Do you have a minor hockey coach in your family?
Well why not Hockey
Canada Skills Development Coaching Manuals?
The manuals are user-friendly, ensuring coaches have the time to work on the development of their players,
and not trying to figure out how the drills work.
“It was important to make them user-friendly so that a coach can look at the plan in the binder, take it
out, put it in the plastic sleeve and take it to practice without having to worry about making their own
practice plans,” says Corey McNabb, manager of player development for Hockey Canada. “It saves a coach a lot
of time and it ensures if the plans are followed that the skills are taught in the proper progressions.
Coaches are busy, often going from work straight to the rink, so giving them a user friendly resource will
ensure they will use it for development of their players.”
Hockey Canada Skills Development Coaching Manuals work as a guide for the coach, allowing for flexibility
depending on the players and the team, while helping the coach gain the confidence and creativity needed to
design their own lesson plans.
The manuals include four sets of six lesson plans, each with specific goals and objectives. The lesson
plans allow for a fun-based approach to teaching, while still achieving the goal of teaching fundamental
skills.
Manuals have been designed for a variety of age groups, including Initiation, Novice, Atom, Peewee, Bantam
and Midget. There are also manuals for goaltenders and for half-ice.
Each Hockey Canada Skills Development Coaching Manual sells for $34.95, and can be purchased in one of two
ways: through Breakaway, the official store of Hockey Canada, at 1-800-667-2242, or through your local Hockey
Canada Branch or Regional Centre.
Featured skill development drill with Craig Hartsburg – head coach, 2007 National Junior
Team:
Own the Dot – Peewee Manual, pg. 22
“As far as I am concerned, puck protection is an under-valued skill. Especially with the new standard of
play, the player, or the team that can protect the puck will definitely succeed. This drill helps players
improve this skill”
“As coaches, it is essential for us to continue to work on skills at all levels. It is really important to
incorporate skill development in your practice plans. Watching a player improve his or her skills is one of
the best parts of coaching.”
Featured skill development drill with Melody Davidson – head coach and general manager, National
Women’s Team:
Double Give-and-Go – Peewee Manual, pg. 62
“This type of drill develops passing, pass reception timing and communication skills which are a team
having success.”
“With the new standard of play at all levels of hockey, there is more room to jump into open ice. The
quicker players and teams can move the puck, the quicker the game becomes and makes it difficult on opposing
defensemen”
“Skill development is important at levels. Coaches need to be creative in maximizing how many times a
young player gets to tough the puck during a practice. As an example, on breakout drills, let the kids mill
around in the neutral zone passing the puck between five of them, and they dump it in on the coach’s
cue.”