your coaching checklist
Below is an overview of the skills and tactical concepts you should be coaching players at this stage of their hockey journey. If you need help with understanding these skills, there are several videos that can be found here!
Fundamental Skills
GRIP
Basic gripHitting grip
Ball carrying
Running with the ballChanging directionChange of pace
Elimination
Dragging (L-R/R-L)
Distribution
Forehand push passForehand ‘slap’ push passReverse upright pass
Receiving
Forehand & reverse open receivingForehand closed receivingBasic movement/changing angles
Goal scoring
Forehand push/flick
Winning the ball
FootworkForehand/reverse stick tackleForehand/reverse stick interception
Goalkeeping
Ready positionBalanceClearing the ball (R/L foot)
Tactical Concepts
General concepts
Manipulating space & time360 degree visionRecognising passing lanesPassing & moving
Defensive concepts
Understanding dangerous spaceInterception mentalityAngles of approachCreating/defending small spaces
Offensive concepts
Triangle play & possessionPositioning & structure1v1 attacking strategies
Weekly planner
Below are some suggestions for what you might want to run on week-to-week to help develop your players, as well as some drills to give you some ideas on how to do it!
BASICS - BUILD & IMPROVE
WEEKS 1 & 2
Skills
Basic gripRunning with the ballForehand push passForehand & reverse open receivingFootwork
WEEKS 3 & 4
Reinforce basics & introduce new skills
WEEKS 5 & 6
WEEKS 7 & 8
Reinforce new skills & add tactical concepts
WEEKS 9 & 10
WEEK 11
Reinforce new skills & add tactical concepts
WEEKS 12 & 13
Planning a Training
As seen in the Westie Sticks document, it's often preferable to structure your trainings in a way that builds progression of the skills or tactics you're developing. We do this through games or drills that grow in complexity or demand as the session goes on
10%
Warm-Up
20%
Individual skill focus
30%
Modified games
40%
Small games
Where possible, it's also a good idea to spend a few minutes before training talking about last week's game, or what you might be doing this training Feel free to tweak these percentages to accommodate set plays like penalty corners
