Why use an algorithm?
Late cancellations mean revisiting group assignments. A group suggestion gives you something to review, but today’s challenge and what you see on the ice determine how you use it.
By LineupDesigner
Based on the day-to-day coaching of Mikael Persson, creator of LineupDesigner and coach of SKÖVDE HC 2017.
About the creatorThe situation
The player list changes just before practice and you need to organise the groups. At the same time, a few players drive everything while others rarely get a chance to act. Filling every spot does not solve both problems.
Try this next session
Start with a purpose every player understands: what are we working on today, and why? Give each player a meaningful challenge, such as receiving the puck under pressure, offering a passing option or having the courage to make their own decision. Review the proposed groups against that purpose. Adjust space, time and opposition so everyone needs to act and gets a real chance to do so. Lock combinations you want to keep and change the rest.
Hypothetical example
Hypothetical example: you planned for 23 skaters, but two cancel and one arrives late, so 20 start on the ice. Try four groups of five on separate marked areas, playing 2v2 with one puck. The fifth player rotates in every 40 seconds, and you alternate who receives the first puck at each restart. This gives you a concrete setup to review when you want to see who takes initiative.
The examples illustrate setups to try and do not describe measured results.
Follow up on the ice
Watch who gets the puck, makes decisions and takes initiative, and who mostly gets skated past. Ask the players: what did you work on today, and did you get a chance to try? Adjust the drill or group when someone has no clear challenge or mostly becomes a spectator.
In LineupDesigner
LineupDesigner suggests a distribution using the player information and settings you provide. With balanced distribution, recorded pairing history can help vary otherwise comparable groups. You can move players and lock groups or spots you want to keep. LineupDesigner suggests. You decide.
What to check yourself
Balanced groups on screen do not guarantee puck contact or engagement. The app does not know who has lost confidence or needs a different challenge today, and does not automatically assess physical or mental maturity. Watch for opportunities to receive, choose an option and try again. Talk to the players and adapt the next round.