Drills
How to Train Hockey Balance the Right Way — Without Fancy Equipment
Balance is one of the most important skills in hockey, yet it is often misunderstood and overcomplicated. Many players believe they need expensive training tools or fancy equipment to improve their balance, but the truth is that great hockey balance is built through simple, consistent habits. Balance in hockey is not about standing still on one foot. It is about staying strong, controlled, and confident while skating, turning, battling, and reacting at game speed.
Read MoreThe Hidden Mechanics Behind Explosive First Strides
While many players focus on top speed, the truth is that explosive first strides matter far more than how fast someone can skate once they are already moving. The ability to accelerate quickly from a near standstill is a hidden skill that separates confident, effective players from those who always feel a step behind.
Read MoreCoach Chic’s Hockey Podcast 70
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Read MoreFun Lower Body Band Strength Endurance Workout
Using a mini-band and a single 41″ Quantum band, follow along with Dave as he shows you how to use these two bands to train your lower body strength endurance. You are going to be surprised at how challenging this workout will be. Complete 50-reps per exercise before moving on to the next exercise. Scale Total Reps and Quantum Band Resistance to fit your fitness level.
Read MoreBetter Puck Support for Young Players
Better puck support is one of the most important team habits young hockey players can learn, yet it is often one of the most misunderstood. Many young players focus almost entirely on the puck carrier, thinking the job is done once someone has control of the puck. In reality, hockey is a game of constant movement, spacing, and decision-making. Strong puck support gives teammates options, reduces turnovers, and helps young players feel more confident when they have the puck on their stick.
Read MoreReading Pressure at the Blue Line
The blue line is where offense and defense collide, and decisions made in this small area can quickly lead to scoring chances or costly turnovers. Players who learn to recognize pressure early gain more time, make smarter plays, and stay confident with the puck. Understanding how to read pressure helps players at every position, especially defensemen and forwards entering the offensive zone.
Read MoreBuilding Smarter Breakout Habits
When breakouts are rushed, sloppy, or unorganized, teams spend too much time defending and chasing the puck. When breakouts are smart and consistent, players gain confidence, create offense, and control the pace of the game.
Read MoreMastering Hockey Tempo Changes
Tempo is the speed and rhythm of the game, and learning how to change it at the right moments can separate smart players from players who only rely on speed. Hockey is not played at one constant pace. The best teams know when to attack fast, when to slow things down, and how to control momentum during a shift, a period, or an entire game.
Read MoreTeaching Smart Line Change Timing
A poorly timed line change can turn a good shift into a breakaway against, while a smart change can keep pressure on the opponent and lead directly to scoring chances. Learning how to time line changes correctly is not about being fancy or fast. It is about reading the game, communicating with teammates, and understanding responsibility…
Read MoreUnlocking Better Gap Control
When defensemen master gap control, they force opponents into bad decisions, limit dangerous scoring chances, and make the game feel slower and easier. When gap control is weak, even slower forwards suddenly look fast, and even simple rushes can feel overwhelming. Learning to manage that space effectively can completely change the way a defenseman plays in the neutral zone and inside the defensive zone.
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