How to Coach Bantam Hockey

Emphasize team play when coaching bantams. You will give each player individual attention when you see problems or mistakes that need to be corrected. However, the emphasis needs to be on team play. That means going into the corner to check the opponents with the puck. It means setting a screen in front of the goalie and putting your body in the line of fire so a teammates can have a clean look at the net.

Talk to your players about what you are trying to accomplish at each practice and each game. With at least five years of organized playing experience under most of their belts, players have started to think about the way the game is played and why coaches employ the strategies they choose. You can help your players understand the game better by explaining why you have them go through certain drills in practice or employ strategies during the games. Coaches who say "my way or the highway" to their players without offering any explanation sell themselves and their players short. Knowing and understanding the philosophy will help some of your players to "think" the game and that will benefit them in game competition.

Give your players schedules throughout the season so they know what will be expected of them and why. It's easy to hand out or email the game schedule at the start of the season. You may want to vary your practice schedule throughout the season. Handing out a practice schedule every two weeks will help your team stay fresh and focused.

Do not force injured players to participate in games and practice. While this may seem obvious, there are many coaches who will try to push and cajole their players to participate by appealing to their manhood and toughness. This is a mistake. Playing a tough game like ice hockey is a statement in itself about their toughness and commitment. If a player has suffered an injury, let him heal fully before returning him to the lineup.

Begin and end each practice session with skating drills. No matter how well you know the game of hockey and no matter how well you teach it, your players must be able to skate hard and skate well. Skating drills that boost a player's agility and endurance on the ice will pay dividends throughout the season. Have your players start off at the endline, skate up to the near blue line and back, then up to the center red line and back, then to the far blue line and back and finally to the far endline and back. Have your players do this twice at the start of practice and three times at the end to build stamina.