Category Archives: Beginners hockey

Simple Model For Coaching Ice Hockey

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F.B.A. Model breaks coaching down to the simplest form. To be a successful Coach, you have master the strategies to manage your players feelings, behaviors and accountability.  


Feelings: Coaching is about dealing with feelings. Making players feel important. Letting players feel successful. Players need to feel they are developing skills and improving their game. 


Behaviors: Coaching is about getting people to do what they do not want to do. Coaching is about directing and managing players behaviors both on and off the ice. Behavior is the execution of skills, tactics and good health habits.


Accountability: If you do not hold management, staff and players accountable you will lose.





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Intermediate Coaching Check List For Running Successful Hockey Practices

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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 –  5×8 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