Category: Coach’s Handbook

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 Whiteboards are an outdated tool, wasting precious minutes that could be used for drills and instruction.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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Teamapps are an essential tool for any hockey team looking to increase communication between players, coaches, and parents. Hockey teams need to have efficient communication in order to properly organize practices and games, as well as build team morale and cohesion. Fortunately, there are many teamapps available on the market that are specifically designed for hockey teams. In this blog post, we will take a look at 10 of the must-have team communication tools for hockey teams.

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In today’s NHL, the game of hockey is being played in a completely different way than it has in the past. Positional hockey is becoming a thing of the past, as teams now rely more on fluidity between forwards and defensemen in order to confuse and create mismatches on the ice. As a result, defending players find it increasingly difficult to read and react to what is happening on the ice, making defending much harder to do. In this blog post, we will explore how this new era of hockey is proving to be harder to defend.

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As a parent of a youth hockey player, I have coached my 11-year-old in 5 of his 6 seasons of hockey. I’ve seen every emotional meltdown possible with my kid. His first year of U7 we were playing British-Bull dog and after being tagged he did a complete yard sale in the middle of the ice. He refused to get up, so I had to grab his skate and drag him out of the area as the game continued to be played. Just recently during a wind-up at one of my camps, we were playing a full ice 5on5 game. He gets bumped by another player and has a complete meltdown. And let me remind you, he is 11 years old at this time. After having a fit, he leaves the middle of the game and doesn’t return. So what do we do with players on our team when they don’t know how to regulate their emotions when things aren’t going their way? Better yet, how do we help our own kids when we are coaching them? Because we all know they act differently when we are on the ice with them.

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Creating lasting memories and team bonding is something that is essential in any hockey culture. As a coach of a U9 hockey team, I wanted to ensure that my team had an excellent sense of unity and togetherness. To do this, I decided to invest in matching tracksuits for the entire team. This story is about how this decision has helped our team bond and form a strong culture of hockey.

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The summer season is a great time for hockey players to take part in summer hockey camps and hone their skills. However, what often gets lost in the mix of high paced competitive games is the joy of the game. Summer hockey camps should be a place for young athletes to explore the game with fun activities that remind them why they play hockey in the first place. In this blog post, I will discuss the importance of unlocking the joy in summer hockey camps and how to focus on what truly matters.

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When it comes to coaching hockey, the challenge lies in finding the right balance between pushing and pulling. It’s important to push players to maximize their performance, while also creating an environment that pulls them along for the ride. Finding this balance can be difficult, as there is always a fine line between pushing too hard and not hard enough. In this blog post, we’ll discuss how to use the right amount of pressure to maximize hockey performance.

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Modern hockey has seen a shift in the way defensive zone coverages are utilized in the NHL. From the Tampa Bay Lightning’s man-to-man style to the Arizona Coyotes’ smothering approach, it is clear that there are three main D Zone coverages used today. In this blog post, we’ll be diving into each of these coverages and looking at how teams use them to their advantage. With the right strategy and setup, teams can effectively protect their goal and keep the puck out of their net.

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