Hockey Practice Plan

Hockey practice plans can sometimes feel repetitive, leaving players disengaged and coaches frustrated. By incorporating structured drills and targeting skill development, these plans ensure your team stays motivated and improves continuously.

Here, we’ll break down several comprehensive practice plans that can be customized to fit your team’s needs.

Hockey Practice Plan Option 1

1. Forward Skating—Warm Up

Start with a dynamic warm-up focusing on forward skating to get the blood pumping and muscles ready.

2. Puck Control—Warm Up

Engage players with puck control drills around dots, enhancing their ability to maneuver and control the puck under pressure.pu

3. Hockey Station Skills

• Skating – Transition Races: The coach passes a puck to a corner. Two players will race to gain possession. Whoever gets the puck first will become the attacker (the other a defender) and will play a 1 vs. 1 on the net.
• Puck Control – 4 Pylon Agility: Set up four cones in a square. The player will switch between skating forwards/backwards to each cone. Focus on pivoting and speed.

4. Hockey Station Skills (Part 2)

• Scoring – Corner Puck Protect: The coach passes the puck to a corner. An offensive player skates toward the puck while a defender applies pressure. The offensive player must decide whether to escape with a tight turn and pass back to the coach or attempt to make a play toward the net.
• Shooting – Shoot on Front Foot: Players will skate from the center of the ice to the top of the circle with the puck. While approaching the net, they will shift their weight to their front foot (leading foot) and release a shot while gliding.

Hockey Practice Plan Option 2

1. Skating Backwards—Warm Up

Kick off with backward skating drills to build balance and coordination.

2. Puck Control—Warm Up

Introduce basic puck control to get players comfortable with the puck.

3. Hockey Station Skills

• Skating – Transition Footwork: Using the blue and red lines as transition markers, players will skate forward to one line and then pivot to skate backwards to the next line. *Focus on speed and quick transitions.
• Puck Control – 3 Puck Stickhandle: Place 3 pylons in a triangle (each 2-3 feet apart). Players will practice stickhandling between the pylons in a figure 8 or weaving pattern. Players can execute forehand, backhand, toe drags, and push-pull moves.

4. Hockey Station Skills (Part 2)

• Scoring – Circle Scoring: The first player starts at the top of the circle. They will walk into the circle with the puck, angling it slightly toward the net and will then focus on shooting in stride (ideally off the front foot).
• Shooting – Quick Release: Players will line up at the top of the circle. A coach will be stationed at the boards with a pile of pucks. As the player skates into the circle, the coach will make a firm pass. The player will receive the pass and make a shot in one swift motion.

Hockey Practice Plan Option 3

1. Skating Forwards—Warm Up

Begin with a forward skating warm-up to prepare for intensive drills.

2. Puck Control—Warm Up

Incorporate random obstacles to challenge players’ puck control in unpredictable scenarios.

3. Hockey Station Skills

• Skating – Circle Crossovers: Use pylons to set a large circle (15-20 feet radius) in the center of the ice. Players will take turns skating around the circle while using crossovers, emphasizing push off the edges of the skates to maintain speed.
• Puck Control- Cone Weaving- Set up a line of pylons 4-6 feet apart in a straight line or zig-zag pattern. Players will take turns weaving through the cones while maintaining close puck control using both forehand/backhand.

4. Station Skills (Part 2)

• Scoring – End Wall Retrieval: The coach will place a puck along the end boards. The offensive player will race to the wall to retrieve the puck while the defensive player applies pressure (trying to prevent a puck retrieval or force a turnover).
• Passing – Give and Go:
  • Two players will start 10-15 feet apart along the boards.
  • Player A passes to Player B.
  • Player A will skate forward to create space.
  • Player B passes back.
  • Player A receives the return pass and attempts to shoot.

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