10 Good Tips for YOUTH HOCKEY

 

 

 

 

 

1. Practices are more important than games

 

 

- Skating, standing on the correct leg when shooting and having the right technique at high speed are the prerequisites for being a good hockey player.

 

- More important than games!

 

 

 

2. Practice cross-ice

 

- Practicing in small areas develops skills and avoids players standing in line.

 

 

3. Allow youth to train themselves as much as possible.

 

- Spontaneous training is important. Encourage street hockey in parking lots and

driveways when ice is unavailable or floor hockey inall variations.

 

 

4. Hockey should be fun

 

- Skip tactics and systems, let the youth go afterthe puck. Everyone wants to

handle the puck – no one goes to practice and games to playdefensively all the time.

 

 

5. Parents support and encourage

 

- Parents should never place pressure on their child. Remember that 1 of 5 youth

experience their parent’s meddling in their sports as negative. Providetransportation, fix equipment, console, be there – yes, by all means!

 

 

6. Games are not a matter of life and death

 

- Games should be fun. A change of pace from practice days. Not anything

deathly important. Pour it on offensively – youth are creative and like to try

things. Let them play to success.

 

7. Don’t play just your best players and no tactical systems

 

- Play without tactics and systems. Let youth use their own creativity and develop

under their own conditions. Let them be where the puck is – for they have come

to play the puck!

 

8. Show respect!

 

- Ice hockey means fair play! Show respect for the rules, referees, opponents and

coaches. Play fair! No game is won from the penalty box.

 

9. Try all positions

 

- Let everyone try all positions on the team. Don’t lock players into defense,

center or forward already from the beginning. Rotate around in fives – an elite

player can play anywhere!

 

10. Exchange instead of buying!

- If one is going to follow the market hysteria it will be expensive to try hockey.

Organize instead within your association an exchange day.

 

MOST IMPORTANTLY.... HAVE FUN... IT IS A GAME AND THESE ARE CHILDREN!