Quote:
Originally Posted by Devil Dancer
Early next month I will play in my first league game ever. I've been playing pickup regularly for almost a year and a half, so I'm ready for everything (I think) except line changes. So, my questions:
- How do line changes work for house league teams?
- Who calls for a line change?
- What happens if I run out of gas on a shift before someone calls for a change?
- If someone calls for a change should I get off imediately, or am I OK waiting for a safe opportunity?
- Is there anything else I need to know?
Thanks people.
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There's no such thing as a stupid question, it's only stupid when you don't ask.
So on that note...
Without going into all the mechanics on why you should have three full lines, lets just start by saying this....
For every minute of work, you need two minutes of rest for the muscle to recover! If you don't, lactic acid forms in the thigh muscle and it starts to cramp.
To relieve this pain, the skate stands more up right and the pain goes away. When this happens, the power behind the stride is reduced and the players speed is reduced because he or she can not push to full extension in the stride without hurting.
So when does this pain start? Depending on the condition of the athlete, 8 to 10 seconds of exercise or shift if you are actually skating.
So when it's about 45 seconds into the shift, the player's legs are really hurting. Well, unless he or she is not giving it all he or she's got.
You will know this when the player is coasting all the time instead of skating.
So the rule of thumb is to change them every 45 seconds to a minute...no more.
That time equates to sending the line off the bench, at full force into the attacking zone, to recover or regain control of the puck.
Then having the attacking line back check into the defensive zone for a full break out.
Regroup in the neutral zone for the attack. Start the attack, change defensive pair and put a fresh pair out.
On the attack, get the shot on net or in the goal. Forecheck in the attacking zone to reagin control. Back ckeck into the defensive zone for a full break out. Regroup in the neutral zone, dump the puck into the attacking zone, change forward line.
This will take a total of about 45 seconds to do. Lets Recap!
1. Regain control.
2. Back check.
3. Break out
4. Regroup for the attack.
5. Attack - Change defense.
6. Regain control.
7. Back check.
8. Break out.
9. Regroup for the attack
10. Dump and Change the forward line.
A good drill to teach your players to change on the fly...
Have then all on the bench. On the whistle, have the attacking line forecheck in the attacking zone. Have your assistant coach take the puck and ice it. Then have them go down and get it. Break out and regroup, change the defense.
Attack in the attacking zone, take a shot. Have assistant coach ice the puck. Forward line goes back and gets puck for breakout. Regroup in the neutral zone and automatically dump and change. Next line out.
Run this drill for about 10 minutes or untill they get the hand of it. This will help organize your change and you will not have to rattle the door or whistle call your players to change.
Hope this helps
Head coach
