Sergei Levashev: «Everyone is moving towards one goal»
11.12.2024
2024 is coming to an end. As always, we are summing up the work done in the past year. Today we are going to tell you about our school, where players are trained for Neftekhimik.
Building a single vertical from school to a professional team is a new priority task for Neftekhimik. Several months ago, the club began to take the first steps in this direction, introducing fundamentally new tools for the development of young players in the club system. Sergei Nikolayevich Levashev, the adviser to the director general of Neftekhimik.– Sergei Nikolaevich, what priorities do the graduates of our Hockey School have in the club's transfer policy?
– The club's transfer policy places special emphasis on the best graduates of the school. In particular, it specifies the number of graduates of our school who will undergo training camps in Reaktor – at least 10 people annually. Naturally, they are in a competitive environment, and only the best will be able to join the team. This year we invited everyone we had looked at from the junior and graduating teams of the Hockey School – 19 guys in total. Seven of them successfully passed the selection, signed a contract and are now playing on Reaktor team.
– What steps are being taken to ensure the successful movement of students through the hockey vertical of the club: Neftekhimik Hockey School – Youth Hockey League – Reaktor – Neftekhimik?
– The most important thing we have done is to have a single requirement for all players of the school, starting with the JHL and down. Knowing the requirements for physical training, tactical and technical–tactical training, etc., they prepare for the youth team in advance. We have standardized everything, adjusted it to the requirements of Reaktor. For example, in terms of physical training at school they simply run three kilometers, and in the youth team they run a beep test, which is used to assess the endurance of the players.
– How can players get into optimal shape by the time they graduate from the Hockey School?
– In order to build a single club vertical that would effectively and gradually prepare players from the Hockey School to the youth team and then to the KHL, a system of requirements and records of training sessions was developed. We created a system that allows coaches to monitor not only team progress, but also track the dynamics of each player. From the first days of training at the Hockey School, a test sheet is created for each player, containing data on passing all standards and all training indicators – technical and tactical skills, psychological component. This personal file is filled out by the coach three times a year and is feedback between the player and the coach. His successful and unsuccessful game and training moments are also cut into the personal file – each hockey player can visually see his actions from the outside. The dossier is stored in the personal account of each pupil of the Neftekhimik Hockey School. So everyone can consciously adjust their actions on the court. Each player has a diary containing a test sheet, daily routine, nutrition recommendations, independent training. By following all the coach's advice and taking a responsible approach to the matter, everyone can become a good player and a conscientious person.
– At the beginning of our conversation, you said that a large number of the Neftekhimik Hockey School graduates took part in the Reaktor training camp in the summer of 2024? What experience did they get?
– The camp went well and was productive. Neftekhimik Hockey School graduates realized that no one would feel sorry for them, and they themselves needed to match the adult level or try to improve their performance as soon as possible. Selection is based solely on the sports principle. At the same time, the Neftekhimik Hockey School coaching staff also understood what kind of player training they needed to do more intensively and how they needed to adjust their training process.
– You also mentioned that seven students of the Neftekhimik Youth Sports School signed a contract with the club following the training camp. What, in your opinion, was the deciding factor for them?
– Much was clear at the training camp stage. They achieved this themselves – they were able to meet the standards and meet the required level of training. All hockey players understand that pre–season training is a big burden, and they need to be ready to pass this test. After the training camp on the ground, some of the candidates were eliminated, and then pre–season tournaments and friendly matches became demonstration matches.
– Since the beginning of the new season, training seminars have been held for the school's coaching staff. What topics are discussed there, and how can they further affect the quality of players' training?
– The first, opening seminar was devoted to modern hockey and its features. Now the game has accelerated significantly – the speed of players has increased, which means that the time for making decisions has decreased. Therefore, you need to be able to quickly read the game situation and make the right decisions. We held a seminar on the methodology for implementing innovations, defined the criteria for selection to the school, what to focus on during classes, in the training process. Quick decision making, speed – these are now the key skills for a hockey player. Another seminar was devoted to building a training microcycle. The methodology for building all training should be aimed at matching game conditions. In addition to theoretical, we also conduct practical classes on the ice. At practical seminars, we analyze technique, the structure of training sessions, how to build an effective training session. There are many nuances in this work.
– What game exercises do you consider the most effective for developing technical skills in children of different ages?
– All skills are developed in the initial training groups. When they move to educational and training groups, this is approximately at 11–12 years old, these skills must be developed in game conditions in order to be able to get ahead of the opponent in all components.
The club, for its part, does a lot for the school, finds opportunities, including working with the sports improvement group, which includes the best guys, according to the school's coaching council. 2007, 2008, 2009 – this is the senior group, 2011, 2012, 2013 – the junior group. In–depth study of various skills takes place during classes. During one of the last training sessions with the junior group, we studied shooting technique, I took a radar with me to measure speed, they could not tear themselves away, they asked for more and more.
– How is the analysis of games done, and what methods are used to analyze the performance of players?
– We held a seminar with coaches on game analysis. Video analyst of the Neftekhimik team Alexander Vasilyevich Smirnov was involved in it. Alexander showed what components a game can be broken down into – about 20 evaluation parameters in total. This is a positional attack, positional defense, getting out of forecheck, building a game in defense, attacking from the neutral zone, from the tackle, power play, penalty killing, etc. This is the level of analysis for older ages, and we adapt to the professional approach in adult teams.
– Much was clear at the training camp stage. They achieved this themselves – they were able to meet the standards and meet the required level of training. All hockey players understand that pre–season training is a big burden, and they need to be ready to pass this test. After the training camp on the ground, some of the candidates were eliminated, and then pre–season tournaments and friendly matches became demonstration matches.
– Since the beginning of the new season, training seminars have been held for the school's coaching staff. What topics are discussed there, and how can they further affect the quality of players' training?
– The first, opening seminar was devoted to modern hockey and its features. Now the game has accelerated significantly – the speed of players has increased, which means that the time for making decisions has decreased. Therefore, you need to be able to quickly read the game situation and make the right decisions. We held a seminar on the methodology for implementing innovations, defined the criteria for selection to the school, what to focus on during classes, in the training process. Quick decision making, speed – these are now the key skills for a hockey player. Another seminar was devoted to building a training microcycle. The methodology for building all training should be aimed at matching game conditions. In addition to theoretical, we also conduct practical classes on the ice. At practical seminars, we analyze technique, the structure of training sessions, how to build an effective training session. There are many nuances in this work.
– What game exercises do you consider the most effective for developing technical skills in children of different ages?
– All skills are developed in the initial training groups. When they move to educational and training groups, this is approximately at 11–12 years old, these skills must be developed in game conditions in order to be able to get ahead of the opponent in all components.
The club, for its part, does a lot for the school, finds opportunities, including working with the sports improvement group, which includes the best guys, according to the school's coaching council. 2007, 2008, 2009 – this is the senior group, 2011, 2012, 2013 – the junior group. In–depth study of various skills takes place during classes. During one of the last training sessions with the junior group, we studied shooting technique, I took a radar with me to measure speed, they could not tear themselves away, they asked for more and more.
– How is the analysis of games done, and what methods are used to analyze the performance of players?
– We held a seminar with coaches on game analysis. Video analyst of the Neftekhimik team Alexander Vasilyevich Smirnov was involved in it. Alexander showed what components a game can be broken down into – about 20 evaluation parameters in total. This is a positional attack, positional defense, getting out of forecheck, building a game in defense, attacking from the neutral zone, from the tackle, power play, penalty killing, etc. This is the level of analysis for older ages, and we adapt to the professional approach in adult teams.
– What are the club's plans for the future in the context of developing the Hockey School and training young hockey players?
– Now the vertical of Neftekhimik is following – Neftekhimik team – Reaktor – Hockey School. Everyone is moving towards one goal. In the near future, we want to hold competitions for a school record in the nominations of the speed circle, shot speed, shootouts at the children's school.
Our task is to ensure that all our innovations work at full capacity. It is necessary to awaken interest in our guys, to ignite them with new ideas. After all, they say that a child is a vessel that should not be filled, but ignited.
First of all, the child himself must have a great desire. Often, one player from a whole set gets into professional sports, and we must ensure that this figure increases. A big step was taken by HC Neftekhimik this year – 50 sets of uniforms were purchased for beginning players born in 2019. This helped relieve the financial burden on parents. Thanks to this, we were able to conduct a selection and recruit 50 new students. This work will continue in the future.
– Now the vertical of Neftekhimik is following – Neftekhimik team – Reaktor – Hockey School. Everyone is moving towards one goal. In the near future, we want to hold competitions for a school record in the nominations of the speed circle, shot speed, shootouts at the children's school.
Our task is to ensure that all our innovations work at full capacity. It is necessary to awaken interest in our guys, to ignite them with new ideas. After all, they say that a child is a vessel that should not be filled, but ignited.
First of all, the child himself must have a great desire. Often, one player from a whole set gets into professional sports, and we must ensure that this figure increases. A big step was taken by HC Neftekhimik this year – 50 sets of uniforms were purchased for beginning players born in 2019. This helped relieve the financial burden on parents. Thanks to this, we were able to conduct a selection and recruit 50 new students. This work will continue in the future.
