Jeff's Corner

Newletters/Articles/Videos from Jeff Serowik

Gap control is the focal part of the Pro Ambitions Hockey Inc. Battle and Defense camp curriculum. It is one of the hardest skills to master in the game. Gap control is a skill that comes with practice and confidence and watching and studying the game of hockey. After a week of our camp you will greatly improve your gap control - guaranteed to make you a better player instantly.

Youth players should become aware as early as possible the importance of gap control. Take baby steps in your youth hockey games and practices on controlling the gap and you will be so far ahead of the game as you grow in the sport. Please watch NHL and college games with your parents and focus on how the players are handling gap control. Coaches don’t work on gap control because it takes time, repetition and you have to be allowed to make mistakes to learn the mastery.

WHAT IS THE GAP
The amount of space between you and your opponent.

WHAT IS GAP CONTROL
Taking away time and space from your opponent. Gap is getting in your opponents face in all areas of the ice.

DEFENSEMAN ON GAP CONTROL
After the break out pass, defensemen need to skate up as fast as you can up the ice-even try beating your forwards up the ice. Dominate that gap right out of the gate. This gives the D a chance to contribute offensively or if there is a turn over you can get right in your opponents grill. Make sure you have your stick on the ice in front of you and you poke check front to back, keep forwards outside the dots (make them go wide)

This type of play is a biggie at the Defense camp. I like to teach the Defensemen about “ BUTTS AND MUGS” in the Defensive Zone. If your opponent has his or her BUTT to you –attack, he is not looking and catch him off guard, get right in close on him and CLOSE THE GAP. If your opponent has his or her MUG in your face that means he or she is looking right at you. Let’s say you are in front of the net guarding the HOUSE or your Goalie, and a forward (your opponent) is coming out of the corner. Take away his time and space by driving him towards the boards. It’s all about playing angles. Angle him/her away from your net with your body and your stick. So many times I will see youth players swing their stick in front to the side and completely take themselves out of the play because your off balance. Don’t do that. Get low, get cautious, use your stick to steer him or her towards the boards. If you go head on right at the opponent he or she may be able to go around you. Keep your shoulders square, angle the opponent where you want him to go, once again get low and cautious and poke check your stick back and forth. Play defense with an edge. I was always scared to get beat one on one thus improved because it was so critical and I gave everything I had every time I had a 1 on 1 battle in practice, game, on the pond, garage wherever!!!

FORWARDS CLOSING IN ON THE GAP
Put pressure on your opposing defensemen. Move your feet in the neutral zone as fast as you can. I hate when I see kids slowing down in the neutral zone, put on the gas here and take away time and space. Come hard here and take away the defensemen’s time and space by not letting them make a D to D pass. Force the play down the boards and go for the turnover. Speed, angles and positioning is the key to disturbing the defensemen from making an effective play. Finish all your checks and go hard right at the Defensemen. Offensive zone same thing, forecheck with vengeance, using angles, using your stick to steer your opponent and keep your feet moving. Older players finish your checks at all times. If I know I am going to get hit every time I touch the puck as a defenseman I will rush the play. Nobody likes constant pressure.

CONFIDENCE GROWTH IS THE KEY TO YOUTH HOCKEY GAP CONTROL, BABY STEPS
This is the key. Tight gaps in youth hockey are harder to come by but be aware of that and change that statistic. Players are worried about getting beat and getting yelled at by coaches and parents. I say go for it all the time in practice and at games that are not extremely tight. In those cases you have to use your head and play things aggressively safe. Angles, stick positioning and skating ability are all keys to great gap control.

A LITTLE ADVICE ON STICK LENGTH FOR FORWARDS AND DEFENSEMAN
Defensemen go longer-I suggest 2-4 inches longer than you currently have. Forwards stay with what you have. When I made the Penguins, my coach Kevin Constantine had me go 6 inches longer than I was accustomed to playing with. It helps for poke checking and getting to on the opponents puck.

PLAY THE BODY NOT THE STICK
Watch your opponents chest to see where he or she is going. I like to tell the kids to look for the guys heart beating. You never have to look down at the puck your stick is taking care of that task. If you can’t hit a guy at least get BIG and make him go through you. Impede any forward movement they might have.

FORWARDS PLAYING THE GAP - WATCH ZACH PARISE IN THE OLYMPICS
Take the defenseman’s time and space away and force him or her to make a mistake. You have the puck you are in the driver’s seat. Zach is so quick and never stops skating thus putting so much pressure on the opposing defense thus getting turn over’s and creating scoring chances. Watch Brooks Orpik’s gap control on a 1 on 1 and how he gives no time and space to the forwards he is playing against.

GAP CONTROL- LEARN IT, LIVE IT, KNOW IT.
YOU CAN'T PLAY THE NEXT LEVEL WITHOUT THIS MASTERED.
COME FIND OUT HOW!!!