The Baffled Parent's Guide to Coaching Youth Hockey

Preface: In Canada, Every Kid Plays Hockey

From Player to Coach

Introduction: Welcome Aboard, Coach

How to Use This Book

A Word on Coaching Style

Part One: Coaching 101: Everything You Need to Know about Coaching Youth Hockey

1. Creating an Atmosphere of Good Habits

Establish Your Identity as Coach

Questions and Answers

2. Before Hitting the Ice: Hockey Clear and Simple

The Ice Rink

Bare Basics

Basic Rules

As the Game Progresses

3. Setting Up the Season

First Things First

Selecting an Assistant Coach

The Many Hats of a Team Manager

Meeting the Parents

Hockey Equipment

Questions and Answers

4. Essential Skills and How to Teach Them

The Fundamentals

Skating

Passing

Stickhandling

Shooting

Checking

5. Goaltending

The Last Line of Defense

Goalie Fundamentals

Goalie Drills

6. Offense and Defense

Offensive Fundamentals

Defensive Fundamentals

7. The Practice

Preparation and Cooperation

Getting Your Players to Respond to You Immediately

Always Think Safety

First Practice

Planning the Practice

Practice Session Worksheet

General Practice Format

Practice Success

8. Sample Practices

Basic Practice

Intermediate Practice

Intermediate/Advanced Practice

Questions and Answers

9. The Game

Set an Example

Respect the Officials

Be Ready

Game Overview

Problems and Solutions

Questions and Answers

10. Dealing with Parents and Gender Issues

Perspective on Parents

Help Parents Look at the Big Picture

Keeping Emotions in Check

Addressing Gender Issues

Questions and Answers

Part Two: Drills: Foundations for the Growth of Players and Coaches

11. Fundamental Drills

12. Offensive Drills

13. Defensive Drills

14. Game Situation Drills

Appendix

Referee Signals

Glossary

Resources

Index

Acknowledgments

About the Authors

"This is a great book that touches on the most important parts of the game: sportsmanship, discipline, and most importantly, fun.—Larry Robinson, member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, six-time Stanley Cup Champion

Coach. You thought you were just going to sign up your child for the youth league, but when no one else stepped forward, you volunteered to coach the team. But you can't tell a flip pass from a slap shot or an angle check from a hip check! Don't panic—Coaching Youth Hockey is here to help.

From your first team meeting to the season-ending pizza party, Coaching Youth Hockey will get you started and keep you going. You'll learn how to teach the fundamental skills of passing, stickhandling, shooting, and checking. You'll even learn to develop your own coaching style—one that works best for you and your players. Before you know it, you'll be coaching players who are moving, motivated, and most of all, having fun.

• Survive your first practice and first game
• Match drills to ability
• Make practices safe, fun, and rewarding
• Improve your players and your team
• Reach all your players
• Be the coach you never had

"A must-read book that provides guidelines for both parents and coaches in their relationships with young athletes."—Lou Lamoriello, CEO, president, and general manager, New Jersey Devils

"Just what hockey needs! Everything you may encounter with young players can be answered in the pages of this extremely well-written book."—Tom McVie, forty-nine years in pro hockey as a player, coach, and scout

"I was totally confused about instructing my sons when they played hockey. This book would have prevented me from ever having been baffled."—Stan Fischler, "The Hockey Maven," NHL analyst for MSG SportsDesk, and author of Fischler's Illustrated History of Hockey

"Bruce Driver's success as a player came from being a student of the game. He has applied his knowledge of hockey to this coaching guide in an extremely thorough way. A must-read for all youth coaches."—Grant Standbrook, head recruiter and assistant coach, Maine Black Bears; former head coach, Dartmouth College