COACHES 
  BENCH

Skating

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Skating is a skill required by every position in hockey. Speed, acceleration, agility and power benefit forwards, defense and goaltenders alike. Without strong fundamental skating skills, players cannot perform to their full ability. As players get older, they should continue to develop and refine their skating skills, though focus may shift to practicing more position-specific skating.

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Offensive Skills Dominance

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Small-area games are competitive hockey drills done in a smaller-than-normal playing area. This can be cross-ice, neutral zone, corners or something else, depending what coaches are trying to teach. There are no limitations on how to use the ice. Smaller groups of players participate with a higher and more-consistent intensity, including lots of puck touches. Small-area games are designed to teach players through the simulation of game situations. Decrease the space, increase the pace!

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Shooting & Scoring

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Scoring results in more enjoyment and more wins at every level. The importance of effectively shooting the puck and efficiently creating offense increases as players face more skilled defenders and goaltenders. The Shooting and Scoring Pathway recommends no position-specific specialization until U13. Young players should focus on physical/motor skills and technical skills. By the mid-teens and beyond, emphasis for shooting should include deception skills and shooting from all areas of the ice off both the inside and outside foot.

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Defensive Skills Dominance

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There are a number of skills required for a defender to reach their potential, including skating, breakouts, regroups, 1-on-1 defending, neutral-zone defending, shooting, offensive play and defensive-zone coverage, as well as more detailed technical skills as they advance. A defender must be a strong, agile skater. To work on the skating basics defenders utilize in every game and practice, design drills to teach and reinforce the basics with repetitions. Mimic the agility skills defenders use and make these as game‐like as possible, progressing from skating, skating with a puck, and skating when passing and receiving. Tactical play can then be incorporated, such as gap control, angling, and reading and reacting. Breakouts are a key skill for defenders, and the essence of attacking. Puck recovery is key and making a good first choice/pass is imperative. Defenders must support each other and communicate (as do the goalies and forwards). Often the simplest play is the best. Practice puck retrieval and breakout options every practice so it becomes second nature. Stress the importance of passing and receiving every practice.

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Puck Handling

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Puck control and stick-handling skills give hockey players the ability to have more fun playing hockey and better contribute to the success of their team. Over 80% of the game is played in the offensive or defensives zones, so players need to be able to handle the puck in small areas.

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Checking (Bantam+)

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Checking is a critical skill that, when performed properly, can create quality scoring opportunities or help a team regain control of the puck. Just like skating, puck control, passing and shooting, there are key progressions to the skill of checking that, when taught effectively, can enhance the love of the game. A common misconception is that the skill of checking begins at a certain age or age division. In fact, checking is a four-step progression that begins the first time a young player steps on the ice. Body-checking is the fourth and final step of the progression. The transition from non-contact to contact hockey can be very uncomfortable for young players, but if coaches are able to effectively put the building blocks in place, it means a smoother transition.

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Off-Ice Training

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Skill development is not limited to the ice. Players of all ages and experience can benefit from off-ice training. Proper off-ice or dry-land training can improve skill, power, speed, stamina, injury prevention and overall health.

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