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Fore Checking

Fore checking refers to skating done in the offense zone in order to recover possession of the puck after a dump or turn over. Fore checking is all about anticipating what the puck carrier will do next. Knowing your opponents skill level will help you figure out what they might do next. Strong skaters will skate the puck up where the weak ones will pass the puck.  The fore checker must always keep eye to eye contact with the puck carrier. The puck carrier will tip you off to where they plan to pass the puck by the direction in which they look so, by watching the puck carriers eyes you can anticipate where he/she is going to pass the puck. This gives you a chance to intercept it and gain possession.

 

 

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Hip Checking

Hip checking is best delivered along the boards. Hip checking is when a player goes into a slight crouch stance and uses his hips against an opposing player to separate him/her from the puck. If you end up hitting them below the knees you will be charged with a penalty of clipping. Remember to stay low and curled when you hit them so you can stay on your feet.

Here are a couple of videos on hip checking.

 

Shoulder Checking

Shoulder-checking is the most common form of body checking. The player swings his/her hips toward the opposing player trying to make them become off balanced and then using his/her shoulder with elbows tucked in to separate him/her from the puck. Remember not to use your elbows or this will cause you to get an elbowing penalty.

Body Checking.

Body checking has a variety of techniques like hip checking, shoulder checking, side checking, back checking, front checking, and fore checking. Side checking is the most common form of body checking. To accomplish this you drive your shoulder, upper arm, hip and elbow, equally into the opponent to stop them from carrying the puck down the ice. 

The purpose of body checking is simply to separate an opponent from the puck while maintaining your balance and position without committing a penalty. It also gives you the chance to gain possession of the puck and take it in for a goal.

Front checking is another form of a body checking. Front checking is accomplished by using the front of your body while facing the front of the other player and taking them into the boards. In a front check you want to use the entire body to check the opposing player to gain possession of the puck or to allow a team mate to gain possession of the puck. Remember to always have your head up. Here is a video showing examples of legal and illegal body checks.

Cross Checking

Cross checking is when you have both hands on the stick and you extend your arms to check an opposing player. Remember this is an illegal move and will earn you a penalty. They will call you on either a major or a minor penalty depending on the severity of the infraction.

Sweep Checking

Sweep checking is the most popular fore check used by forwards. This type of checking uses your stick to keep the opposing player from sending a pass or by knocking the puck away from them. This is accomplished by swinging your stick in a sweeping motion in front of the opposing player.  The ideal of the sweep check is to force the player to the outside.  Never approach the puck carrier head on because he/she could get around you and score a goal.  Always angle the puck carrier while sweeping your stick. You can accomplish the angling by using forward or backward cross overs.

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Hook Checking.

The hook check is accomplished by placing your top hand on the stick then bend one knee and bring the shaft of your stick down where it is nearly flat on the ice. Hook your stick blade in the direction of the puck.  The curved part of the stick should cup the puck and drive the puck away from the opponent.  This type of stick checking is the most difficult to use.

Lift Checking

Lift checking is the act of lifting the opposing teams stick to gain possession of the puck. A lift check is done for two reasons. The first reason is not to allow them to score a goal when they are positioned in front of the net. The second reason is to take the puck away and take it in for a goal yourself. Lift checking is done when you put your stick under their stick and lift up. This form of checking is another type of stick checking.

Press Checking

The press check is opposite of the lift check. The press check is when you use your stick to stop or control the movement of an opponents stick by placing your stick on top of their stick and pressing it down so that it can not move.

Poke Check.

A poke check involves using your stick to poke at the puck to knock it away from the opposing player. To accomplish a poke check place your top hand on the stick with palm down. The stick will face down and closed. Keeping your elbows tucked in toward your sides and use the other hand to keep your balance. Then poke the bottom of your stick blade at the puck using your top hand to get the puck away. With the poke check avoid sweeping your stick,the purpose of the poke check is to poke the puck not sweep it. Remember to always play the body after poking the puck away.

Stick Checking

Stick checking is the use of your stick to interfere  with an opponents stick to gain possession of the puck. There are many types of stick checking like left, poke, sweep, press and hook checking. Each type will separate the opponent from the puck and gain you the advantage. In the next few posts we will take a look at each of these types of stick checking.

Girls Checking in Hockey.

Up to 1990 girls were allowed to check in hockey after that it was disallowed. The debate has been a hot topic in last few years about weather girls should be allowed to check. There are people who believe girls should not check because they would get hurt or that it would promote violence in girl’s hockey. There is speculation that if checking is allowed back in girl’s hockey that there would be fewer girls involved in hockey due to the increase of physical demand and the worry of injury.

Others believe that putting checking back in girl’s hockey would only benefit the program. One reason is that it would teach the girls to play with their heads up instead of down. Some girls have the tendency to play looking down, not up, in which case it causes more injuries because they're concentrating on the puck and not on where they are going or what is happening around them. This leads to them getting hurt from getting pinched up on the board and not being prepared for it. In boys hockey they are all always anticipating the next hit so they tend to skate with their head up and can prepare for the hit or can see were the next open player is at on the ice. Girls are two times more likely to suffer from a concussion than their male counterpart. Another reason for allowing checking into girl’s hockey according to some is that it would bring more excitement to the game; this would then bring in more spectators to the game.

I believe that girls should be allowed to check in hockey. If you don't think that there isn't hitting and shoving going on in girls hockey, then you are sorely wrong. Girls seem to know when the referees are not looking and get a cheap shot on each other. When they are going for a puck on the boards, the arms are moving and bodies are trying to separate the other player from the puck and it gets to be quite physical. There is hip checks going on and pinching against the board going on all the time. The reason I think checking should be allowed in girls hockey is because they will teach them to skate with their heads up and less injuries will occur because they are anticipating the next hit, they will see where they are going, who’s open, and who's coming after them. There would also be less hitting that is done on the sly, behind the officials back, and this will help in girls having fewer injuries also. The bottom line is that I think it would make for better players and would reduce the amount of injuries in girl’s hockey. Isn't that as parents of girls in hockey one of our major concerns? If not allowed to check girls at least should be taught how to check and to receive one properly. This is important in kid’s sports and my kid’s sports.

Goalie Fingers Up Glove Position

Fingers up position for a goalie helps cut the trajectory of the puck when it is coming at you. The other benefit is that when a puck comes at his shoulder he can move more freely to snatch the puck out of the air. There are other benefits to the fingers up position which will be demonstrated in this video.

Goalie Positioning

Goal tending is the art of stopping the puck from going into the net at all cost. In this blog we will be looking at the different techniques of goal tending.

The butterfly technique became popular in the 1980 and is widely used today. The goalie stands with feet a little wider then his/her shoulders and the knees are held close together to form a inverted V shape. The goalie stays square to the shooter  and drops to his/her knees as soon as the puck is fired at them. His/her leg at this point should be out on each side and the five hole closed with arms tucked in tight to their sides. The advantage of this position is that when the goalie drops there legs are extended out and this covers the majority of the net. The biggest advantage is that you can go down fast and back up quickly in this type of form. Shots to the upper areas are the weakest part of the butterfly technique.


The stand up technique is when the goalie is in a slight crouch position in the net and he stays up instead of going down. In the stand up technique the goalie depends on his/her skating ability and talent to slide from one side of the net to the other side in a matter of seconds. The goalie must challenge the shooter by cutting off the angle and making the goal look as small as possible.  The goalie uses his size to cut off the angle of the shooter and creating a bad shoot. A stand up goalie must be a good skater and can skate out of the crease to make plays on the puck. He/she must be very athletic and move very quickly to make saves. The outside corners can cause him/her problems along with low shots because the bottom portion of the net is largely uncovered.


The hybrid technique uses a combination of the butterfly and the stand up techniques to stop the puck. The goaltender usually starts in the stand up position and then drops down when the puck goes from one side of the net to the other side. This technique is largely dependent on instinctive moves. He/she reacts according to what he/she thinks the shooter is going to do to get the puck in the net.

The flopper style is for goaltenders committed to stopping the puck at all costs. He/she must be a top rated athlete with tremendous quickness. He/she may use their body or they may flop around on the ice to get their glove, skate or anything else in front of the puck to stop it from going in the net. All this commotion frustrates the shooter so that he/she misses the goal.

These are just a few goalie techniques. The goalie should always decide what technique feels best to their way of saving the puck.

Goalie Leg Extensions

This video will show you how important it is to use a leg extention instead of a leg kick to stop the puck. The leg extention directs the puck to the corners and the leg kick puts it back in front of the  net, so it is very important to alway extend the leg instead of the kick.

Goalie Tips and Tricks 2.

Positioning is very important to a goalie he/she must always stay square with the shooter and never lose sight of the puck. In ice hockey the goaltender is the only player who can play in the crease until the puck has entered then it is fair game to all. They are also the only player that can fall on the puck, use their glove, and any part of their body to stop the puck from going into the net.

The goalie should stand on their feet as long as they can before going down this will limit the shooters options in scoring a goal. The best thing for a goalie is to try to catch the puck if at all possible. This prevents the puck from sliding bye or rebounding back for another shot. You might see a goalie tap his/her stick on the goal post. What they are doing is checking to see how much net is available and where they are positioned without looking so that they don't take their eyes off the puck. While watching the puck the goalie should check out the position of the blade on the opposing player. If the blade is open and slightly pointed upward the player is going to take the shoot. If the blade is flat or parallel to the ice the player is going to deke or fake you out.

 When the player is behind the net with the puck the goalie must stay close to the post closest to the puck with pads against post and stick at a 45 degree angle to deflect the puck when it is shot at them. The 45 degree will deflect the puck outward not up and toward the net. Drop to the butterfly position with the stick in the down position when being screened by the opposing player. This will increase your chances of seeing the shot and it will reduce the angle of the shot so the screening player can't deflect it.

Remember goalies you are to be in consent communication with your teammates. This will help them and you by telling them who to shut down first and that they are screening you out. Goalies have one of the hardest positions in hockey and it takes the team to win or lose the game not just the goalie.  More to come on ice hockey goalie tips and tricks. 

Goalie Tips and Tricks 1.

In hockey the job of the goalie is to keep the puck out of the net at all cost and to never take their eyes off of the puck so they can achieve this goal. The goalie position is a very demanding position due to the fact that their equipment is different and that it weighs more than their teammates. Goalies need to fast on their feet to be able to get up and down in a matter of seconds. They also have to contend with  pucks that are coming at them  at speeds up to 100 mph or more. Remember your goalie should always be considered the last line of defense in hockey.

The basic goaltender stance in ice hockey is with knees bent and weight distributed on the balls of their feet like in a squat. They must stay low and keep their body square with the shooter. This gives them the appearance of filling out the net. The butterfly is a goal tending technique in which the goaltender goes down with his/her knees together and the pads are stretched out in both directions with the player upright and square to the shooter. The stick should be on the ice between the pads.

 

Here is a demonstration of the goalie stance.

Stick on Stick Defense.

This video will show you how to play stick on stick defense by playing the man.

Ice Hockey Defense Strategy - Part Three

Here is a video about how the defense can use behind the net for protection and to give a better break out pass.

Ice Hockey Defense Strategy - Part Two

Here is the second part of ice hockey defense strategy hope these tips help you play abetter game.

Get to know your defense partner and how he/she plays. This will help you become a strong defense team because you know their strong points, weak points, and they know yours. Defense is a very important part of winning or losing a game. When my son played defense his partner and him know exactly where the other one was at all times, this made them a very effective part of the team. When one was up, the other was back, then when the other one moved back, then he was up. They played like a well-oiled team and it was fun to watch.

As a defense player you must get to know your goalie and his/her weaknesses. This way you will be able to help them on their weak side and keep the puck out of the net .Remeber always talk to your goalie throughout the game, they see things that you can't see and are able to give you hints on who needs to be shut down quicker and who is the strongest players on the opposing team. Make sure not to screen the goalie, the goalie must keep his/her eyes on the puck at all times. When in a face off on your end make sure to ask the goalie if he/she can see the puck because most of the time they can't.

Defense players remember it is your job to keep the puck in the opposite side and to always defend your goalie. Defense is one of the keys to winning or losing the game and is a very important position. So please parent, spectators, coaches and team mates, remember to tell them thank you for doing such a great job.

Defense Zone Coverage

Proper positioning of the defenders covering the players without the puck is just as important as defending the ones that have the puck. Proper defense position is important.

Ice Hockey Defense Strategy - Part One

Playing defense is one of the hardest positions in ice hockey. To be a great defense player you have to play smart hockey by knowing were the puck is and where all the players are positioned. You will also have to anticipate where the puck will be going next and who will have it. The defenses job is to stop anything and everything that is headed towards their net.

Here are some tips and tricks for defense hockey players. Always keep your stick on the ice with one hand in front of you and pointed at the player. If the player is a weak puck handler you can swing at the puck and usually take it away. If the puck handler is a strong player watch for an opening and then poke check the puck. With stronger puck handlers if you swing at the puck they then have the opportunity to get around you, after you have your stick on the opposite side of them and this gives them a scoring opportunity.

You will also have to watch the size of gap you are giving the opposing player; it should be no more or no less than two hockey sticks away. If you give them too little, they can get around you if you give them too much, they can score on you, so always watch your gap. Never let an opposing player get behind you; this leads to a break away and could result in a goal. Most goals are scored from the slot so, try to angle the opposing player to the boards, never allow them to go down the middle.

 When watching a player bring down the puck watch his/hers hips, not the puck. If you watch the puck instead of the hips they are more than likely to get around you. By watching the hips and using your peripheral vision, you will be able to follow the player and keep him/her out of scoring range. You can also tell were a person is going by glancing at his eyes. The reasoning on this is because you always look the direction that you're going to be going.

I'll give you more defense tips in part 2 of ice hockey defense strategy.
 

Defense Positions in Our Own End.

This video displays the basic guidelines to defense positioning in hockey.

To Pinch or Not To Pinch.

If you are playing defense, learn these hockey tips and become the most reliable defense man on ice. Every defense man experienced that dragging feeling, followed by a split second of indecision. Should I commit? Is it the right time to pinch? What if I am too late? If you are one of those guys and are not sure whether to pinch or not to pinch, keep reading. In this article, I'll give you a few tips on becoming a more consistent defense man. Remember them the next time you hit the ice and your teammates will thank you for that.

 

Pinching, if you don't know what it is, is actually quite simple. Basically, it's rushing forward off the opponents blue line when your team is in their zone. Sounds simple, right? The question you should ask yourself: when is the right time for this? If your timing is right - it gives your team an immediate advantage and you keep possession of the puck in the other team's zone. If the timing is wrong - your opponent can easily have two and sometimes three on one rush back to you your own end. Players often think that pinching is like throwing a dice, sometimes you get what you want, sometimes - not. It should not be like this.

 

When to pinch.

It is impossible to teach every game situation. With experience you will be able to read the game much better, and it will become a more intuitive decision. But for now, keep in mind those four simple "rules" and do pinch when the opportunity presents itself.

 

1) Where is the puck? The guy you are pinching towards does not have the puck yet or does not have full control of the puck. You have to make sure to get to him faster than he can establish puck control and either make a pass or flick the puck against the boards. If you can take away time and space from the guy by pinching - do it.

2) Your partner. The longer you play with your partner - the easier it becomes. There is nothing else that can boost your confidence than the trust you develop with your defense partner. You can take a bit of a risk here and there knowing that he is going to cover you. Talk to him before and after the game, discuss game situations and how you can help each other on the ice. Ask him to cover the middle of the ice when you decide to pinch. Communication in this case makes it perfect. Develop trust in each other, and you no longer will be double guessing yourself.

3) Your line and the opponent's team line. It is no secret that starting probably from pee wee age group every team has first, second and a third line. When as a defense man you are playing with the 1st line you can pinch with more confidence than playing with the 3rd line. Who is on the ice for the other team also matters. You should be a bit more cautious and defensively-minded playing against their top line, and you could take more risk competing against their third line.

4) The Score. Everything else being the same, depending on a score you should either hold back or pinch. Do not pinch if there is a tie or you are leading by a goal or even two goals. Your main responsibility here is to defend and shut the other team down. Your game is expected to be more conservative. Mistakes in one, or two goal games are very costly, so defend first, attack - second. However, if your team is loosing by a pair of goals, pinch, when the opportunity is there. It might be exactly what you team needs to get back in the game.

 

When Not to Pinch.

Stick to the following "rules" and do not pinch when:

1) Your partner is not a reliable defense man. I know you should always be confident in your teammates, but the truth is you will be playing with both stronger and weaker defense partners.You have to use your best judgment here.

2) Your teammates, especially your wingers are out of position. Do not pinch if there is no chance for them to cover you.

3) Your team is losing by one, it's a tie, or your team is winning by one or two. In those game situations you have to hold back and shut the other team down. The exception: When it is late in the game and your team is loosing by one.

4) You are playing against a really fast winger. Be more cautious here or you can get burned.

 

How to pinch.

 

One of the most important hockey tips here. While pinching - do not hesitate. You have to commit everything you have and not second guess yourself. You must accomplish one of two goals:

1) take the puck

2) take the player. It is an absolute key to being a successful and reliable pinching defense man.

Your task is to keep the puck in the other team's zone and create an advantage for your team.

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Keeping The Puck to the Outside on Defense.

When you are playing defense in hockey you always have to stop the other team from getting scoring opportunities. You cannot allow the other team a chance to put the puck in the net. The best way to do this is to keep the puck to the outside. Here are some of the things that you need to do to keep the puck to the outside when you are playing hockey.

The first thing that you need to have is a strong presence in the middle. Having a strong presence is not just about how many players are playing in the middle of the ice, it is also about how good the players in the middle of the ice are. They have to be able to put pressure on the other team and force them to make a mistake. Force the other team to play along the boards and you will not be scored on.

Another thing that you have to have from your players is an understanding of the system that you want to use. If your players do not understand what their jobs are then they are useless. This is something that you will have to work on in practice.

Here are some other things that are necessary when you are trying to keep the puck to the outside of the zone.

1) A system

2) Ability to stop passes from going through the middle

3) Cutting down of shooting angles

4) Knowledge of who the threats on the other team are

As long as you focus on these four things that are talked about in this article then your team will be great. Make sure that your drills reflect these tips and that you have a strategy that is well understood.

If you have any questions about possible hockey strategies that you can use then you should take a look at the defensive strategies [http://www.tipsforhockey.com/Strategy%20Sections/Defensive-Hockey-Strategy.htm].

The Meaning of Teamwork.

What is the meaning of teamwork? A team is a group of individuals striving to achieve a common goal and hold themselves accountable for the outcome. Teamwork is very important when it comes to youth sports because it prepares them to participate in teamwork on the job and in daily life. Teamwork can either break or make a team successful, not only in winning but in losing by teaching that it takes everybody to work together. Like in football if you don't have a front line that holds the other team back the quarterback, halfback, and fullback wouldn't be able to break through the line and go for a touchdown. The line is just as important as the players that are making the touchdowns. Fans seem to also praise the ones that are making the great plays but are forgetting that other players were involved in the making of that play.

If a team can't play cohesively together it seems like they struggle to achieve the common goal. You can have a lot of great players but if they play as individuals in a game the team will have a hard time achieving their primary goal and will ultimately fail. Just remember that to make a great team you have to have teamwork because there is no I in team and that everybody contribute to the team no matter what skill level they possess. Just because you’re not the strongest and most gifted player you are just as important as they are because you provide support for them. Remember you win or lose as a team.

Ice Hockey Offense Strategy- Part Two

This post is going to help the offensive player read the goalie and make more productive shots on the net. Fingering out the goalie is important in making your shots go in so here are some helpful tips.

If the he/she stays deep in the crease shot whenever you have an open shoot. If he/she challenges you try to get around them. If he/she gives out high rebounds shot low and hard. If his/her hands are back, shoot for the high corners. If he/she goes down early get him/her to go down by faking then shot at blocker side high. If he/she has a high stance go for the five hole. If he/she putshis/her paddle down on the ice allot go for high blocker or go around him/her. A goalie that drops on most shots is more vulnerable on giving up rebounds instead of high shots.

I hope these tips help you read the goalie and  make more goals.
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Ice Hockey Offense Strategy - Part One

The offense's key job is to make goals and get their own rebounds. Here are some tips on what to look for and when and where to shot on the goalie.

When shooting the puck remember angle is more important than distance because a good angle from the top of the circle has a better chance of going in then a shot closer up by the goalie. When your up close on the goalie he/she has a better chance of stopping the puck because he/she  has a less restricted view of the puck and more time to react. If you don't have a good shot and no other option then shoot the puck to get a rebound by shooting low and hard. If you are at a bad angle shoot at the high post not at the goalies chest this gives you a better chance of making it in the net.  Also try to shoot on the blocker side just above the pad of goalie because your chances of making it in are much greater.

Accuracy and a quick release are very important in making a goal because when the puck is to slow the goalie has time to save it and when your shot is not accurate your going to miss the net or end up shooting it at the goalies chest for him/her to save it. A quick release gives the goalie less time to react to where  the puck is going and this gives you a better chance of making it into the net. Also if you have anything that look like an open net shot don't think about it just shoot.

If you are not a great skater or stick handler go in front of the net to tip in a shot, deflect it, or get the rebound. You will also be able to screen the goalie and draw a defense men to you away from the shooter. Always remember to have your stick on the ice and ready for the puck.

Offensive Attack

Thia is just one example of an offensive attack.

Positional Breakdown-The Canadians

This clip shows what area you are going to be covering and what can happen when a player doen't stay in his/her zone. Just remember there are times where you have to come out of your zone to help another player.