Mighty Mite 3/3/24 Full Rink
Mighty Mite 3/3/24 Full Rink
Practice Notes
Warm-Up: Circle Skate (Goals between blue line and end line) with Actions between the blue lines (5 minutes)
Warm Up with actions:
-- Glove touch right hand to blue line, left hand to red, blue line right hand
-- Hard between the blue lines
-- Exaggerated long strides (speed skater strides, swing the arms)
-- Super man at the blue lines
-- Swizzles forward and backwards
6 Stations (35-40 minutes):
Cross Ice Hockey on 2 end zones or 2 end zones and 1 neutral zone (4on4 or 5on5) (Remaining Time)
Mighty Mite 3/3/24 Full Rink
1. Chaos Puck Control - Players stickhandle skating around each other within the circle. Check to see that each player is holding their stick properly. Hands about shoulder width apart and top hand at the end of the stick partially held in the palm with the V between thumb and forefinger on top of the stick like you would hold a hammer. Use hockey pucks, rings, or tennis balls.
2. Stationary passing (A) to a partner or the boards, read the skill level of your group and practice pretty close together and move apart as needed. Use backhand passing also. Part B Progress into 2 players passing in an arc as they skate together and get a shot on goal. This may only be a few kids capable of doing this part, if two coaches on this drill one coach can work separately with players that complete passes with movement. Do not be surprised if stationary passing is all that happens at this station. It is a big ask for the players to skate together and complete passes. This can be modified into a small version of asteroids with players skating along the boards and other players attempting to hit the other players with pucks, rings or balls.
3. Circle Skate (Cross Overs, Edge work) - No sticks, go both directions. Have players continuously go around the circle doing c cuts with outside skate (skates on the ice), Scooter push offs with outside skate. Cross Overs for those that can do them. For Cross Overs, ideally have the players exaggerate the step over rather than small step overs. Coaches demonstrate and feel free to take a player to the side to work with them 1on1. Incorporate ice touches with inside hand at hash marks to force the players to lean into their edges.
4. Obstacle Course: Follow the diagram or not, players do NOT start with puck, skate the course complete a fake then receive a pass before shooting into empty goal. Please introduce a fake around the final obstacle to get open for a shot on goal. Add a silly celebration for fun.
5. Backwards Line Skates with stops (2 feet): Backwards practice but start skating forward to the tire or 2 strides then pivot to backwards and again at the end pivot to forward with a stop. Remove pivot at the end if this is too many instructions for the players. The 2 foot (also called the "Hockey") stop is important since we need to work on this skating skill. Helpful Backwards strides or beginner techniques are wiggles and swizzles. Emphasize head and shoulders up without sticks. Use a heavy bucket for pulling or a pad for deep knee bend forcing better body position for skating.
6. Race with Shot: Players go on coaches signal, race around the cone to puck from coach then shoot on goal. Emphasize staying low around the cone on the turn and switching sides after each race.