Posts by CoachC
The Role of Deception in Youth Hockey — Teaching Fakes, Look-Offs, and Shoulder Drops
Deception in youth hockey is the ability to make a defender believe you are going one way while you actually plan to go another. It includes simple but powerful tools like shoulder drops, look-offs, and subtle body fakes. When taught correctly, deception creates time and space, which are two of the most valuable assets in modern hockey.
Read MoreThe ‘Two‑Mistake Rule’ Every Player Should Know
Hockey is a fast, emotional, and unpredictable game. Even the best players in the world turn over pucks, miss assignments, and lose battles. Mistakes are built into the sport. The problem is not the first mistake. The real damage usually comes from the second one. That is why every young hockey player should understand what I call the “Two-Mistake Rule.”
Read MoreThe Real Reason Players Struggle With Backhand Shots
Most players don’t struggle with the backhand because they’re weak, unskilled, or afraid of the shot. They struggle because the backhand has quietly become one of the most neglected skills in modern hockey. Kids grow up firing forehands from every angle, but they almost never get the same number of touches, experiments, or repetitions on the backhand side. By the time they reach competitive levels, the backhand feels foreign, awkward, and unreliable…
Read MoreWhy Young Players Misread Pressure — And How to Fix It
Many young players panic the moment a defender skates toward them, even when they still have time and space to make a smart play. Others hold onto the puck too long because they fail to recognize that pressure is closing fast. Understanding why young players misread pressure — and how to fix it — is one of the most important steps in building true hockey IQ, better decision-making, and long-term player confidence.
Read MoreComing… March 2026
Long‑time hockey friends should know that I create this page each month as a courtesy to my members and potential members, trying to give everyone a sense of what’s “coming” within the next month. (As always, I’ve purposely saved a couple of slots for this coming month, so please keep an eye out for those…
Read MoreRight between your ears
With mental toughness always being a key to solid hockey play, we’re thrilled to once again present Shawnee Harle’s monthly insights into that area. And, in this video, she addresses an obvious concern with “Negative Self-talk”!
Read MoreThe Most Misunderstood Skill in Youth Hockey: Angling
Many young players think angling means skating hard at an opponent and trying to deliver a big hit. Others believe it is simply about chasing the puck carrier as fast as possible. In reality, proper angling in hockey is about control, positioning, patience, and smart decision-making.
Read MoreThe Hidden Problem With Free Hockey Tips Online — From YouTube to Social Media
If you’ve spent any time on YouTube or scrolling through social media, you’ve probably noticed something that doesn’t sit quite right. A lot of people who share hockey tips online sound confident, look polished, and speak like experts, but when you listen closely, something feels off. The advice is often oversimplified, incomplete, or flat‑out wrong. And the tough part is that most viewers, especially newer coaches and parents, can’t easily tell the difference between someone who truly understands the game and someone who’s just good at performing confidence on camera.
Read MoreThe Hidden Skill Behind Winning Puck Races
Winning puck races is one of the most underrated skills in hockey, yet it often determines who controls the game. Coaches talk about speed all the time, and players assume that the fastest skater always wins the race to the puck. The truth is very different. The hidden skill behind winning puck races is not just straight-line speed. It is anticipation, smart angles, explosive first strides, and the ability to read the play before it fully develops.
Read MoreTeaching Players to Think One Pass Ahead
Thinking one pass ahead simply means that a player already knows their next option before the puck arrives on their stick. Instead of receiving a pass and then trying to figure out what to do, they scan the ice early, read the defensive pressure, and prepare their next move. This type of anticipation separates reactive players from intelligent, proactive players.
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