Ice Hockey Drills and Practice Plans
Age-matched ice hockey drills, ready-made practice plans and a season programme for every age group, from first steps on skates to competitive and adult recreational hockey.
Free forever for your first team · No credit card
Every practice, planned around the ice you have
Each drill comes in progressive versions, from a stationary introduction to game speed, so the same activity grows with your players. Every drill is tagged non-contact, and the coaching tips cover equipment checks, stick safety and recognising concussion.
What each age group works on
| Age group | Programme | Early focus | Season programme | Practice plans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1–2 | Ice Explorers | Balance, moving on skates, stopping safely | 10 weeks | 10 |
| Year 3–4 | Ice Starters | Skating foundations, edges and turning, backward skating, puck control | 12 weeks | 12 |
| Year 5–6 | Junior Development | Skating technique, agility, puck protection, passing in motion | 12 weeks | 12 |
| Year 7–8 | Developing Players | Puck handling at speed, passing combinations, shooting under pressure | 12 weeks | 12 |
| Year 9–10 | Youth Hockey | High-speed skating, passing tempo, scoring techniques | 12 weeks | 12 |
| Year 11–13 | Competitive Development | Explosive skating, fast passing systems, scoring in traffic | 12 weeks | 12 |
| Senior | Performance Hockey | Skating efficiency, puck skills at tempo, finishing under pressure | 12 weeks | 24 |
Drill counts by category: tactics 34, attack 30, defence 30, goaltending 24, puck control 20, game play 20, fundamentals 18, passing 18, shooting 18, fitness 18, skating 16, warm-ups 16, special teams 12.
Example ice hockey drills
Forward Stride Lane, Start-Stop Relay, Inside-Edge Slalom and Backward C-Cut Track for skating. Head-Up Carry, Puck Protection Circle and Give-and-Go Lane for puck skills. Wrist-Shot Accuracy, Catch-and-Release and Rebound Finish in front of the net, then 2v1 Pass-or-Shoot, Gap-Control Mirror, 3v3 Pass-to-Score and Numbers-Up Game as players get older.
Learn the game on the free ice hockey rules and positions pages.
Common questions
What ages are the ice hockey drills for?
First-time skaters in Year 1–2 through to senior and adult hockey, with a season programme and practice plans for each age group.
How many ice hockey drills are there?
274, across skating, puck control, passing, shooting, goaltending, attack, defence, special teams and small-area games.
Are the drills non-contact?
Yes. Every drill is tagged non-contact. Checking and contact rules vary by age group and league, so confirm your league’s rules before adding contact.
Is the Training Hub free?
The Training Hub is included with Squaddie. See pricing for what each plan includes.
Run a better ice hockey practice this week
Drills, practice plans and a season programme for your age group.
Start freeFree forever for your first team · No credit card
