Comp Format for Two Teams?!

Hiya
Do you play in a club where you can only get enough players there on a regular basis for two teams? Do you wish you could play a "proper" competition?

For those that don't know, we (in Wollongong) play in an outdoor heated pool so through the winter months when it has been known to be only +5°C outside, windy and rainy, you can understand that we struggle with having enough players for 2 teams let alone enough for a competition.

So how do you play a competition with only two teams?

This year, we have tried a new competition format as follows:
All the club members are grouped in pairs (a back and a forward). In total, we have 8 pairs (16 players); A, B, C - H.

During the pool session (1.5hrs total) we play 3 x 20m in games. The 8 pairs are allocated either white or black (ie 8 players per team). After 20min, 2 pairs swap side and again after the 2nd game. The draw for one night might look like this:
Game 1: ABCD v EFGH
Game 2: ABCH v EFGD
Game 3: ABGH v EFCD

We are running this comp over 3 weeks and each game has a different combination of pairs.

Game points are awarded for each game and each pair is given points for the wins and losses they played: 3pts for a win; 2pts for a draw and 1pt for a loss. So a pair might get from 3pts(3 losses) to 9pts (3wins) in one night.

Goals scored by each pair are also recorded so that if there are any two pairs with equal total game points, then goals scored determines the higher placing.

We often have a few that don't show up and sometimes a few visitors so we either give points to the pair even if only one player of the pair is there, give the pair 0 points if neither show up or fill in the"gaps" with visiting players.

Funnily enough, it works. The intensity of the games has lifted compared to our regular club games and each week is a different team so you don't get disheartened if you lose - you might be stronger after the next swap!

BTW - it's very hard to stack the teams! :-)

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Off Half-Backs Rule

thanks lena
could be right down our alley.
we tend to train a lot and out of 1.5 hours of training we just play 20 mins.
grrrrr

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top of de mornin to yeh

Good idea Lena! We had tried to do a similar thing some years ago, with matches 4vs4 since one team score 2 goals, and winner team continues playing against another resting team. Then you have to try to score, not just defence to mantein a result, and good teams become tired and can lose...

Steve: in some posts you ask to swim more and in others you want to play more... Time is closed!! And short, so it's impossible to do all!

if i had to decide wether to train or play i would certainly choose play.
theres no better way than to play and play under pressure.
but
as amc32 puts,it donkey work is needed.
yes no time for everything but pool/play time is vital.
we only get together as a group a few times a week so we have to use this as much as possible
for example
i do a bit of training at home with puck so i can get better at that
i can jog at home and swim in a swimming club
but
i cant play hockey at home or anywhere else and we can only see our faults when we play together,this is why i am in preference of when in the pool(bésos),i would prefer to play.
ok a few of us have the motivation to train alon so the biggest problem of my point is the rest of the weaker people.


coming up to the starting line for preps for the wolrds im thinking of how to plan this upcoming training,which may bring us off this topic but im here now,sorry
well i was thinking of looking at our week of training.

even lets say into 6 days for worlds(one day rest).
that would include weights

when is it good to do weight training,the day after a heavy swim,the day before.
i´ll give my idea and we can get it started.
sun rest
mon-heavy session as we have had a days rest so lots of swimming and playing,not much puck work on this day.
tues-puck work and apnea and finning and a little play.
wed- weight training and swimming(solo work not team training)
thurs- heavy swimming and 4x 4 for building up strength
fri -puck work and breathholding(apnea) finning
sat- emmm not sure
sun-eat loads and sleep loads


so any suggestions outhere
on how to modify this to help balance the rest on the body but yet push it hard on all aspects eg in the pool and out .

esta muy bien que

puedo poner mis ideas en ingles igualmente angle hablamos unos de estos dias antes de sept i organizamos todo.

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top of de mornin to yeh

Hi Stevebrry
I don't think there is a universal answer as each training regime should be tailored to the individual's specific needs. eg, some players need to build up more strength rather than work on fitness etc.

Also, the type of training will vary depending on how far away you are from the Championship; eg at the moment the focus should be more on endurance type training (regarding swim/other and weigths) whereas when you get closer to the comp, you should be doing more sprints and shorter sets of weights.

Looking through your list you seem to be doing - per week:
1 x weight session (not much!, you must be very strong already?)
4 x swim sessions
3 x uwh sessions
2 x skill sessions

My comments would be;
I think it looks pretty good, but...
- if you need to build up strength you should start now. If you want to build-up power, you should start now. 3x sessions per week.
- as we are long way away from the comp, you might want to consider alternatives to swimming (to avoid boredom and/or injuries) - do some other cross-training activity like running or cycling.
- good that you have dedicated skills sessions. Immediately prior to a game would be good too, as you then might remember to try them in a game.
- the rest day is good!
- I envy you for being able to play uwh 3x/per week!

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Off Half-Backs Rule

tks lena for the advice,its all good
to be honest we are not doing that at the moment but in sept im sure we'll be up to that rythme

so lets see what the next fe months bring us.

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top of de mornin to yeh

Great idea for the comp Lena. How do you go with reffing in those games?? Are they self reffed and if so do many arguments over calls ensue?

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Breathing is overrated!

Great system

Hi Gav
Re reffing:
- Nobody is going to volunteer to ref during winter!
- This is wollongong; you've played there; of course it gets heated at times (same old same old), but so far no problems. I think the 20min game time prevents players from getting too frustrated if they are on the losing side. You can always hope that your team will be stronger after the next swap!

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Off Half-Backs Rule

Yeah, I assumed as much. We are playing the same way in a comp here in Perth with regards to self reffing. Seems to be working ok but there can be a few discrepancies on calls. I'm sure that your format is better suited to it though.

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Breathing is overrated!