Influence, Angle, Attack!

Influence: (noun). A power affecting a person, thing, or course of events.

What if you knew what your opponent was going to do before they did?

Players are often taught to 'read and react' to the play in an effort to dictate on the ice.

What about influencing the play to gain the upper hand on your opponent?

We use (or attempt to use) the power of influence every day.


When you describe how careful you'll be with the car if you're allowed to take it out on the weekend? That's Influence.

When you tell your folks that you'll do better on the next test and that there were distractions beyond your control before handing them the paper to sign? Influence.

When you list the top ten reasons why you should have an iPhone, number one being that you'll use it only for good, not evil?

Influence.

You're taking control of events so you can impact the outcome, usually in your favor.

Why not apply influence to your play on the ice?

When you influence you're in control, guiding the play or situation. When you react, someone else is in control, and you're basing your next move on how they've influenced you.

Note well: A big part of influencing the play in hockey is the use of proper angle and taking time and space away from the other player.

Here's a strategy that I've had success with. It's called I. A. A. (Influence, Angle, Attack) and it's a strategy you can use anywhere on the ice.


Influence: Instead of waiting for the other player to make a play, and then reacting, steer the opposing player to a general area of the ice that gives you an advantage. A good example of this is a D-man 'cheating' a step or two to the middle on a 1-on-1, giving the forward a feeling of being able to take the outside lane.

Angle: Once you've influenced the player to a certain area on the ice, you can then take the proper angle to make sure your opponent has nowhere to go and then begin to quickly take away their space (and time).

Attack: Close the gap on your angle until you body check, battle, and win the puck. For players in non-checking hockey it's taking their space or lane away. For those in checking hockey it's about a good old fashioned pasting, before you, or a teammate pick, up the puck.

5-Minute Major:

When you're sitting back, reading and reacting to the play all the time, the other team has the upper hand. Sometimes you have to, it can be the nature of the game at times. If you work on Influencing the play, you'll have the upper hand more often and you'll react less.

Here's a cool video about proper use of angles.

Note how Keith Acton (Former Assistant Coach-Toronto Maple Leafs and long-time NHLer) describes the importance of angling, 'taking the player where HE wants him to go' (Influence).

It's a movie....and you're the star.

Have you ever seen something happen in your mind before it happens for real?

As kids, many hockey players have imagined themselves scoring the winning OT goal in game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals.

The power of our mind is incredible and largely under-developed.

Last week's topic concerned positive self-talk and what you put into your mind concerning your ability and self-image. This week we look at visualization as a powerful tool to help in your hockey success.

NOTE WELL: It works.

With positive self-talk you lay the belief system that allows you to then visualize yourself being great, to see yourself in the moment, in the act of succeeding.

Scoring the OT goal
Making a big, game-changing hit.
Making a great save.
Making the right coaching decision.
Inspiring your players or teammates.


Here are some tips on how you can get good at visualization.

5-Minute Power-Play:

Before each game, find a quiet area and close our eyes. Visualize yourself succeeding, making the right play. It could be as simple as an outlet pass, or some other basic play that happens a bunch of times throughout the game, or a single important, game-changing play. It's up to you.

Keep your eyes closed until you see the action play like a movie in your head. Don't stop until you're able to focus enough to see it clearly, over and over. Remember, it's a movie and you're the star.

Don't just think the outcome, feel the outcome. Don't just see yourself carrying the trophy or being mobbed by teammates after scoring the game winning goal, connect with the emotion that goes with it (like that it feels incredible!)


2-Minute Power-Play:

Ensure that you view the movie through your own eyes, not as a third party. This makes the visualization more powerful and easier to feel what it will be like to accomplish your goals.

Add music to help bring the emotion into the mix.

2-Minute Minor:

Distractions will make it much tougher to focus . Do your best to find a quiet place to visualize your success. Being around teammates who might try and distract you won't help you develop your visualization skills. This can make visualizing right before the game, on your way to the rink, or even at home, some of the best times to practice.


Penalty-Kill:

Like any skill visualization takes practice. Some people may look at you kinda funny too! Make an effort to incorporate this into anything and everything you do, then watch the results. It will only take one time for you to see your movie played out to it's successful result on the ice , for real, to make you a believer.