Many youngsters get introduced to the sport of ice hockey by playing at the mini hockey level. Youth hockey encourages players to work on their skating, learn how to pass and shoot a hockey puck and have fun while doing it. Coaches are responsible for keeping players as safe as possible while learning the basis of the game. Mini hockey usually is for players between the ages of 6 and 7. It is often referred to mini-mite hockey.
Step 1
Emphasize the basics of skating in your practice sessions. Give your players drills to improve their skating. It's not just about working them hard as it is with older players. You have to show them how to dig in with the edges of their skates to go forward, how to stop and how to go backward. Make corrections when you can. Set up cones at each of the five major faceoff circles. Set up a different skating station at each circle so youngsters can work on forward skating, backward skating, starting, stopping and turning.
Step 2
Teach players how to position themselves in the offensive zone. When the puck goes in the right corner, for example, ask the right wing to go get the puck, the center to go to the right face off circle and the left wing to go to the front of the net. When youngsters play, they may all go for the puck or all may avoid the battle. You are giving them a gameplan when you teach proper positioning.
Step 3
Demonstrate how to shoot the puck. Youngsters need to understand how to take a wrist shot, a snap shot, a slap shot and a backhander. Since almost all players want to score goals, they should listen carefully and you will find that they grasp this lesson very quickly.
Step 4
Point out that hockey is a team game and that while all players have their own positions, they have to help their teammates out. This means if your teammate is having problems winning the puck battle in the corner, you have to go help him even if that isn't your position. Or if your teammate falls down, you must skate over to his man and try to play defense against him to keep him from scoring a goal.
Things You'll Need
- Hockey skates
- Hockey stick
- Hockey helmet
- Hockey uniform and pads
- Hockey puck
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