When you are running a youth hockey program, you want to build a winning team and you want to help players improve their game every time they take the ice. These two goals are not mutually exclusive of each other. If your players get better at skills such as skating, shooting, passing and playing defense, then your team is much more likely to play cohesive hockey.
Skating
If you are running a quality youth hockey program, you must emphasize skating. This is the most vital characteristic that all your players must have. Emphasize skating drills at the start and finish of every practice. Build speed and endurance by having players skate end-to-end several times at the start of practice. This will emphasize stride and effort. Skating drills that emphasize starting and stopping, reversing directions and skating backward are also valuable.
Shooting
Your team won't be able to win if your players can't put the puck in the net. Shooting drills are essential for player development. Give each player 10 pucks to shoot in the corner shooting drill. Place a plywood cutout in front of the goal and notice that there are openings at the top left, top right, bottom left and bottom right corners of the goal. Each player has to go through all the openings with their 10 pucks. This builds shooting accuracy, and a smooth and even release.
Passing
To build a team that can take advantage of opportunities and mistakes by your opponent, you must be able to pass the puck with speed and accuracy. When a defenseman is carrying the puck from the defensive end, he must be able to pass easily and accurately to a teammate. The chances of a defenseman being able to carry the puck consistently from his defensive end to the offensive end are slim. Passing to the open man out in front -- often called head-manning the puck -- will set up your offensive players for great scoring opportunities.
Stickhandling
Carrying the puck and making plays is essential for all players. This process is called stickhandling. One of the ways to emphasize and teach this is with the cone drill. Place five cones on the ice, each about 6 feet apart. Have each player skate to the right of the first cone, the left of the second cone, the right of the third cone and then continue on in the same manner until the drill has been completed. Then turn around and reverse course and do the same drill. Make sure each player does this drill three times in each practice, moving as quickly as possible.
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