The latest hockey research and coaching methods for 2026 are putting even more attention on first touch skills because coaches now understand that the first second after puck possession is often the most important moment of an entire shift…
Hockey IQ is much more than having quick hands or fast skating. It is the ability to read the play, anticipate what will happen next, make smart decisions under pressure, and consistently be in the right place at the right time…
Many players believe that shooting harder is the secret to scoring more goals, but experienced coaches know that accuracy usually matters much more than pure power…
Summer is one of the best times of the year for hockey players to improve their stickhandling skills. With no games to prepare for and fewer team practices, players finally have the freedom to spend extra time working with a puck, ball, or stick. Driveways, garages, basements, and outdoor training areas become personal hockey development centers. Many young players dream of returning to the ice in the fall with quicker hands, better puck control, and greater confidence. Unfortunately…
Resistance bands, with their lightweight, flexible design and variable resistance, allow for joint-friendly, multi-plane strength training that promotes ageless strength without the drawbacks of free weights.
One of the biggest frustrations for youth hockey coaches, players, and parents is watching a team struggle to execute clean breakouts even after spending plenty of practice time working on them. Coaches draw the breakout on the whiteboard, players skate through the drill over and over, and everything looks smooth during practice. Then game day arrives, the opposing team applies pressure, and suddenly the breakout falls apart…
In today’s era of over coaching, helping athletes become independent decision-makers (and not making them play like robots) may be one of the most valuable skills a coach can develop…
Unfortunately, many discover that modern hockey practices often move too quickly for someone who is just learning the basics. Instead of building confidence, these fast-paced sessions can leave new players frustrated, exhausted, and wondering if hockey simply is not for them. The good news is that the problem usually is not the player…
Modern off-ice training has changed a lot over the last decade, and many parents, coaches, and players are still trying to figure out what actually works. The good news is that effective hockey off-ice training is often much simpler than many people think. The goal is not to turn a young player into a professional athlete overnight.
One of the most common challenges in youth hockey is teaching players to look up while handling the puck. Many young players become so focused on controlling the puck that they rarely notice what is happening around them. As a result, they miss open teammates, skate into pressure, and struggle to make smart decisions during games. Coaches often tell players to “keep your head up,” but for many kids, that instruction alone is not enough. Learning to scan the ice is a skill, and like every other hockey skill, it can be taught, practiced, and improved over time.