Hockey Drills For 7 Year Olds
Hockey is a thrilling and challenging sport that requires players to master various skills such as skating, stickhandling, shooting, and teamwork. If you're a parent or coach of a 7-year-old hockey player, you understand the importance of developing their skills early on. In this article, we'll explore some effective hockey drills for 7-year-olds that can help your young players improve their skills and have fun playing the game.
1. Skating Drills
Skating is one of the most important skills in hockey, and it's essential to start developing it as early as possible. Here are some skating drills that can help improve your 7-year-old player's skating skills:
- Skating backward: Have players skate backward from one end of the rink to the other.
- Figure eight: Set up cones or markers in a figure eight pattern and have players skate around them in both directions.
- Weaving: Set up cones or markers in a straight line and have players weave around them, alternating between skating forwards and backward.
These drills will help younger players develop balance, coordination, and agility on the ice.
2. Stickhandling Drills
Stickhandling is another essential skill for hockey players, and it's important to start developing it early on. Here are some stickhandling drills that can help improve your 7-year-old player's stickhandling:
- Stationary stickhandling: Have players stand in one spot and practice stickhandling with the puck.
- Figure eight stickhandling: Set up cones or markers in a figure eight pattern and have players stickhandle around them in both directions.
- Obstacle course: Set up cones, pylons, or other obstacles in a line and have players stickhandle through them.
These drills will help younger players develop better puck control, hand-eye coordination, and overall stickhandling skills.
3. Shooting Drills
Shooting is an important part of hockey, and it's important for young players to develop good shooting habits early on. Here are some shooting drills that can help improve your 7-year-old player's shooting:
- Stationary shooting: Have players stand in one spot and practice shooting at a target or net.
- Moving shooting: Have players skate around the rink and shoot at targets or net while moving.
- Pass and shoot: Have players pass the puck to each other and then shoot at a target or net.
These drills will help younger players develop better accuracy, power, and technique when shooting the puck.
4. Fun Games and Drills
While it's important for young players to practice specific skills, it's also important to keep things fun and exciting. Here are some fun games and drills that can help improve your 7-year-old player's overall hockey skills:
- Sharks and Minnows: Have one or two players be the "sharks" and the rest be "minnows." The minnows have to skate from one end of the rink to the other without being "tagged" by the sharks.
- Red Light, Green Light: Have players skate from one end of the rink to the other, but stop when you say "red light." The first player to stop wins.
- Scrimmage: Divide players into two teams and have them play a scrimmage, with an emphasis on teamwork and sportsmanship.
These games and drills will help younger players develop better hockey sense, teamwork, and overall enjoyment of the game.
Conclusion
Hockey is a challenging and thrilling sport that requires players to master various skills. As a parent or coach of a 7-year-old player, it's important to start developing these skills early on. Skating, stickhandling, shooting, and teamwork are all essential skills that can be improved with the right drills and games. By incorporating these drills and games into your practices, you can help your young players develop their skills and have fun playing the game of hockey.
