Intermediate Coaching Check List For Running Successful Hockey Practices

Running A Good Practice:

• Have a yearly plan for practice
•  Have your drill organized with progressions
•  Have a precise plan for every practice
•  Plan each practice down to the minute 
•  Name your drills  
•  If drill is not working, change it!
•  Safety is a must at all times
•  Always take breaks for water
•  Avoid long, drawn out talks
•  Use short precise language
•  Break things down into key points & words
•  Write your practice plan out and post it for your players to see 
•  Have whistle & coaching board
•  Make sure you have cones/pylons
• Have 2-4 sets of colored practice jerseys 
• Make sure your assistants understand practice plan
• Know what your objectives are for the practice
• Know Your teaching points
• Keep your instructions clear and short
• Make sure you keep hockey fun for kids
• Determine your order of  individual & team development
• Decide on your coaching priorities and write them down
• Create written practice plan -  5x8 card
• Maximize reps & touches should be priority
• Practice basic skills development on all levels
•  80-20 Rule - 80% Basic Skills-20% All other Activities 
•  Choose age & ability-Appropriate drills
•  Modify drill to match abilities do not get frustrated make the drill easier
•  Structure your teaching points into drills
•  Don’t do any one thing for too long
•  Know how & when to use pressure to develop skills & tactics
•  When talking to team always put your back to boards and have players form half circle
•  Three whistle means bring it in
•  Two whistle means stop
•  One whistle means start drill
•  Movement is Focus!  If players stand around their mind wonders
•  Progress simple to complex
•  Progress slow to fast
•  Progress short movement to longer movements
•  Progress from one skill to combined skill activities
•  Dynamic Warm-up & Stretches Off-Ice 
•  Start With An Intelligent Warm-Up - Kids Love Pucks
•  Small-Sided Games - Always end with game
•  Stretch & Cool Down Off Ice

Things To Do:

• Use the Internet to learn skills, tactics & systems
• Watch other youth teams practice
• Watch Pro, College or Junior teams practice
• ፝Attend Seminar
• Sign up to take coaching certification program
• Start a drill library
• Record & rate every practice

Common Mistakes:

• Failing to hold a parent meeting
• Failing to set clear expectations with parents & players
• Failing to have a team manager
• Avoiding parents
• Skating team when they do not understand your drill
• Wasting practice time on conditioning that can be done off-ice
• Focusing on low-priority drills
• Failing to fix obvious technical problems
• Failing to videotape games and some practices
• Failing to take work segments
• Doing the same drills over and over again
• Measuring success & failure on wins and losses

Power Thoughts:

• The worst team can become the best team with good practice
• Praise specific & often
• Praise appropriately
• Spread your praise

Related Videos & Teaching Points:

Ankara Turkey Practice #1 Beginners/House League Half Ice Practices

Eleven Ways To Improve Your Practices & Team - Keith McAdams ...