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We All Know as Hockey Coaches that Practices are crucial to the development of individual skills and building team systems. It is
important that we use this limited time wisely. Below are some tips to running a successful practice as well as managing the limited
ice time we have.
important that we use this limited time wisely. Below are some tips to running a successful practice as well as managing the limited
ice time we have.
10 Tips for a Successful Practice
1. Be Prepared:
Being Prepared for your practice long before you
get to the rink can save you countless
headaches as well as show your players that you
are prepared. Showing players/parents your
commitment to running a successful practice will
pay-off ten fold.
Being Prepared for your practice long before you
get to the rink can save you countless
headaches as well as show your players that you
are prepared. Showing players/parents your
commitment to running a successful practice will
pay-off ten fold.
2. Minimize Downtime:
Use ice time wisely, there are seldom few coaches
who complain about having too much ice time. Be
sure to use what you have to the max, Limit your
time talking by reviewing more complicated drills in
the room before.
Use ice time wisely, there are seldom few coaches
who complain about having too much ice time. Be
sure to use what you have to the max, Limit your
time talking by reviewing more complicated drills in
the room before.
3. Drill Design:
Design Drills that can develop into 2 or 3 other drills and explain all variations of the drill on the board at once to eliminate the
time between variations. Eliminating down time between variations of drills allows for more repetition of drills for the players.
More Repletion = More Results
Design Drills that can develop into 2 or 3 other drills and explain all variations of the drill on the board at once to eliminate the
time between variations. Eliminating down time between variations of drills allows for more repetition of drills for the players.
More Repletion = More Results
4. Have A Plan:
A season long practice progression plan will help your players learn and progress through the season, as well as, limit the
amount of time you need to prepare. Season long Practice Planning will also allow you to guage your teams progression as
the season progresses.
A season long practice progression plan will help your players learn and progress through the season, as well as, limit the
amount of time you need to prepare. Season long Practice Planning will also allow you to guage your teams progression as
the season progresses.
5. Stress the Small Things:
Have players finish drills hard, pass hard, shoot to score, etc...
Practice is where your players form their game habits, don't allow
them to develop lazy or bad habits. Your player will also get the most
out of the drill as possible.
Have players finish drills hard, pass hard, shoot to score, etc...
Practice is where your players form their game habits, don't allow
them to develop lazy or bad habits. Your player will also get the most
out of the drill as possible.
6. Involve Your Goalies:
Goalies should do more than just stop pucks at practice. Involve them
in drills and encourage them to do more. Have them play different
angles between shooters or pass the puck with an assistant coach.
Goalies should do more than just stop pucks at practice. Involve them
in drills and encourage them to do more. Have them play different
angles between shooters or pass the puck with an assistant coach.
7. Have A Back Up Plan:
Sometimes, things don't go as planned and every coach should have a
set of go to drills. These Drills should be simple and can be done
without a lot of thought or preparation. It is good to pull these drills out
if the players are lacking focus or if your designed drills are not working.
Sometimes, things don't go as planned and every coach should have a
set of go to drills. These Drills should be simple and can be done
without a lot of thought or preparation. It is good to pull these drills out
if the players are lacking focus or if your designed drills are not working.
8. Communication:
Let the players know ahead of time what the general focus of the practice is. This will allow your players to prepare themselves
and review previous practices. Players will also see that you are not throwing practices together as you go. Work habits are
contagious and if you players see how hard you work, they will work harder for you.
Let the players know ahead of time what the general focus of the practice is. This will allow your players to prepare themselves
and review previous practices. Players will also see that you are not throwing practices together as you go. Work habits are
contagious and if you players see how hard you work, they will work harder for you.
9.Do Not Over Complicate:
Design your practice to the level and skill sets of your players. Proceeding through to complex drills when your players still have
a hard time with the basics will do little for their development. Forcing complex systems and drills upon players that are not ready
for them will be nothing but frustrating for you and even more frustrating for your players.
Design your practice to the level and skill sets of your players. Proceeding through to complex drills when your players still have
a hard time with the basics will do little for their development. Forcing complex systems and drills upon players that are not ready
for them will be nothing but frustrating for you and even more frustrating for your players.
10. Have Fun
Remember this is why we all do this. If we didn't enjoy it we wouldn't put ourselves through all the agony and defeat. Keep your
practices enjoyable and your practices will become easier.
Remember this is why we all do this. If we didn't enjoy it we wouldn't put ourselves through all the agony and defeat. Keep your
practices enjoyable and your practices will become easier.
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