Hockey Drills For 8 Year Olds
Hockey is a fantastic team sport that teaches children valuable life skills such as teamwork, communication, and dedication. To become a skilled hockey player, players must develop specific physical and mental attributes such as speed, agility, awareness, and hand-eye coordination. As a parent or coach of 8-year-old hockey players, you can help them improve their skills by incorporating fun and effective hockey drills into their training. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the best hockey drills for 8-year-olds that will help them develop their hockey skills while having fun.
1. Skating Drills
Skating is an essential skill in hockey, and players need to be able to skate forward, backward, and turn quickly. Here are some skating drills that will help your 8-year-old players improve their skating:
- The Hockey Stop: Players skate forward and then stop abruptly by turning their feet perpendicular to their direction of travel. The drill can be practiced by skating at full speed and then stopping abruptly, or by gliding and then stopping.
- Circle Skating: Players skate around a circle while maintaining a constant pace. The drill can be done clockwise and counterclockwise to help develop agility and balance.
- Backward Skating: Players skate backward while looking over their shoulders. This drill helps players develop awareness and balance.
2. Passing Drills
Passing is another vital skill in hockey, and players need to be able to pass quickly and accurately. Here are some passing drills that will help your 8-year-old players improve their passing skills:
- Two-Person Passing: Two players stand facing each other about 10 feet apart and pass the puck back and forth. This drill helps develop accuracy and timing.
- Four-Corner Passing: Four cones are placed in a square, and four players stand at each corner. Players pass the puck to the next player in line in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. This drill helps players develop accuracy and puck control.
- One-On-One Pass and Shoot: Two players face each other, and one player passes the puck to the other, who then shoots it at the net. This drill helps develop accuracy and timing.
3. Shooting Drills
Shooting is the most crucial skill in hockey, and players need to be able to shoot quickly and accurately. Here are some shooting drills that will help your 8-year-old players improve their shooting skills:
- Shooting On Goal: Players take turns shooting at the net from different angles and distances. This drill helps develop accuracy and power.
- Breakaway Drills: A player starts at the opposite end of the rink and skates toward the net. Another player passes the puck to them, and they shoot at the net. This drill helps develop speed, accuracy, and timing.
- Puck Control Drills: Players skate around the rink while controlling the puck and shooting at the net from different angles. This drill helps develop accuracy, puck control, and balance.
Conclusion
Hockey is an exciting and challenging sport that requires a combination of physical and mental skills. As a parent or coach of 8-year-old hockey players, you can help them improve their skills by incorporating fun and effective hockey drills into their training. Skating, passing, and shooting are three essential skills in hockey, and the drills we’ve discussed in this article will help your players develop these skills while having fun. Remember, the key to success in hockey is to practice regularly, stay motivated, and have fun!
