Incorporate Longer Obstacles Course to get youth players comfortable handling the puck with their head up and for longer durations.
- So much emphasis is placed on stations- stations are great but have limitations.
- Line of sight obstacles or conditions where players have to pick their head up is critical for teaching kids puck skills
- Have players get comfortable with skating with their head up on both the forehand and their backhand.
- Add passes to start and/or finish the drill. Hockey is a game of give n go’s and its important for their to have both stationary and moving passing targets.
- Lines are not Death… its about the work to rest ratio… If a drill goes on for a longer period of time and kids are exerting themselves, then they will need a longer recovery time (the line).
Below is a video of a simple obstacle course in a recent U10 practice. This was a team practice setting (not a station based skill session) that warmed up the players and the goalies.
By Andrew Trimble
Andrew is the Co- Owner of the New England Wolves based in Laconia, NH. They offer teams from Learn to Play to EHL Junior. To Purchase Andrew’s new book, “The Hockey Planner” click on this link here- The Hockey Planner: A Year by Year Plan to Assist You on Your Hockey Coaching Journey: From Learn to Play to Junior Hockey: Trimble, Andrew: 9781963743388: Amazon.com: Books
