Overview of how to teach defense and key points to focus on for youth hockey coaches.

1. Teaching Defense

2. What’s are our
objectives?

3. We only have one objective
Keep the puck
out of the net.

4. Limit opponent to
lowest risk option

5. Lowest risk option
We have the puck.

6. “They beat us because
our kids don’t know
position.”

7. really means...
“Our skills weren’t as
good as theirs.”

8. Step 1.
Focus on skills.

9. • Forward Skating
• Backward Skating*
• Lateral Agility
• Transitions
(Face the Flag, shadow drills, etc.)

11. Step 2.
Trust your players to
think.

13. • Checking = Defense
• Always outnumber the puck
• Cut the ice in half
• Head on a swivel
• Don’t hesitate. Just do it!

14. Step 3.
Teach your players to
recognize patterns.

15. •1 on 1 • 2 on 3
•2 on 1 • 3 on 4
• 3 on 2 • 1 on 2 in the
corner
• 1 on 2
• 1 on 3

16. •Focus on skills.
• Trust your players to think.
• Teach your players to
recognize patterns.