To make hockey fun for youngsters, you can give them different games to play in practice that will help improve their skills. You can award medals for first, second and third place, much like it is done in the Olympics. This will keep interest high and break up the routine of your team's normal practice.
Shuttle Race
Set up two cones in the offensive zone and one at the red line. Have each player start at the center red line. On your whistle, the player will skate from the center red line to the cone in the right face-off circle and go around it. Then he skates back to the center red line and skates around the cone at that spot. He then sprints to the cone in the left face-off circle and skates back. Time all the skaters, and hand out gold, silver and bronze medals.
Rapid Fire Shooting Drill
Set your players up in the slot area, about 20 feet in front of the goaltender. If they are right-handed shooters, have one of the coaches stand to the right so he can pass to the player. Pass each player 10 pucks. Each player must shoot the puck immediately. The player who can fire the most pucks past the goalie wins the drill.
3-on-3 Hockey
Instead of playing 6-on-6 on a full sheet of ice, divide the rink in half and play two 3-on-3 games running the width of the ice. Each game is 10 minutes long. Play this game without goaltenders. You should have enough players on your team for eight teams. Your first round will include four games, then the winners will meet in the second round and the two surviving teams will play in the championship round.
Four Shots
Have all players line up at center ice. Place five pucks in the slot area. On your signal, the first player in line will skate at top speed to the pucks in the slot. He will take a slapshot with the first puck, a wrist shot with the second puck, a snap shot with the third puck and a backhand shot with the fourth puck. The player who can put the most pucks in the net wins the game. Hand out gold, silver and bronze medals.
