ICE HOCKEY DAY
RECRUITMENT
ON-ICE SESSION
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RECRUITMENT
ICE HOCKEY DAY ON-ICE SESSION
Expectations of the On-ice Session
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To ensure that every participant has a great time and enjoys themselves
To introduce the skills of ice hockey
To encourage the participants to come back
To attract participants to sign up to play ice hockey
Goals of the session
The goal of the on-ice session is to provide a fun ice program that introduces ice
hockey to first time participants. The on-ice session should give participants the
opportunity to learn new skills in a safe environment. Pucks should be used for
as much of the on-ice session as possible; this will help the participants learn in
one of the exciting skills in ice hockey and hopefully attracting them to join the
game.
There are a number of ways to enable the participants to have the best time
possible during their Ice Hockey Day.
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Greet participants by name
Create an fun, welcoming atmosphere
Provide positive reinforcement to all participants and staff
Provide a safe and fun environment for all activities
Introduce them to as many enjoyable activities as possible
Short, clear explanations and demonstrations
Finish each session with Cross-ice hockey games
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RECRUITMENT
This operation manual contains the principles for the on-ice session and practical
information on how to run one the during a “Ice Hockey Day”. Included is a
suggested on-ice session plan to follow. The skills and drills shown are from the
IIHF’s Learn to Play Program Practice Manuals, which can be referred to for the
explanation of the key teaching points and information to introduce beginning
players to the basic skills of ice hockey. Other plans can be created by using
other LTP practices and modifying them as required.
ON-ICE ORGANIZATION
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Remember; use the ice that is available to you whether the whole ice surface or
½ ice and put a separator or barrier to stop pucks going into the other zones or
stations.
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ACTIVITY ZONE
Put cones 2 meters from the boards as a safety zone for children to stop. This
setup allows you to do a lot of drills in an organized manner, safely, even during
public sessions.
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Grouping of Players
The participants should be separated into groups to allow smaller manageable
numbers. It is best to group the players prior to going onto the ice as this will
ensure that ice time isn’t wasted and the session can start right away.
Make certain the groups are divided equally. This will keep the timing of the drills
and number of repetitions similar in all stations
Players Skill Level - If you have a large cross-section of abilities on the ice then
you can use skill as the grouping criteria:
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Participants with previous hockey experience
Participants with skating experience
Participants with some skating experience
New participants
Pre-Ice Procedure
Explain the general safety rules in the dressing room and review the on-ice
instructions. Introduce the players to their instructor, so that they know who to
follow onto the ice.
Small area and Station work
Working in small stations during the ice session allows for maximum activity as
more children get a chance to do the drills, more often. By dividing the ice there
is minimal distraction between groups. The rotation between the stations should
be done so that the groups do not have to cross paths. All players will benefit as
they can concentrate on improve their skills at their own rate.
On-ice Equipment
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Sticks
Lightweight Pucks
Cones
Football/Soccer balls
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RECRUITMENT
Friendships and other requests should be considered when determining the
groupings too. Players might feel more comfortable and happy when grouped
with their friends.
ON-ICE INSTRUCTOR ROLES
Head Coach/ Instructor
This is the person responsible for the planning and operation of the ice session.
On the ice they are “in charge” of the all the activities, especially safety, the
timing activities and signalling the change of stations.
RECRUITMENT
Instructors and Helpers
Instructors are responsible for the efficient operation of their stations. This
includes disciple, well explained activities, reinforcing the key teaching points,
providing the participants with feedback and most of all fun!! The larger the
number of instructors the more support and positive feedback for the participants
All on-ice instructors should demonstrate leadership, interact with participants to
provide 1-on-1 encouragement and provide a safe environment
On-ice Session Plan
The Ice Hockey Day on-ice session should be designed as a quick introduction to
several ice hockey skills. The drills may need to be explained in more depth and
you will find this information with the teaching points that are listed in the IIHF
Learn to Play Program Practice Manual.On the next pages of this manual are
some examples of on-ice sessions. The can used as is or as a guide to design a
session.
All on-ice sessions should begin with a warm up teaching the some on the basics
in skating
Ice Hockey Day: On-ice Session Plan
Warm Up: 5 -7 minutes
Ready Position-Basic Stance
1. Have players stand in the basic stance
2. Check balance and adjust their stance
3. Have players stand on one only foot
4. Players jump off ice then land in basic stance
Getting up off the ice
1. Have players start on their knees.
2. Keep the head and chest up, with both hands on the stick.
3. Player gets up into the Ready Position
 Slide the leg nearest to the end of the stick forward, so the skate is on the ice
 Push down on the thigh with the stick and move upper body upwards
 Bring other leg forward so skate in on the ice
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SAMPLE PRACTICES
3 Stations
Stations: 8 Minutes per Station
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Station 1: Cross-ice Game
1. Split players into 2 teams
2. Play a a game cross ice
3. If there are more the 1 group of 3 players per
team have shift changes every 60 seconds
Station 2: tags around the middle circle
1. All players stand or kneel on the circle
2. One player outside the circle is “it”
3. Player touches (tags) one of the players on
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the circle
Both players race around the circle
First player back to the open space wins
Second player is “it”
Repeat.
Station 3: relay (2 groups)
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Set-up an obstacle course
Split players into 2 teams
First player for each team starts on the
whistle
Player skates around the course
When completed the player tags the next
player for them to begin
Winner is the team that has all members
completing the course first
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Station 1
Station 2
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4 Stations
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Stations: 8 Minutes per Station
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Station 1: Skating
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Players walk across ice
Lift knees to touch stick held waist- high
Perform Half moons
Do a T-push
Play Freeze-tag
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Station 2: Stickhandling/Shooting
8. Stickhandle through obstacle course
9. Finish with a shot on net.
Station 3: Stickhandling
Station 3
7. Players skate in the end zone with a puck
8. On the whistle players enter the circle
9. They continue to stickhandle inside the circle
10. Players leave the circle on next whistle.
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Station 4: Passing
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Two lines opposite each other
Make proper pass
Skate to the end of the opposite line
Be good receivers.
Station 4
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6 Stations
Stations: 8 minutes x 4 Stations
RECRUITMENT
Game 1 «The knock’em’down » :
Material : Pucks, Cones
The players shoot at the cones. The aim is to throw
hard and precise enough, not only to touch the
cones, but also to push them over the line. All
players can shoot at the same time. The game
ends when all the cones have gone over the line.
To make it more challenging, you can make several
teams, or set a time limit.
Game 2 « The magical cone » :
Material : cones, different couloured pucks
Cones are place on the ice, some of them have a
puck hidden under them, and some don’t. The aim
is to bring back a maximum of cones, pushing
them, but only the ones hiding a puck (the puck has
to stay under the cone and be brought back with it).
All the players start at the same time. It is possible
to make several teams and use different couloured
pucks.
Game 3 « The express-train »:
Material : Chairs, cones.
Relay race in which one player pushes (or pulls)
another, sitting on a chair, in a slalom. It’s possible
to make two courses, so that two teams can race at
the same time. Game without sticks.
Game 4 « The removers » :
Material : pucks, hoops, nets.
Pucks and hoops are placed in an area. The aim is
to bring as many pucks as possible into the goal;
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pushing them with your feet (for the 1 round), and
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with your hands (for the 2 round), while avoiding
obstacles like hoops and cones. All players start at
the same time. 2 teams possible, with two different
nets. Game without sticks
Game 5 « The fisherman » :
Material: sticks, saucers, hoops, cones, ropes
The aim is to bring back all the saucers with your
stick (stick blade in the saucer’s hole). Still possible
to make several teams and also add obstacles
Game 6 « The sledge» : Material: cones
Relay race to a cone, like pulling a sledge (one
player in front holds one end of both sticks and
pulls the other who is behind, holding the other end
of the two sticks. Can be made into a race by
dividing the group into 2, and making two identical
courses.
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