Player Development: Skills, Game Patterns, Return to Play with Stan Tugolukov

May 26, 2025

56:03

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Episode notes

What does player development look like at the top levels of play? Today's guest is Dallas Stars Skill Coach, Stan Tugolukov, who works closely with players in skill development and individual on-ice post-injury conditioning roles. We speak about everything a skill coach needs to know, from game patterns to player development and designing skill sessions for both the high performance and youth levels. Stan shares his fundamentals for development at younger ages (6-8, 8-10, 10-12), and the must-have skillwork to set up your young athletes for future success. We also explore the differences in the game now versus then, layering skill packages for elite performers, return to play and off-season drills and reps, and more.

HIGHLIGHTS

00:00 Meet Stan Tugolukov, the Dallas Stars Skill Coach!

01:35 How did you get involved in the game back in Russia, and who were your mentors?

05:35 The differences between American youth players and Russian youth players.

12:05 What are your duties as a skill coach with the Dallas Stars?

17:25 Stan's player development philosophy fundamentals.

21:40 How do you choose drills and patterns to focus on, for non-injured players?

25:45 Designing return to play and off-season skill sessions.

32:50 How to approach skill development in pro players versus youth athletes.

38:05 The important skills for developing young athletes (U8-U12).

43:10 How has the game and hockey IQ evolved, then versus now?

47:40 How to layer skill packages for your elite players.