How to Coach Ice Hockey

As an ice hockey coach, you need to begin with the assumption that your team needs to learn the basics of the sport. The margin between success and failure in ice hockey is narrow because of the sport's pacing. The key for any ice hockey coach is to understand that the length of the season allows for an evolution in their coaching philosophy.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Keep your cool during ice hockey games. Whether you coach children or young adults, your demeanor on the bench is important in keeping your team's composure on the ice. The American Hockey Coaches Association has a Code of Conduct that will help you coach and educate players responsibly (see Resources below).
2. Mobilize your entire ice hockey team by training each member to transition from forward skating to backwards skating. Every player on the ice needs to know how to quickly move from offense to defense in order to keep an eye on the puck. Practice these transitions at the beginning and end of practice to refine your team's skills.
3. Place colored paper targets in goal to coach marksmanship. Your centers, wingers and defenders should practice hitting the five spaces that goaltenders give up during a game. You can turn this drill into a game with losing teams skating around the ice after practice.
4. Adjust your offensive, defense and special teams lines as different players advance in skill. Your fourth line center may get on a hot streak and replace a slumping second line center for a few weeks. These adjustments help you exploit weaknesses in opponents while cultivating the best lines possible.
5. Help your goalies defend your defensive zone better by coaching them on the butterfly technique. This technique requires the goalie to spread padded arms and legs to cover as much of the goal as possible while blocking the area between the legs with the stick.
6. Implement your special teams philosophy early on in the pre-season. Your power play units may crash the net or pass the puck but your team needs to know the necessary approach before playing in games.

Tips & Warnings

• Work with your equipment manager to keep your bench stocked during every game. Each player should have at least one replacement stick available in case of damage to their primary stick. A tool kit, skate laces and first-aid supplies are common items needed during an ice hockey game.

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