Goals by Level

Please note that bold italicized text throughout indicates a new skill or concepts to be introduced at that age level.

• Have Fun!
• Stay Engaged
• Work on Individual Hockey Skills

Individual Hockey Skills

1. Skating
2. ready position
3. edge control
4. forward start
5. forward stride
6. controlled stop: two-foot and one-foot snowplow
7. controlled turn
8. forward crossover
9. backward skating
10. backward stop
11. ABCs of skating (agility, balance, coordination, and speed drills)
12. Puck Control
13. lateral (side-to-side) stickhandling
14. front-to-back stickhandling
15. diagonal stickhandling
16. attacking the triangle
17. Passing and Receiving
18. forehand pass
19. backhand pass
20. receiving a pass properly with the stick
21. Shooting
22. wrist shot
23. backhand
24. Body Contact
25. stick on puck
26. stick lift

• Have Fun!
• Stay Engaged
• Active Practices
• Individual Skill Improvement (hockey skills, activities, and games)- 85%
• Hockey Sense (teaching of concepts through small area games)- 15%
• Systems (team-play training)- 0%

Individual Hockey Skills

1. Skating
2. ready position
3. edge control
4. forward start
5. forward stride
6. controlled stop: two-foot and one-foot snowplow
7. controlled turn
8. forward crossover
9. backward skating
10. backward stop
11. ABCs of skating (agility, balance, coordination, and speed drills)
12. Puck Control
13. lateral (side-to-side) stickhandling
14. front-to-back stickhandling
15. diagonal stickhandling
16. attacking the triangle
17. Passing and Receiving
18. forehand pass
19. backhand pass
20. receiving a pass properly with the stick
21. Shooting
22. wrist shot
23. backhand
24. Body Contact
25. stick on puck
26. stick lift
27. Goaltending
28. At this level, coaches should not designate full-time goaltenders so that players may begin the development of skills that will help improve their long-term skating and athleticism. These are crucial for goaltenders as they progress to higher age levels

• Have Fun!
• Stay Engaged
• Active Practices
• Individual Skill Improvement (hockey skills, activities, and games)- 75%
• Hockey Sense (teaching of concepts through small area games)- 15%
• Systems (team-play training)- 10%
• Basic Hockey Knowledge

Player Knowledge

1. Rules
2. face-offs
3. body contact
4. offsides
5. icing
6. checking from behind
7. Common Infractions
8. unsportsmanlike conduct
9. body checking and checking from behind
10. cross-checking and charging
11. head contact, elbowing, and high-sticking
12. tripping and hooking
13. interference and holding
14. Penalties
15. minor
16. major

Individual Hockey Skills

1. Skating
2. ready position
3. edge control
4. forward start
5. forward stride
6. controlled stop: two-foot and one-foot snowplow
7. controlled turn
8. forward crossover
9. backward skating
10. backward stop
11. ABCs of skating: agility, balance, coordination, and speed drills
12. one-foot stop
13. backward crossover
14. mohawk turn
15. Puck Control
16. lateral (side-to-side) stickhandling
17. front-to-back stickhandling
18. diagonal stickhandling
19. attacking the triangle
20. puck protection
21. change of pace
22. toe drag
23. give and take
24. accelerating with the puck (one-hand carry)
25. Passing and Receiving
26. forehand pass
27. backhand pass
28. receiving a pass properly with the stick
29. saucer pass (forehand and backhand)
30. receiving a pass properly with the skate
31. indirect pass
32. Shooting
33. wrist shot
34. backhand
35. flip shot
36. screen shot
37. deflection
38. off rebound
39. Body Contact
40. stick on puck
41. stick lift
42. poke check
43. gap control concept
44. body positioning and angling
45. Goaltending
46. positioning
47. proper stance
48. angling
49. movement
50. forward
51. backward
52. lateral
53. save technique
54. stick
55. gloves
56. body and pads
57. butterfly
58. recovery

Team Play

1. Offensive Concepts
2. 2-on-1 situations
3. 1-on-1 situations
4. triangle offense
5. Defensive Concepts
6. gap control
7. protect center of the ice
8. stick on puck
9. backchecking
10. body position: man-you-net
11. basic defensive zone coverage

• Have Fun and Stay Engaged!
• Active Practices
• Individual Skill Improvement (hockey skills, activities, and games)- 65%
• Hockey Sense (teaching of concepts through small area games)- 25%
• Systems (team-play training)- 10%
• Body Contact/Body Checking

Player Knowledge

1. Rules
2. face-offs
3. body contact
4. offsides
5. icing
6. checking from behind
7. Common Infractions
8. unsportsmanlike conduct
9. body checking and checking from behind and boarding
10. cross-checking and charging and slashing
11. head contact, elbowing, and high-sticking
12. tripping and hooking and kneeing
13. interference and holding
14. Penalties
15. minor
16. major
17. misconduct
18. penalty shot
19. match

Individual Hockey Skills

1. Skating
2. ready position and the ability to find this strong position when engaged in body contact
3. edge control
4. forward start
5. forward stride
6. controlled stop: two-foot and one-foot snowplow
7. controlled turn
8. forward crossover
9. backward skating
10. backward stop
11. ABCs of skating: agility, balance, coordination, and speed drills
12. one-foot stop
13. backward crossover
14. mohawk turn
15. lateral skating
16. backward cross-under start
17. backward two-skate stop
18. backward power stop (one skate)
19. Puck Control
20. lateral (side-to-side) stickhandling
21. front-to-back stickhandling
22. diagonal stickhandling
23. attacking the triangle
24. puck protection
25. change of pace
26. toe drag
27. give and take
28. accelerating with the puck (one-hand carry)
29. change of direction
30. backward puck control
31. fakes and deception while stickhandling
32. puck off the boards
33. Passing and Receiving
34. forehand pass
35. backhand pass
36. receiving a pass properly with the stick
37. saucer pass (forehand and backhand)
38. receiving a pass properly with the skate
39. indirect pass
40. receiving a pass properly with the hand
41. surround the puck
42. one-touch passes
43. area passes
44. Shooting
45. wrist shot
46. backhand
47. flip shot
48. screen shot
49. deflection
50. off rebound
51. snap shot
52. slap shot
53. fake shots
54. Body Contact
55. stick on puck
56. stick lift
57. poke check
58. gap control concept
59. body positioning and angling
60. stick press
61. angling
62. delivering body contact
63. receiving body contact (contact confidence)
64. Goaltending
65. positioning
66. proper stance
67. angling
68. movement
69. forward
70. backward
71. lateral
72. save technique
73. stick
74. gloves
75. body and pads
76. butterfly
77. sliding butterfly
78. recovery
79. stopping the buck behind net
80. puck retention
81. cradling
82. rebound control
83. game situations
84. screen shots
85. walkouts
86. wraparounds

Team Play

1. Offensive Concepts
2. 2-on-1 situations
3. 1-on-1 situations
4. triangle offense
5. team play in each zone
6. face-offs
7. zone entry
8. power-play concepts
9. Defensive Concepts
10. gap control
11. stick on puck
12. backchecking
13. body position: man-you-net
14. basic defensive zone coverage
15. defending the middle of the ice
16. 1-on-1 and even-numbered situations
17. 2-on-1 and odd-numbered situations
18. forechecking
19. man-short concepts
20. shot blocking

• Have Fun and Stay Engaged!
• Practice Activity and Structure
• Individual Skill Improvement (hockey skills, activities, and games)- 50%
• Hockey Sense (teaching of concepts through small area games)- 35%
• Systems (team-play training)- 15%
• Body Contact/Body Checking

Player Knowledge

1. Rules
2. face-offs
3. body contact
4. offsides
5. icing
6. checking from behind
7. player conduct
8. Common Infractions
9. unsportsmanlike conduct
10. body checking and checking from behind and boarding
11. cross-checking and charging and slashing
12. head contact, elbowing, and high-sticking
13. tripping and hooking and kneeing
14. interference and holding
15. unsportsmanlike conduct, fighting, and attempt to injure
16. Penalties
17. minor
18. major
19. misconduct
20. penalty shot
21. match

Individual Hockey Skills

1. Skating
2. ready position and the ability to find this strong position when engaged in body contact
3. edge control
4. forward start
5. forward stride
6. controlled stop: two-foot and one-foot snowplow
7. controlled turn
8. forward crossover
9. backward skating
10. backward stop
11. ABCs of skating: agility, balance, coordination, and speed drills
12. one-foot stop
13. backward crossover
14. mohawk turn
15. lateral skating
16. backward cross-under start
17. backward two-skate stop
18. backward power stop (one skate)
19. quickness
20. speed
21. agility
22. power
23. change of direction
24. balance (use of edges)
25. Puck Control
26. lateral (side-to-side) stickhandling
27. front-to-back stickhandling
28. diagonal stickhandling
29. attacking the triangle
30. puck protection
31. change of pace
32. toe drag
33. give and take
34. accelerating with the puck (one-hand carry)
35. change of direction
36. backward puck control
37. fakes and deception while stickhandling
38. puck off the boards
39. fake shot
40. stop and go
41. spin around
42. Passing and Receiving
43. forehand pass
44. backhand pass
45. receiving a pass properly with the stick
46. saucer pass (forehand and backhand)
47. receiving a pass properly with the skate
48. indirect pass
49. receiving a pass properly with the hand
50. surround the puck
51. one-touch passes
52. area passes
53. crisp passes
54. Shooting
55. wrist shot
56. backhand
57. flip shot
58. screen shot
59. deflection
60. off rebound
61. snap shot
62. slap shot
63. fake shots
64. one-timers
65. stick position in scoring areas
66. shots in close (pull the puck in and get it up)
67. Body Contact
68. stick on puck
69. stick lift
70. poke check
71. gap control concept
72. body positioning and angling
73. stick press
74. angling
75. delivering body contact
76. receiving body contact (contact confidence)
77. shoulder check
78. receiving a body check
79. Goaltending
80. positioning
81. proper stance
82. angling
83. movement
84. forward
85. backward
86. lateral
87. save technique
88. stick
89. gloves
90. body and pads
91. butterfly
92. sliding butterfly
93. recovery
94. puck handling
95. stopping the buck behind net
96. passing the puck
97. forehand
98. backhand
99. clearing the puck
100. forehand
101. backhand
102. puck retention
103. cradling
104. rebound control
105. game situations
106. screen shots
107. walkouts
108. wraparounds
109. breakaways
110. line rushes (odd and even)
111. face-offs in the defensive zone
112. communication with teammates

Team Play

1. Offensive Concepts
2. 2-on-1 situations
3. 1-on-1 situations
4. triangle offense
5. team play in each zone
6. face-offs
7. zone entry
8. power-play concepts
9. offensive principles: pressure, transition, support
10. cycling
11. Defensive Concepts
12. gap control
13. stick on puck
14. backchecking
15. body position: man-you-net
16. basic defensive zone coverage
17. defending the middle of the ice
18. 1-on-1 and even-numbered situations
19. 2-on-1 and odd-numbered situations
20. forechecking
21. man-short concepts
22. shot blocking
23. defensive principles: pressure, transition, support
24. defensive play in each zone
25. boxing out and fronting an opponent

• Have Fun and Stay Engaged!
• Practice Structure
• Individual Skill Improvement (hockey skills, activities, and games)- 50%
• Hockey Sense (teaching of concepts through small area games)- 30%
• Systems (team-play training)- 20%
• Body Contact/Body Checking

Player Knowledge

1. Rules
2. face-offs
3. body contact
4. offsides
5. icing
6. checking from behind
7. player conduct
8. related to legal body contact/body checking: checking from behind, contact to the head, elbowing, etc.
9. required equipment
10. Common Infractions
11. unsportsmanlike conduct
12. body checking and checking from behind and boarding
13. cross-checking and charging and slashing
14. head contact, elbowing, and high-sticking
15. tripping and hooking and kneeing
16. interference and holding
17. unsportsmanlike conduct, fighting, and attempt to injure
18. Penalties
19. minor
20. major
21. misconduct
22. penalty shot
23. match
24. order that multiple penalties are served

Individual Hockey Skills

1. Skating
2. ready position and the ability to find this strong position when engaged in body contact
3. edge control
4. forward start
5. forward stride
6. controlled stop: two-foot and one-foot snowplow
7. controlled turn
8. forward crossover
9. backward skating
10. backward stop
11. ABCs of skating: agility, balance, coordination, and speed drills
12. one-foot stop
13. backward crossover
14. mohawk turn
15. lateral skating
16. backward cross-under start
17. backward two-skate stop
18. backward power stop (one skate)
19. quickness
20. speed
21. agility
22. power
23. change of direction
24. balance (use of edges)
25. forward and backward points
26. backward skating with minimal cross-overs
27. Puck Control
28. lateral (side-to-side) stickhandling
29. front-to-back stickhandling
30. diagonal stickhandling
31. attacking the triangle
32. puck protection
33. change of pace
34. toe drag
35. give and take
36. accelerating with the puck (one-hand carry)
37. change of direction
38. backward puck control
39. fakes and deception while stickhandling
40. puck off the boards
41. fake shot
42. stop and go
43. spin around
44. stickhandling in tight areas
45. while skating backward, stickhandle the puck on forehand side of body
46. Passing and Receiving
47. forehand pass
48. backhand pass
49. receiving a pass properly with the stick
50. saucer pass (forehand and backhand)
51. receiving a pass properly with the skate
52. indirect pass
53. receiving a pass properly with the hand
54. surround the puck
55. one-touch passes
56. area passes
57. crisp passes
58. Shooting
59. wrist shot
60. backhand
61. flip shot
62. screen shot
63. deflection
64. off rebound
65. snap shot
66. slap shot
67. fake shots
68. one-timers
69. stick position in scoring areas
70. shots in close (pull the puck in and get it up)
71. adjust angle of shot just prior to shooting
72. Body Contact
73. stick on puck
74. stick lift
75. poke check
76. gap control concept
77. body positioning and angling
78. stick press
79. angling
80. delivering body contact
81. receiving body contact (contact confidence)
82. shoulder check
83. receiving a body check
84. delivering a body check
85. hip check
86. containing/stalling
87. Goaltending

• Goaltenders should continue to perform skills learned at previous age-levels and become faster, stronger, and quieter.

1. positioning
2. proper stance
3. angling
4. movement
5. forward
6. backward
7. lateral
8. save technique
9. stick
10. gloves
11. body and pads
12. butterfly
13. sliding butterfly
14. recovery
15. puck handling
16. stopping the buck behind net
17. passing the puck
18. forehand
19. backhand
20. clearing the puck
21. forehand
22. backhand
23. puck retention
24. cradling
25. rebound control
26. game situations
27. screen shots
28. walkouts
29. wraparounds
30. breakaways
31. line rushes (odd and even)
32. face-offs in the defensive zone
33. communication with teammates

Team Play

1. Offensive Concepts
2. 2-on-1 situations
3. 1-on-1 situations
4. triangle offense
5. team play in each zone
6. face-offs
7. zone entry
8. power-play concepts
9. offensive principles: pressure, transition, support
10. cycling
11. puck control
12. dump-ins
13. attacking the offensive zone
14. play away from the puck
15. Defensive Concepts
16. gap control
17. stick on puck
18. backchecking
19. body position: man-you-net
20. basic defensive zone coverage
21. defending the middle of the ice
22. 1-on-1 and even-numbered situations
23. 2-on-1 and odd-numbered situations
24. forechecking
25. man-short concepts
26. shot blocking
27. defensive principles: pressure, transition, support
28. defensive play in each zone
29. boxing out and fronting an opponent
30. stall/contain