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Managing Lines

Before the game, all coaches have to decide whether they are going to match lines and defensive pairs or play whomever they want and let the other team worry about deciding to match. Coaches have different philosophies on matching, with some not wanting to match at all while others want a hard match. The advantages of matching are that you get to put your forwards or defense against players on the other team whom you know they will have success against. For example, it will be difficult for the other team’s top offensive players to generate any type of attack if you always have your top defensive players on the ice. Or you may choose to play your top offensive unit head to head against the other team’s top unit, thinking that this will challenge your group to play two-way hockey as well as keep them away from the checking unit. Many matching variations can take place in a game, with the most common being matching up your defensemen against the line they will have the most success against. It is much easier to change one or two defensemen during the play to get your match than it is to change a forward line.

The disadvantage of matching is that it disrupts the flow from your bench. Players are constantly changing quickly to maintain the matchups, and there is no rhythm from the bench as when the lines go out 1-2-3. Sometimes it results in a penalty for too many men on the ice because of the constant changing on the fly. With strict matching teams, the checking line will often play a bigger role and be on the ice more than the offensive units. This is another reason why some coaches don’t like a hard match.

Make timely decisions about adjusting your lineup. This is the art of coaching, where you trust your instincts and switch line combinations, adjust defensive pairs, or pull the goaltender when you see these players struggling or the team not playing well. Sometimes the best decision is not making a change and letting the players work their way through it. For most coaches, the ability to make the right change comes with experience and also being able to get a read on your players early in the game. You also have to know the personalities of your players. Challenge your athletes, and allow them time to respond before making a change.

Line Changes

Unlike other sports, in the game of hockey, players change on the fly roughly every 40 seconds. It is the coach’s job to decide what line is up and the players’ job to be ready, but there is a lot more to this coordinated effort.

Hockey games have an ebb and flow woven within their often back and forth movement. One of the undercurrents of any game is developed by the way a team changes its players and shares its ice time. Momentum is the cornerstone of most success, and therefore momentum must be developed and sustained. Much of hockey’s momentum comes through effective line changes. Some coaches like to turnover all 4 lines as much as possible and keep tempo from the bench and try to get a contribution from everyone. Others like to flavor their games with much more ice-time for their offensively gifted players and as a result play them a lot more than the other players.

How coaches like to change players and match certain lines is often more of an art than a science. Certain coaches like to match a defensive line against the opponent’s offensive line, but the by-product of this course of action is often less ice time for their own offensive players. Some coaches like to turn over all four lines as much as possible, and others like to flavor their games with much more ice time for their offensively gifted players.

Whatever their personal preference, most coaches agree on a number of principles that set at least the ground rules for successful line changes and the momentum they can generate. Let’s look at the fundamentals of line changes in the game of hockey.

Make changes while attacking the opponent rather than on the retreat or on the backcheck. Making sure the puck is either in the offensive zone or moving into the offensive zone ensures there won’t be any odd man rushes against you due to a line change. Five players changing on the fly is obviously executed best when the puck is deep in the opponent’s zone (figure 12.1). Very seldom does a five-player change happen at one time, and if the whole line is to be changed, often the far-side defenseman will stay on the ice to guard the long three-quarter-ice pass that may spring a breakaway.

Changing on the fly (as the play continues) must happen strategically and geographically. As a shift nears its end, players closest to the bench will begin the change-on-the-fly process one at a time (figure 12.2). At the younger ages, once one player changes the other players think they also must change, even if they are on the backcheck or pursuing the puck carrier. Logic and strategy play a huge part in when players change. The more dangerous the situation with regard to the opposition generating a scoring chance, the less likely there will be an opportunity to change. For a simple example if players read that there is a high percentage chance that the puck in the neutral zone might get turned over then they should not look to change. Sometimes it means waiting a few more seconds but if the puck does get turned over during a change it will definitely result in a good scoring chance for the other team.

Players on the bench must stay alert at all times. On-the-fly changes are dynamic and often erratic. Once the coach has signaled which line is up next, it is then up to the players to understand completely whom they are changing with. On many NHL benches, each player calls out the name of the person he is replacing. Encourage your players to communicate (“I’ve got Johnny” or “Remember Linda is playing center now”). As players rush to make the

exchange,have one group go out the gate and another over the boards if possible.

Players on the bench must be aware of on-ice happenings as they are prepping to change. Often players get so fixated on the person they are going to replace that they do not have a full sense of what is happening on the ice. It is not uncommon for a player to jump on the ice and step right into a puck near the bench before the other player is completely off the ice. Obviously, this results in too many men on the ice and becomes another penalty to kill if caught by an alert official. By being aware of what is happening on the ice, players will be able to react quickly offensively or defensively. Awareness for the player coming on the ice also deals with knowing what your responsibilities are as soon as you get off the bench - are you going on the offense or reacting defensively?

Momentum can be increased by the fluidity of the player changes. Teams get into a player-changing rhythm, and when all cylinders are firing, this rhythm will create real momentum and be an advantage. Players are allowed 10 feet to make their change at the bench so fluidity refers to executing the change smoothly in this space, at the right time (when players are not too fatigued), and in the right situation. Correct and successful changes save time and energy and when executed perfectly can catch the opponent with tired players on the ice. Can you practice this? Sure you can. Simply set up a drill where players break out and take a shot on goal. Then the line regroups with a second puck, dumps it into the corner, and changes. The new line coming on the ice goes through the same sequence.

Timing of changes is critical. Timing is everything in sport. The timing of how long players stay on the ice and at what point of the shift players change or don’t change tells experts a ton about that team’s character and identity. Often star players struggling to score goals will cheat in this area. They stay longer than normal and because of this upset the emotional egg carton at times. If the left winger stays on the ice after the center and right winger have changed, this can throw off the synergy of certain line combinations and also anger the next left winger.

For a coach, distributing ice time is much like being the conductor of an orchestra. The goal is to weave each player’s talents and strengths into one large sound or force that becomes beautiful and unbeatable.