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Boo! Tips for Disguising Development

By Minnesota Hockey, 10/25/16, 8:15AM CDT

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What’s the best way to help kids hone their hockey skills? Ditch the long lines in practice and mask skill development with something fun and engaging.

That method has worked well for Woodbury boys’ high school head coach Wes Bolin. From 8U up to high school and beyond, Bolin said some of the best skill development comes when kids don’t think they’re learning anything at all.

“Kids play hockey, or any sport for that matter, to have fun,” said Bolin, an ADM coordinator for Minnesota Hockey. “Especially at those younger ages, they aren’t coming to practice to have the best wrist shot or perfect their backhand. They’re there to have fun with their friends.”

But there’s no harm in having them learn and have fun. Here are five ways to disguise development drills with the most important aspect of hockey: fun.

Small-Area Games

Small-area games provide tons of entertainment for players, all while teaching them important skills about playing the game in tight spaces and winning the one-on-one battles. Bolin said it all starts with game-like situations and repetition. From there it’s all about variation in each unit, group or section.

“Any chance for kids to get bored, you’ll lose their attention,” he said. “Once you’ve lost their attention, you’ve lost them. So, instead of doing just the same activity over and over again, mix in different elements to keep it interesting at different stations.”

While one group works on skating within a game of tag, another group can be doing the same activity, this time with an organized set of cones that they have to skate around. There is no shortage of small-area games.

‘That Doesn’t Look Like Hockey’

Sometimes you might see a soccer ball on the ice; maybe a football or tennis ball, too. Not only is it important for players to be multisport athletes away from the rink, they can learn some pretty valuable skills by including other sports during practice.

“We love to mix in different elements of sports,” said Bolin. “That way they don’t get sick of just playing hockey.”

Balance is worked on while kicking a soccer ball around the ice and hand-eye coordination can be improved by throwing a football to one another while skating up the ice. Just because it doesn’t look like hockey, doesn’t mean it won’t be useful in a hockey game.

Compete, Compete, Compete

One-on-one drills, cross-ice scrimmages and even a friendly game of keepaway –they’re all about getting players to compete in a fun environment.

While players are competing, they’re learning some of the basics of hockey, too.

“If you listen to sports analysis at any level in any sport they talk about competition: Does that player compete? Does he compete in hockey, football, baseball? What’s their competitive nature of themselves as an athlete?” Bolin explains. “In order to play a sport you need to have a competitive nature inside you. More importantly, you need to fuel that competitive nature in fun games throughout practice.”

Bolin adds that competition is another big reason that the small-area games work as well as they do.

“Just the notion of competition is extremely important to small-area games, and in our society where everything is kind of based on are you going to strive for something,” he said. “Small-area games get you to strive for something rather than just get you to perfect your stickhandling moves. Instead it asks: can you stickhandle through people trying to get the puck from you in a game of keepaway? It’s taking skills and putting them in a competitive situation.”

Open Ice Time

Whether it’s an 8U team or his high school squad, Bolin starts each practice the same way: with 5-10 minutes of open ice. It allows players to get relaxed on the ice and have a little fun before starting the hour-long practice session with coaches.

“You want them to learn a lot of this game on their own,” he said. “The only way you’re going to get them to do that is by letting them play without the assistance from coaches or parents. Let them enjoy the ice with their teammates and friends.”

Open ice is also a time where players learn to fail. They can try out a new dangle or work on saucer passes with teammates without the fear of screwing up. Open ice is the time where it’s OK to make mistakes and to learn from them.

Want to help your kids get more open ice? Take them to the local pond or outdoor rink to let them play with their buddies. They’ll improve their skills while discovering an even stronger passion for the game.

It All Comes Back to Fun

Fun is a critical component in any hockey practice or game. Why?

“That’s the only way they’re going to come back with excitement to the next practice or game is if they’re having fun,“ said Bolin. “If they leave the ice having a good time, you know they’re going to want to come back for more and they’re going to come back with excitement. Keep it fun, and keep your players wanting more of the game.”

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