In ice hockey, players 10 and younger qualify for squirt divisions. Teaching hockey to children that age requires not only patience, but also creativity. Coaches need practice drills that convey the sport's team concepts and fundamental skills while remaining interesting enough to capture each player's full attention.
Shooting
This simple shooting drill starts with two passers stationed about 20 feet apart along the boards and a shooter positioned 20 feet away and centered between the passers. On the coach's whistle, the passers take turns passing pucks to the shooter, who should attempt to one-time the forehand passes into the boards in front of him. The shooter can cradle and wrist the passes coming from his backhand side.
Three-on-Two
Position three cones in a row and parallel to the red line at center ice, with about 10 feet between each cone. A defenseman stands against the boards at either end of the red line, while a left wing, center and right wing take staggered positions along the same line, the right wing at the second cone, the center at the first cone and the left wing along the boards. On the coach's whistle, the two defenders race into defensive position while the forwards skate up and around the nearest cone and then break into the offensive zone on a three-on-two. Any of the three forwards may carry the puck to start, but all three must work together to generate a quality scoring chance from the slot.
Breakout
To shorten the ice, move the net along the goal line so it's centered on the left faceoff dot. Position two cones out by the blue line, with about 15 feet between the cones. The drill starts with a defenseman holding the puck at the left goal post and a center at the right goal post. On the coach's whistle, the center races diagonally across the slot toward the high left wing boards while the defender carries the puck toward the left circle's outside edge. At the hash marks, the defender passes the puck up to the center for a clean breakout. The defender then chases the center, who must loop around the farthest cone and re-enter the zone to face the defender, who only has to circle the nearest cone, for a one-on-one chance on goal.
One-on-One Passing
Keep the net centered according to the left faceoff dot and place one cone at the outside hash marks of the left circle and another cone out on the blue line beyond the goal's right post. The drill starts with a defenseman holding the puck behind the goal and a forward stationed along the boards at center ice. On the coach's whistle, the defender must carry the puck out around the cone at the left hash marks while the forward races to sweep around the blue line cone. As soon as he passes his cone, the defender must fire a pass to the forward, who should be curling around his cone. The forward accepts the pass and cuts in on goal for a scoring chance, initiating a one-on-one with the defender.
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