Jeff Serowik's Pro Ambitions Hockey, Inc.
 

                                        

25 Hockey tips to read to your child

November 24, 2010 - By Jeff Serowik

 

We are getting into the heart of the hockey season.
Here are some tips to discuss with your players:

  1. BE HARD TO PLAY AGAINST by being the hardest working team on the ice.
  2. FACE OFFS-your center is your most important player on the ice. CENTER IS YOUR QUARTERBACK.He or she needs to make sure everyone is lined up properly and ready for battle.  Hockey is a game of possession and centers need to know how important it is to win the face off which is the very first battle of the game or play.  Centers need to quietly let their wingers know if he or she is going forward or backward.  Centers can take puck straight on or back of the stick.
  3. COMMUNICATION-all six players on the ice-talk to each other.  Goalie has the best of view of the ice-goalies should be talking to his or her defensemen the entire game.  Listen to one another and pass to the open player.  Get your heads on straight and start thinking and talking.
  4. AREA PASSES-put the puck in safe places on the ice to regain control.  Entering the offensive zone-instead of dumping the puck in, chip the puck along the boards to give yourself time. You are giving yourself a little area pass.
  5. NEVER QUIT NO MATTER WHAT THE SCORE.  You can always come back.  And you are on the ice.  Remember ice time is precious.  Even if you lose, keep battling and lose a good solid loss going down fighting and talking and connecting as a team.
  6. GAME PREPARATION-get to games early.  Stretch, focus, think positive thoughts and think about your job on the ice.  Remember to talk to your teammates out there and listen to each other.  Get into the zone by working together as a team.  Psyche each other up as a team in the locker room.
  7. BLOCK SHOTS-step up and master this skill.  You will find yourself making any team you want. 
  8. BEAT YOUR OPPONENTS TO THE PUCK.  You are engaging in races all over the ice.
  9. WIN YOUR BATTLE.  Each player will engage in battles all over the ice.  Even if you don’t have the puck-win your battle against your opponent by creating time and space and creating an area.
  10. CLOCK MANAGEMENT-last minute of period, play smart whether up or down by a goal.  Are you pulling your goalie? If so get ready to hustle double time.
  11. HIT THE NET AND BE READY FOR REBOUNDS.
  12. PAY THE PRICE  to make the play! Take a hit/block a shot-all great areas to earn points with your coach. These are key intangibles that all players can bring to the ice
  13. ACCOUNTABILITY if you make a mistake own it.Look in the mirror.
  14. MOVE THE PUCK.  The puck moves faster than the body.  Don’t be selfish and try to carry the puck end to end.  Pass it up to your teammate that gets ahead of you and open.  Forwards need to be aware of the teammate that has the puck and can skate faster up ahead and find and area on the ice to get open and wait for the pass.  Carrying the puck slows you down-get it to your open winger.
  15. SELFISH PENALTIES lazy penalties have a consequence
  16. CONSISTENCEY of coaching.  Make sure you have the same rules for all players regarding being late or absent to practices.  Or the way you correct them on the bench.  COACHES HAVE TO BE FAIR.
  17. POISE WITH THE PUCK “you have more time than you think but not as much as
    you’d like”
  18. TAKE PRIDE IN THE TEAM play as a 5 man cohesive group. Centers are the 3rd defenseman always supporting puck in defensive zone/sticks on ice/sticks in passing lanes, take away the middle of the ice, play inside the dots.
  19. D TO D PASSING in all areas of the ice, -spread out and use the whole width
    of the ice.
  20. UNDERSTANDING THE GAP.Most important facet of the game, all areas of the ice take time and space away from opponent.
  21. USING YOUR DEFENSE IN THE OFFENSIVE ZONE activate the defense high cycles, sniper shots to the net.Have them join the attack as 5-man units.
  22. PLAY HARD WITHOUT THE PUCK work to get open, support teammates in all
    areas of ice.
  23. HAVE FUN  with the kids in a hard working environment, reward kids for doing small things correctly like taking a hit, - blocking a shot,- nice assist, - big save, - drawing a penalty, - leadership, etc
  24. LEADERSHIP be first in line, demand excellence from your teammates. Lead by example and others will follow. Speak up and hold everyone on the team accountable for their behavior on and off the ice.
  25. FINISH ALL CHECKS.  Pee wee and up

 

Sincerely,

Jeff Serowik

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