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A few years ago, John Calipari at Kentucky introduced a unique stat to his program: hockey assists. Unlike basketball assists, which only credit the last passer, hockey assists recognize the last two players to pass before a score.
But here’s the twist—Coach Cal wasn’t just looking for who had the most hockey assists. He focused on identifying who had the least. These were the players disrupting ball movement, slowing down the offense, or holding onto the ball too long.
This idea is a game-changer for coaches. Instead of just rewarding assists, track who’s contributing to smooth ball movement—and who isn’t. Here’s how this can help your team:
1️⃣ Encourage Selflessness: Players see the value of making the extra pass, even if they don’t get credited with the assist.
2️⃣ Spot Ball Stoppers: Identify players who hold the ball too long or disrupt flow.
3️⃣ Teach the Bigger Picture: Players learn that great offense comes from movement and teamwork, not just scoring or direct assists.
Ball movement wins games. It creates better shots, stretches defenses, and builds a cohesive team. By tracking hockey assists—or even calling attention to them in practice—you can build an offense that thrives on unselfishness.
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