must set up the puck. If there is a shot on net the goalie needs to control the shot and then set up the puck for the defensemen.

So, for the sake of explanation, the puck is dumped into the left corner. Remember now, you will be drawing forwards and defence lining up, where the pucks are, where the coach is, where the goalies are, where the extra players are, where the puck is dumped in as well as the rest of your explanation........By this time you have lost the "Pattern Player". You carry on the finish the drill,

OK, DOES EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND THAT! OK, EVERYONE GET IN LINE AND LET’S DO THIS!!!

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Now Remember! That is just a simple static break out with not many variations. Imagine adding a regroup or a regroup with a dump in the opposite end, adding two more D to then break out and go back 5 on 2 or, or, or, or!!

Wow!! The Pattern Players are in shock. Why? Because they want to learn and they want to please the coach. They are lost. What happens if the first two players are pattern players in the drill??? It is of the utmost importance that you understand as coach that PATTERN PLAYERS are just as intelligent as CREATIVE PLAYERS. They just need different instruction and a different teaching format.

In fact, once you teach a Pattern Player, his consistency is much higher than that of a Creative Player. The Creative Player is always trying out new things and changing things. The Pattern Player does exactly what you ask. Both players are vital to the success of the team.

THE SOLUTION

So, what do you do as a Coach? When you explain a drill with a lot of information and lines and dots, as I say, the Creative Players are ready to go do it! For the Pattern Players you need to change your Coaching - learning teaching system. I have 3 suggestions:

1. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE DIFFERENT COLOUR MARKERS. This works for both groups in learning. For example: the D-Men are BLUE. The Left Winger is GREEN. The Centre is RED. The Right Winger is BLACK. Now as you draw your drill out all players are relating to who they are as individuals in your specific drill. The Left Winger will seriously focus on the GREEN pattern line that he is to skate, where he goes, when he goes and where he ends up. All the players will get used to the colour system which simplifies drill board instruction.
2. AFTER EXPLAINING THE ENTIRE DRILL, ERASE THE BOARD AND DRAW INDIVIDUAL PLAYER PATTERNS. When you quickly review what each player does, one at a time, ask players, what do they do? Where do they go? When should they accelerate? Etc, etc. This way you are hearing the players paraphrase what to do, when to do it and most importantly WHY!!! This way you are including both types of players. Normally in a practise you will only have Creative players answering the questions. Ask specific players. Have them come up to the board and point to where they go, or give them the marker and let them finish drawing the pattern, etc.
3. USE ASSISTANT COACHES TO RUN THE DRILL FOR THE PLAYERS TO SEE BEFORE THEY DO IT. While the demonstration is taking place; EXPLAIN it to the players. You can take the Left Wingers and say, “Watch Coach Joe”. The Right Wingers watch Coach Bill. Centre men watch Coach Jim. Defensemen watch Coach John and Coach Ray. This way each player can relate to and SEE the pattern they need to skate. Then you need to ensure that they understand WHEN they do it in a game and most importantly WHY?

The Pattern Player needs a different break down teaching method to GET IT. This type of teaching doesn’t affect the learning of the Creative Player at all. The difference is that your entire team will understand what is going on instead of just part of the team. It will make a big difference in your team but most importantly in the KIDS learning. The fear and intimidation will turn into excitement and fun. The more you learn and understand the better you are at the game. There will be no more fear of the Coach or of going to practises. You will have a Team of Players that can’t wait to get to the rink.

It shouldn’t matter whether you are a “pattern player” or a “creative player”. If you have a coach that understands the method of conveying his thoughts, ideas, drills, systems, techniques to all players everyone will succeed and develop.

How do I identify “Pattern” & “Creative” players??

You don’t really need to immediately assess the different players like its some type of emergency. You can identify the players from the beginning and throughout the season by:

• Watching players execute the drills
• Talking with the players’ one on one
• Having players paraphrase information back to you
• Being attentive to who answers questions at the drill board and who doesn’t
• Being attentive to drill line ups and where players position themselves in the line
• Responses during your practices at the drill board or just during practices

Again, don’t rush it. You’ll find out who is who very quickly. Once you do identify the players it is so very important to remember that ALL players can learn. They are all kids. They just need to be taught so they can understand. So many times coaches TAG the “Pattern” players as NOT VERY SMART PLAYERS. This couldn’t be more incorrect. When the creative player listens and learns a drill they will add to it, take things out, shorten it, quite frequently attempt to make it easier, etc. When a “Pattern” player learns a drill they will do it just like they learned it. They won’t add to it or take away from it. They will just do it over and over again the same way. You will find the “Pattern” player will actually execute the drill BETTER and more CONSISTANTLY than the “Creative” player will. An example of how important both are to your team is a "Creative Player” like WAYNE GRETZKY and how he fit with a "Pattern Player" like JARI KURRI.

Both made each other work extremely well. You can see how each player is unique and different in your line up. You can now position the two types of players appropriately in their lines. For example a PATTERN LEFT WINGER with a CREATIVE CENTER..... Now you’re coaching.

GOOD LUCK!