U8 - Station-Based Practice

Tic Tac Toe Relay

Split up players into two teams. Have 4 of the players place their sticks down, in the shape of a Tic Tac Toe board. The rest of the players can place their sticks off to the side.

Set up a small "obstacle" course based on the skill you're working on (i.e. balance, edges, tight turns, etc.). On the whistle, one player from each team starts with their team object (e.g. puck, tennis ball, cone, etc) in their glove. 

On the whistle, players take off through the obstacle course and place their team object on the Tic Tac Toe board. After placing their object, players race back to their line to tag the next player who then takes off, completes the skating route, and then places their object down. Teams continue to race and play a game of Tic Tac Toe until one team has won. 

The goal of this is a simple drill for the younger players that can used in a quarter ice station. The players will work on turning to both directions around the cones. After each cone the players should be able to take a couple of good strides before turning around the next cone. After the second cone the players shoul work on full length strides and try to get to full speed by the blue line.

This is a great small area game for the kids. It encourages creativity and competition while giving all players lots of opportunity for success.

Setup

The setup requires three mini nets and at least 6 players. The nets should be set up in a triangle formation (see diagram). Each player will claim a net and stand in front of it to start. The coach will blow the whistle and throw a puck into the middle of the playing area.

Objective

Players try score a goal in either of the other players nets while protecting goals from being scored on their own net. The coach should try to keep track of how many goals each player scores in each round. They get 1 point for a goal scored on another players net and -1 point for goals allowed on their own net.

Credit: The diagram was produced using Hockey Coach Vision

Here is a simple drill set up. The point of this drill is to introduce the mite / novice (U8) age level player to pushing the puck with one hand. This station can utilize the goalies if they are available. To set up the drill place two nets at each end and players with pucks in opposite corners of the station. The first player in line from both sides can go at the same time. After they shoot the next player can go.

Coaching Points

Players need to push the puck with one hand until they are ready to shoot. As they get more comfortable with the skill then encourage them to go faster.

Sharks and minnows could be one of the most popular youth sports games around. In the hockey world you may know this as pom-pom-pullaway. It is a great way to start a practice session becuase it gets kids excited and engaged.

How to Play

All the players place their sticks down below the goal line and line up across the goal line. Select 3-4 players or coaches to be the "sharks". The "sharks" must stay between the blue lines at all times. On the whistle the players will skate from one side of the ice to the other. The object is to not get touched by a "shark". If they get touched then they join the "sharks" in the middle for the rest of the game. The last player to not get touched by a "shark" wins that round.

Variation #1 - Power Turns

This variation makes is tougher by requiring players to do 2 power turns within the neutral zone. They are required to do one power turn at the red line and then another power turn at the blue line. Then they have to try and get to the far blue line without being tagged. Players can power turn in either direction so they need to be aware of which direction will give them a better chance to not get tagged.