U8 - Around the World of Sports

The Head-Up Scan The Ice Warm-Up from Dwayne Blais of the NSDA is a simple yet highly effective warm-up drill that is great for all age levels. The goal of this warm-up activity is to get players in the habit of keeping their head up while they stickhandle so they can look for open ice and evade obstacles. 

Setup

• Can be set up to be full-ice (like it is shown in the video) or half-ice.
• On the whistle, all players skate in the same direction.
• On the next whistle, players check their shoulders and turn to go in the opposite direction.
• Coaches can add obstacles (cones, sticks, tires) that players must stickhandle around, and coaches can also be obstacles (like shown in the video).

Coaching Points

• Players should practice keeping their head up!
• Players must shoulder check and look over their shoulder to determine where the open ice is.
• Coaches should encourage players to keep their head up as much as possible during practice. Players can't keep their head up in the game if they do not learn the skill at practice!

Variations

• Can be full ice, half ice, or in zone setup.
• The coach can blow the whistle to change directions every 10 - 20 seconds for younger age groups or every 3 - 5 seconds for higher-skilled groups.
• Can add obstacles and / or defenders that players need to be aware of and stickhandle around.

Soccer can be a fun way break away from traditional small area games and drills.

Set Up

The version shown in this diagram is on 1/4 ice station. Instead of using hockey nets try using cones and widening out the goals a little bit. The kids seem to have more fun when more goals are scored. Depending on the number of players in your station you can play 3 vs 3, 4 vs 4, or 5 vs 5. Don't worry about shift changes just split up the players in your station as equal as possible and let them all play.

Why this game is good

Not only will the players have a blast, but they will be forced to use their edges, balance, and agility in ways they dont always get to.

The 3 vs. 3 Handball Game from Topher Scott of The Hockey Think Tank is a fun game that reinforces offensive principles. Teams will have to communicate and perform lots of give & go's to be successful. No sticks and no pucks. Use any type of ball: soccer ball, basketball, football or anything else (even an extra glove can work)!

Setup:

• 2 nets and two teams. 
• Can only have the ball for 2 seconds (for younger teams or less skilled players you can increase that time). You must get rid of the ball quick (give & go!)
  • If a player has the ball for longer than 2 seconds, the coach blows the whistle and there is a change of possession.
• If the ball falls to the ice, it is a change of possession.
• 15 - 30 second shifts. Encourage players watching to cheer their teammates on.

Coaching Points:

1. Give and go's!
2. Support the ball by being an outlet for your teammate.
3. Get open!

Variations:

• Can be 2v2, 3v3, 4v4.
• Can be set up as a station or a half-ice game.
• Can add goalies (even players as goalies).
• Can let players hold on to the ball longer than 2 seconds.

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. 

This is exactly the same game as puck tag but it is geared towards the Mites & Novice age level because it allows the players to use ringettes instead of pucks. The game of puck tag goes like this:

• Every player has a ringette and is skating around the playing area.
• Designate 2 players or coaches to be "IT".
• If a player is tagged they must stand still with one arm holding their stick and one arm up in the air.
• In order to return to the game another player must stickhandle a ringette through their legs.
• Once all of the players are tagged at one time then the round is over.

Why this is a great small area game

The game forces players to control the ringette with their head up and taking inventory of their surroundings. They have to look for opportunities to free their teammates by being aware of where the "IT" are located.

This is a basic cross ice 3 vs 3. Depending on your numbers and the age level you can do 4 vs 4 as well. Keep in mind one of the goals is to get every player engaged and a lot of puck touches.

Set Up

Place two nets cross ice facing each other with three players from each team in the playing area. In this set up the goals are moved up to the face-off dots. This allows more space behind the nets and allows for more plays and shots on net. Allow the players to play for 60 - 90 seconds then blow the whistle for a shift change.