Category: Coach’s Handbook

Conditioning is an integral part of hockey, and the traditional ways of conditioning have been around for decades. From bag skates to running laps, coaches have long relied on these methods to ensure their players were in peak physical condition. But times are changing, and there are more effective and fun ways to condition hockey players than the old-fashioned methods. In this blog post, we’ll discuss why ditching the old ways of hockey conditioning can be beneficial and offer up some exciting alternatives.

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The start of the hockey season is an exciting time for players and coaches alike. It is a chance to set the tone for the upcoming season and create a strong foundation for team performance. As a coach, it is important to establish expectations and build relationships with your players from the very beginning. Establishing a positive environment and setting the right tone can make all the difference in the team’s performance throughout the season. In this blog post, we will discuss how to start the hockey season strong and provide guidance on setting the tone for better team performance.

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Hockey is a sport that requires intense physical and mental training, and hockey practice is an essential part of an athlete’s performance. In the past, athletes have been told to place more intense practice earlier in the week and then less intense practice closer to games. However, recent scientific advances have revealed that this might not be the best way to prepare for a game. This blog post will discuss the truth about intensity and hockey practice: it’s all about timing.

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Having a positive locker room is essential for team success. No one wants to be in an environment where negative energy vampires are allowed to roam freely, and it’s important to identify and squash them before they start to spread throughout the organization. If unchecked, these negative influences can have a major impact on the morale of staff, players, and even parents, which will ultimately lead to decreased team success. In this blog post, we’ll discuss how to identify and eliminate negative energy vampires so you can create a healthy and successful team environment.

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If you’re an aspiring hockey coach, you know that the road to success can be filled with challenges. Growing your experience as a coach can often feel like a daunting task, especially when you’re competing against more experienced candidates. But don’t give up hope; there are plenty of ways to overcome these obstacles and grow your experience as a coach. In this blog post, we’ll discuss some strategies for gaining valuable coaching experience, so you can become the best hockey coach you can be.

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Hockey is a team sport, and often times constructive criticism must be given in order to better the team and individual players. But giving or receiving criticism is never easy for anyone. That’s why it’s important to know how to use the Sandwich Effect when giving hockey criticism. The Sandwich Effect is a method of delivering criticism that involves sandwiching a negative comment between two positive ones. By using this method, it can make the criticism more palatable for the receiver, and make the process of giving and receiving criticism smoother. In this blog post, we’ll discuss how to use the Sandwich Effect in hockey criticism for better results.

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Hockey coaches play an integral role in achieving team success. To maximize team efficiency, it is critical for hockey coaches to delegate tasks and responsibilities to their assistant coaches and managers. Delegation is key to enabling team members to utilize their skills and knowledge to the best of their abilities, ultimately leading to improved team efficiency and a higher likelihood of success. In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of delegation for hockey coaches to improve team efficiency.

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Resistance skating has become increasingly popular among hockey camps in recent years as coaches have begun to incorporate parachutes into their drills. But is this strategy really worth the effort? While using a parachute can be beneficial for improving skating skills, the added time to put it on and the difficulty of keeping it from tangling can be a hassle. In this blog post, we’ll explore the pros and cons of using parachutes for resistance skating in hockey camps.

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Hockey practice is an important part of the game, and coaches need to maximize the time they have on the ice. One way to do this is to eliminate the whiteboard from practices. Whiteboards are an outdated tool, wasting precious minutes that could be used for drills and instruction. In this blog post, we’ll explore how coaches can boost their practice efficiency by cutting out the hockey whiteboard.

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If you’re a coach in minor hockey, you know how difficult it can be to find hockey drills that are effective and simulate game scenarios. We’ve all been there, repeating drills that don’t seem to have any purpose or connection to the game. Fortunately, there are plenty of hockey drill websites that provide drills that are not only fun but also purposeful and that give your players the opportunity to practice in game-like situations. In this blog post, we will discuss some of the best hockey drills for game simulation.

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