Reply To: 2010-2020 Coach Discussion Forum

[Tom Molloy]

Tom what are your thoughts on Practice Format. Is there many differences in a U12 practice from North America to the Europeans? Did they cover this subject in your latest Coaching Conference? Thank you Tom

I would love to hear from all the Coaches on this site. ***Lets help each other ***

This is what I usually do. U12

1. 5 min Free time
2. 8 min Shooting/Passing full ice
3. 24 min break into 3 stations (skating – puck control – Scoring )
4. 20 min 2 half ice game situation drills
5. 12 min Games to Teach the Game

Peter

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Peter, it changes by country and coach. Generally the practices are similar to what you mention but most coaches would do more game situation than you have outlined. The younger the player the more SAG's they play and U10 never play full ice in most countries. I posted a Swedish U12 practice a few years ago with a Regional Coach Anders Ottosson https://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/forums/reply/reply-to-daily-drill-section-one-21/ . It is on the site.

Lots of countries practice in 5 man units and the drills are done with each other. Older teams have 4 units of 5 and two goalies.

I posted a Czech skills practice that I watched while I was in Prague at the World's a few weeks ago and it is a six station sixty minute skills practice with two cross ice games at the end. It was run by Ludek Bukac Jr. https://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/videos/watch/a-czech-individual-skills-6-station-circuit/

I have always fournd that in NA we work on defense a lot and our players learn offense practicing against the defense. In Europe they tend to work on offense a lot and the players learn defense while they are practicing offense.

'The Game is the Greatest Coach'
'Enjoy the Game'