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April 3rd
by Jeff Lynt
Great hockey teams understand the requirement of quick and effective transition from offense to defense and vice versa. For most teams, this takes around three seconds, but the advantage of the transition lasts until the defending team regains control of the puck. It is during these transitions where many goals are scored, and it is essential for teams to have a well-planned strategy to make the most out of these situations.
In this article, we will discuss the importance of transitions in hockey and tactical puck control and the key factors that determine the success of a team's transition and puck control play.
Mastering transition play and tactical puck control requires practice, dedication, and a thorough understanding of the game's fundamental principles.
Coaches must work with their players to develop these skills and strategies, making sure that they understand the importance of each factor in transition play and the impact it can have on the game's outcome.
Transition Play
A team's success in transition play also depends on their ability to communicate effectively on the ice. Players must be aware of their positions and roles during transition play, and they must communicate with their teammates to ensure that everyone is on the same page.
Generally speaking, All goals scored within 5 seconds after the transition are considered transition goals, and all goals scored more than 10 seconds after the turnover are considered to be scored on a controlled attack.
While this subjective norm is useful, it is not enough to clarify what is within the period of transition and where the border between transition and a controlled attack lies. Thus, it is important to dive deeper into the concept of transition and understand its significance in the game of hockey.
In order to gain a deeper understanding of the importance of transition play in hockey, an analysis was conducted on the goals scored during a past World Championship.
All goals were divided into seven different categories based on the time interval between the transition and the goal, as well as special situations.
Based on this analysis, it was found that 54% of all goals were scored on transition, with an additional 6% of goals scored shorthanded, bringing the total percentage of goals scored on transition to 60%.
27% Goals scored within 5 seconds after the transition
27% Goals scored between 5 and 10 seconds after the transition
3% Goals scored between 10 and 15 seconds after the transition
4% Goals scored after more than 15 seconds after the transition
10% Goals scored after winning the puck on a face off
23% Goals scored on a power play
6% Goals scored shorthanded
The data presented above provides valuable insights into the nature of goals scored during gameplay.
Of particular interest are the first two categories, which account for 54% of all goals scored. These categories include goals scored within 5 seconds after the transition and goals scored between 5 and 10 seconds after the transition.
The fact that more than half of all goals are scored during these transitional periods highlights the importance of mastering transition play in hockey.
In addition, 6% of goals were scored shorthanded during the transition, indicating that a well-executed transition can even lead to success in disadvantageous situations.
Overall, this data underscores the need for teams to focus on improving their transition play and the potential benefits it can bring.
Furthermore, it was found that almost three times as many goals were scored on transition than on the power play.
Considering equal strength play after the initial face-off, further analysis found that 88% of all equal strength goals are transition goals. (when removing the powerplay goals from the equation)
These findings objectively clarify the importance of transition play in today's hockey and highlight the need for teams to focus on developing their transition skills.
Location, location, location
If transition is the most important offensive aspect in today's hockey, then being able to execute transitions effectively in all three zones is crucial for success.
Additionally, it is tactically wise to force the opponent to turn over the puck in areas where transitions are more likely to lead to success.
The success of transition play in hockey largely depends on where the transition starts on the rink. However, the likelihood of an offensive advantage from every area on the rink shows results that are surprising.
The same study of World Championship games found that nearly half (49%) of all successful goal-scoring transitions start with defensive zone breakouts, with an 35% of those originating from the corners.
This emphasizes the importance of a team's ability to effectively transition from their own end and quickly move the puck up the ice towards the opponent's net.
A well-executed breakout can give a team a significant advantage, allowing them to quickly transition to an offensive attack and catch the opponent off guard.
In order to achieve success in this area, teams must have a strong understanding of defensive zone coverage and be able to quickly move the puck up the ice using efficient passing and skating.
In addition to defensive zone breakouts, Neutral Zone turnovers have also been identified as a key starting point for successful goal-scoring transitions, accounting for 30% of all successful transitions.
This highlights the importance of a team's ability to force turnovers in the neutral zone and quickly transition to an offensive attack.
By disrupting the opponent's game plan in the neutral zone, teams can take advantage of the opportunity to transition quickly and effectively towards the opponent's net.
This requires a strong forechecking strategy and quick decision-making by players, as the window of opportunity for a successful transition is often very small.
Furthermore, the data analysis has revealed that a significant number of successful transitions originate from the offensive zone forecheck, with 29% of all successful transitions starting in this area.
Interestingly, only 13% of that number is from the corners, suggesting that a successful forecheck strategy can come from anywhere in the offensive zone.
Teams must be able to effectively forecheck and pressure the opponent in their offensive zone to force turnovers and take advantage of the transition opportunity. This requires a strong understanding of offensive zone coverage and the ability to quickly move the puck towards the net once a turnover is forced.
To reiterate, the most effective transitions are found to take place in the team's own end or the neutral zone. It is found that the best chances to create a scoring opportunity were generated from transitions in the defensive zone.
This means that the purpose of defensive zone coverage should be to launch an attack.
By forcing the opponent to turn over the puck in the defensive zone, a team can take advantage of the opportunity to transition quickly and effectively towards the opponent's net.
Therefore, teams must focus on developing their transition play in the defensive zone and utilize it to create scoring opportunities.
Overall, this data analysis underscores the importance of a team's ability to effectively transition the puck up the ice towards the opponent's net in order to achieve success in hockey.
Teams must focus on mastering their defensive zone breakouts, neutral zone turnovers, and offensive zone forechecks in order to take advantage of the opportunity to transition quickly and effectively.
By focusing on these areas, teams can improve their transition play and increase their chances of success in the game of hockey.
The Five Fundamental Factors for Success on the Transition
Credit for identifying these 'Five Fundamental Factors' goes to Corby G. Anderson, Ph.D in his Master Coach Thesis.
Transition play is a crucial aspect of hockey that can determine the outcome of a game.
A well-planned strategy that focuses on the five fundamental factors of time, the first play, the pick, the goaltender, and the positions of the players can significantly improve a team's transition play.
These five necessities are decisive for how effective your transition play will be.
Time : The Three Seconds Rule
The first and most crucial factor in transition play is time. Statistics have shown that 88% of all goals scored in hockey occur within 10 seconds after a turnover has taken place.
However, the actual time interval of a transition only lasts for about three seconds. This means that a team has a limited window of time to regroup from offense to defense and vice versa.
During this three-second time frame, a top-level team needs to make quick decisions and take effective action to surprise their opponents.
The key to a successful transition play is to attack when the opponents are still in their offensive positions. Therefore, a team has only three seconds to make a decision and take action that will determine the success of the whole attack.
This "Three Seconds Rule" emphasizes the importance of playing right in the first three seconds of every transition.
If a team can master this rule, they will play right in the whole game, giving them a significant advantage over their opponents.
The First Play
The second important factor in transition play is the first play. The first play is critical as it determines the direction of the attack and the level of surprise for the opponents.
The puck's movement during the first play is vital in maintaining the advantage from the turnover all the way to the net.
An analysis showed that the direction of the first play is also key and that moving the puck backward after a turnover reduces the chances of scoring or getting a good scoring chance to less than two percent.
In contrast, moving the puck forwards or sideways increases the chances of scoring by almost ten times.
The Pick
The third fundamental factor is the pick.
At the moment of the turnover, it is essential to keep the balance between offense and defense.
A team should not attack the whole ice just because they have the puck. Instead, they should finish their defensive duties carefully and pick, pin, or screen the opponents.
This will delay the back checkers and give the puck carrier more time to make the determining first play.
By holding back two back checkers, a team can give their forwards more space to maneuver, which is why it is offensively better to play three on three than five on five.
Additionally, if there is a new turnover, the team will already have two of their opponents covered.
The Goaltender
The fourth fundamental factor is the goaltender. A team's goaltender gives them a one-man advantage in their end, making them a significant help for a good transition.
The goaltender also gets the most opportunities to make the first play, as they stop around 30 shots every game.
Even though it might be difficult to make a great pass on most shots, the passes the goalie does make are often very surprising for the opponents, which is precisely what a team wants.
The Position of the Players
The fifth fundamental factor is the positions of the players. As the game shifts back and forth from defense to offense and vice versa, there is no time for significant changes in positions.
Therefore, it is crucial to have each player's offensive and defensive positions as identical as possible. This guarantees an ultimate quick transition to either start an attack or stop the opponent.
Besides making it possible to make the first play in the right direction, it is preferable if the positions could force the turnover to take place in a high percentage advantage zone while still being organized to take advantage of any turnover in any zone.
By considering and mastering these five fundamental factors, a team can significantly improve their transition play and increase their chances of scoring goals.
Tactical Puck Control
Once making the Transition it is crucial to have a well-planned strategy for controlling the puck and making the most out of every possession.
Tactical Puck Control is a strategy that focuses on controlling the puck and making the most out of every possession.
It is based on the facts and statistics of the game, and it emphasizes developing one-touch passes and shots, as over 40% of the plays in the offensive zone are made with one touch.
Since the average time a team can keep puck possession is only 4.7 seconds, and the average time for a team to regroup from defense to offense (and vice versa) is three seconds, it would be counterproductive for the whole team to react on every turnover.
Therefore, a Tactical Puck Control strategy is crucial for a team to stay ahead of the competition.
The strategy's goal is to make quick and effective transitions, which increase a team's chances of scoring goals.
It is not a strategy that relies on instincts alone, but rather on the principles of the game. It is naive to believe that every time a team has the puck, they should all attack, and every time the opponent has the puck, they should all defend.
Tactical Puck Control requires players to be well-positioned, communicate effectively, and make quick decisions based on the game's flow.
The benefits of Tactical Puck Control are numerous.
It allows a team to maintain possession of the puck longer, create more scoring chances, and reduce the risk of turnovers.
By making quick and accurate passes, a team can keep the opposing team on its toes, making it harder for them to anticipate the next move.
To implement Tactical Puck Control, a team must focus on developing the following skills:
One-touch passing: This skill involves quickly moving the puck to a teammate with a single pass. By doing so, the team can create scoring chances faster and keep the opposing team's defense off balance.
Puck support: Puck support means having teammates close by to support the player with the puck. This makes it easier to make quick passes and reduces the risk of turnovers.
Quick decision-making: In Tactical Puck Control, players must make quick decisions based on the game's flow. They must be aware of their teammates' positions and adjust their strategy accordingly.
Communication: Communication is essential in Tactical Puck Control. Players must communicate effectively on the ice, letting their teammates know where they are and where the puck is going.
Shooting: Shooting the puck is a crucial skill in hockey, and Tactical Puck Control emphasizes taking shots when they present themselves. A quick, accurate shot can catch the opposing team's goalie off guard and result in a goal. Also, its about taking good shots that don't lead to a quick turnover by taking poor angle shots for example.
Overall, Tactical Puck Control is a strategy that emphasizes quick and effective transitions, one-touch passing, and accurate shooting.
By focusing on these skills and principles, a team can increase its chances of scoring goals, maintaining possession of the puck, and staying ahead of the competition.
Conclusion
Mastering transition play and tactical puck control is essential for any team that wants to be successful in hockey.
By developing a strategy that focuses on the five fundamental factors of time, the first play, the pick, the goaltender, and the positions of the players, and adopting a Tactical Puck Control strategy based on the facts and statistics of the game, teams can significantly improve their transition play and increase their chances of scoring goals.
In addition, video analysis can be a useful tool for coaches and players to study and improve their transition play. By analyzing game footage, they can identify areas for improvement and adjust their strategy accordingly. This will enable them to make better decisions and take effective action during transition play.
In conclusion, hockey is a game of strategy, skill, and speed, and mastering transition play is critical for success.
By understanding the key factors that determine the success of transition play, adopting a Tactical Puck Control strategy, and working together as a team, players can make quick and effective transitions, increase their chances of scoring goals, and come out on top in every game they play.
*data source: USA HOCKEY COACHING EDUCATION PROGRAM MASTERS LEVEL THESIS By Corby G. Anderson, Ph.D.
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