How to Teach Hockey Checking
Learning to check an opponent is an essential skill for a young hockey player. When teaching a player to check, it is important to remind him that the objective of checking an opponent is to separate the opposing player from the puck and gain possession for his team. Teaching fundamental checking skills that can be executed safely and effectively are important to the development of each player and will contribute to his growth and contributions on the ice.
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Instructions
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Place a football blocking pad along the side boards of the ice rink and back away to give yourself room to demonstrate an effective hockey check. Establish a distance away from the pad that will allow you to take two complete strides and glide for another two or three seconds.
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Stand in the starting position with your knees slightly bent, your back arched and your skates a shoulder-width apart. Your head must be up and the blade of your stick should be on the the ice in front of your body. Keep both hands on the stick in front of your body with your elbows in close to your sides.
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3
Push off from your stance and take two complete strides toward the stationary blocking pad. After two strides, reset to the starting position and glide toward the blocking pad.
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Hit the blocking pad using the front of your shoulder and chest. Keep your knees bent and head up. The stick must remain on the ice and do not turn your body.
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Pin the blocking pad to the boards using your weight to drive your shoulder and chest as you lean forward. Remain balanced by having one skate angled behind you and the other pushed against the boards. A right-handed shooter will have his left skate against the boards and right skate behind him while a left-handed shooter will have his skates in the opposite position.
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Hold the position to demonstrate and explain the correct technique for safely checking an opponent. Review with your players the key elements of checking effectively of head up, knees bent, stick down and elbows in, and skate positioning.
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Tips & Warnings
When learning to check in hockey, many players have a tendency to stand up as they approach the check. Instruct the player to keep her knees bent to remain balanced as contact is made.
A player learning to check will often want to turn his body and hit an opponent with his shoulder or back. This is a dangerous move that can result in injury and should be avoided by players learning to check.
Emphaize the importance of keeping the head up and using the muscles in the chest to initiate contact.
A heavy bag or old bed mattress may be used in place of a football blocking pad when teaching checking.
Although it is not necessary to wear full hockey equipment when demonstrating how to check, players must wear all required equipment when practicing in order to avoid injury.
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Resources
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