AGES 10 AND UNDER Teaching Body Contact and Checking · 4 Teaching Body Contact and Checking scan – The player moves the eyes back and forth to increase awareness of everything

AGES 10 AND UNDER

Teaching Body Contact and Checking

LESSON WORKBOOK

kenny rausch

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Legal body contact is defined as: “Contact that occurs between opponents during the normal process of playing the puck provided there has been no overt hip, shoulder or arm contact to physically force the opponent off the puck.”

• Bodycontactisanindividualdefensivetacticdesignedtolegallyblockorimpedetheprogressofanoffensivepuck carrier. This tactic is a result of movement of the defensive player to restrict movement of the puck carrier anywhere on the ice through skating, angling and positioning.

• Bodycontactisanaturalpartofthegameasthereisverylittleroomontheiceconsideringhowmanyplayers(and officials) are moving in different directions at once.

• Bodycontactisatypicalresultwhenplayersarebattlingforcontrolofthepuckandwilloccurinavarietyofsituations including loose puck battles, play in the corners and along the boards, when scoring opportunities occurintheslotandbattlingtogetopen.Bodycontactmayonlyoccurduringthenormalprocessofplayingthepuck at this level.

• Rememberthatcontactmayonlyoccurduringthenormalprocessofplayingthepuck,providedtherehasbeenno overt hip, shoulder or arm contact to physically force the opponent off the puck.

• Althoughhockeyatthislevelhasnobodychecking,bodycontactisallowedandencouraged!

• Therearekeyprogressionswhenteachingtheskillsofbodycontactandcheckingjustlikeskating,puckhandling or shooting. The first step in the evolution of these skills is the development of positioning and angling skills.Skatingskillsplayamajorroleintheseskillsandplayersmustlearntocontroltheirbodiesinordertoestablish position when approaching an opponent at an angle that maximizes the opportunity to depreciate time and space of the opponent. With the development of skating and angling skills, the player can effectively learn to use his or her stick for poke checking or lifting the opponent’s stick.

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• Positioningandanglingactivitiesshouldbeintroducedearlyinaplayer’scareer.Playersshouldlearntoprotectthepuckusingtheirbodiesandtoangleanopponentinconfrontationalsituations.Playersshouldlearntokeeptheirbodiesbetweenthepuckandanopponentduringbattles.Readandreactactivitiesalongwithsmallarea games will help players to develop positioning and help players learn to be in the right place at the right time. Competitive activities such as one-on-one battles and loose puck races should be incorporated into every training session at this age group.

• Coachesshouldensurethateveryplayerhastheopportunitytodevelopbodycontactskillsinafunctionalprogression, while allowing each player’s biological maturity and emotional development to reach certain levels. The coach should always keep in mind that the degree of physical development varies from player to player. These differences in size and strength can lead to unbalanced competition, presenting scenarios the coach will have to manage. The progression for players this age should involve skating, angling, stick checks, contact confidence (being comfortable with incidental body contact – contact that occurs when competing for a puck) and body blocking.

awareness and Orientation

Themorepreparedaplayerisforbodycontact,thebetterhisorherchancesforsuccesswillbe.Althoughthegame is not played solely with the puck, it has the ability to mesmerize players on the ice (regardless of their age). The player carrying the puck is one who often develops very narrow vision, preventing him or her from seeing the positions of teammates. Narrow vision also causes the puck carrier to be less aware of the location of the opposing checkers.Playersneedtodeveloptheabilitytosimultaneouslyhandlethepuckandseewhatisgoingonaroundthem. This will aid in the ability to both make plays and avoid checks. The following qualities should be developed in order to assist with awareness and orientation abilities. split Vision – This allows the puck carrier to see the puck under his or her control while being able to survey the ice. The puck carrier should be aware of everything the eyes catch, without focusing on one specific thing.

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scan – The player moves the eyes back and forth to increase awareness of everything that is going on.

head on a swivel – Turn the head frequently to see what is going on around you.

shoulder check – Turn your head and look over your shoulder to make sure you know where the pressure is comingfrom.Playersshouldshouldercheckbeforereceivingapassorpickingupaloosepuck.Thissimplehabitallows players to know what they will do once they gain possession and if they are under pressure from the opponent.

communicate – The player should make it a habit to always inform teammates of what they see while also listening to teammates to take advantage of what they see. In some areas of the ice, body contact is more probable such as along the boards or in front of the net. Effective communication will help the puck carrier be more aware of the surroundings and make a play.

Five common components of Body Play

1. skating ability• Speed&Quickness–Playermusthaveitalldirectionsandbeabletochangedirectionsquickly.• Strength–Stronglegsandstrongonskates.Playermustknowhowtouseedges.• Balance&Agility–Remainin“hockeyposition”toexecutevarioustypesofbodyplay.Practicetheskillsof

turning, stopping, starting and pivoting.

2. anticipation• “Read”whattheoppositionisgoingtodoanddeliverthecorrectbodyplaytechnique.

3. Positional Play• Angling–Forcetheopponenttogoacertainwayordirectionwithanactivestick,takingawaypassinglanes.

- Basicfundamentaltoperforminganytypeofbodycontactskill.- Anglingisthe1stlineofdefensewithbodycontact/bodyplay.Aplayercannotperformbasic

angling skills unless he or she has strong skating fundamentals.- Main purpose is to force opponent in a certain direction.- To prevent the opponent from getting to open ice; to contain the opponent to the outside of the rink.

common errors with angling- Gliding when you’re at the side of your opponent.- Approachingyouropponent“headon.”- Not accelerating once your opponent is in a contained area.

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4. head up & On a swivel• Beawareofallofyouroptions.Seetheentireiceanddonothave“tunnelvision”whilealsocommunicating

with teammates.

5. Body Position• Beinginthehockeyposition.• Resistingyouropponents’countertobodyplay.• Understandingthepositionofyourbodywhendeliveringandreceivingabodycheck.

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concepts

Defensive side – When the opponent has control of the puck, most defensive tactics demand that you take a position on the defensive side of that player. Defensive side means that you position yourself in an area so the opponent has to go through your area before he can get to the net. Doing this requires solid skating skills in addition to well-trained read and react skills. Developing these skills will enhance a player’s ability to perform in all zones of the ice. Try to stay square to the opponent and use an active stick (stick on puck) to apply pressure without giving up bodyposition.Alowcenterofgravitywithgoodkneebendwillpreparetheplayerforbodycontactandincreasetheabilitytomove.Theobjectiveistoestablishpositionbetweentheopponentandyournetwhilestayinginthelanefrom the opponent’s perspective.

steering – Keeping the opponent to the outside and forcing him one away from the middle of the ice is one common denominator of all defensive strategies. While steering is mainly used in forechecking and neutral zone defense, it can be used in all three zones. Steering is most frequently used in penalty killing situations. If you hold the inside of the ice and leave the outside areas open, the opponent is guided into those areas. The defender preferably wants the puck carrier to move onto his backhand side. When he or she starts moving, continue to hold theinsideandisolatetheopponenttotheoutside.Theidealpositionisslightlybehindtheopponent.Fromthisangle,youshouldbeabletoreadtheopponent’sjerseynumber.Thiswillpreventtheopponentfromcuttingtothemiddleoftheicebehindthechecker.Useanactivesticktotakeawaypassinglanesandtomakepassingthepuckinto the middle lane very risky. Skating skills, orientation and communication are very important.

Driving–Drivingisamoreaggressiveformofsteering.Bymaintainingatightgapthatconstrainstheopponenttothe boards you can drive the opponent into an area of your choice. The purpose of driving is to force the opponent into a very small area to initiate stick on puck play and to follow through with body contact. In order to achieve this, you have to approach the opponent from an angle that leaves him or her only one option, which is to move wide. You aim to keep the gap so tight that the opponent cannot turn or stop without making contact with the boardsoryou.Theperfectlyexecutedscenarioallowsyoutoinitiallyseepartoftheopponent’sjerseynumber.While maintaining the inside track, you try to cut off the opponent’s line of travel and end up with your hands and shoulders in front of the opponent, but your hip behind him. You can then separate the opponent from the puck with a stick check while rubbing him out along the boards.

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suggestions for Teaching Body contact

• Bodycontactandcheckingdrillsshouldbeapartofeverypractice.Duringdrills,makesuretheplayersunderstand which particular skills they are working on.

• Makebodycontact/checkingskillsapriorityforallplayers.Allplayersmustforecheck,backcheck,protectthepuck, etc.

• Usecompetitivedrillsthatplaceplayersinthesituationof“winningtheshortraces”tothepuck.Developdrillsand small area games that occur in confined areas. Make playing the puck first a priority.

• Developdrillsandgamesthatsimulategamesituationsandforceplayerstomakequickdecisionsanddevelophockey sense.

• Developofficetrainingdrillsandmovementsthatincorporatebodycontrol,bodycontact,andcheckingintodryland sessions

• Rememberthatyouaredealingwithyoungathletesgoingthroughmanychanges.Bodycontact,playingalongtheboardsandphysicalplaymaybesomethingbrandnewtotheplayers.Allowplayerstorealizesuccessinaphysicalsituation,allowingthemtogainconfidence.Questioningtheircourageorshamingayoungplayerwilldo little more than damage their self-esteem and self-worth.

sTIck checkInGStickcheckingisaccomplishedbyusingthesticktoseparatethepuckfromanopponent.Allstickcheckingtacticsshould be executed using proper body position and balance. In other words, if the stick check fails, the player must be in a position to continue to defend the opponent.

POke checkThe poke check is most often executed by a defender skating backwards against a rushing opponent. The defender should maintain proper balance while skating backwards, and have only the top hand on the stick. The defender must concentrate on the midsection of the opponent and use peripheral vision to see the puck. The stick should be kept back with the arm flexed so as not to let the opponent know the extent of the checker’s reach. When the opponent comes into range, the defender quickly extends the stick, knocking the puck off of the attacker’s stick. This movement must solely be done with the arm, so that if the puck is missed, the defender maintains proper balance and body position.

The poke check can also be used by a forward skating defender approaching the puck carrier from the front or side. Again,theextensionofthearmisusedtosurprisetheopponent,butproperbodypositionandbalancemustbemaintained for continued play if the check misses.

key elements• Tophandonlyonthestick,heldclosetosidewiththearmbent• Quickextensionofthearmandstickwhentheopponentandpuckareinrange• Properbalanceandbodypositioninrelationtotheopponent

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common errors• Thearmholdingthestickisfullyextendedtooearly.• Thedefenderlungesatthepuck,puttinghimorheroffbalance,outofpositionandunabletocompletetheskill.

hOOk checkThe hook check is most often executed from behind the puck carrier. The stick should be held with the top hand only and the shaft should be extended near to the ice with one knee bent. The blade is turned towards the puck and hooks the puck off of the opponent’s stick. The hook check should only be used when there is a great chance of success because, if the check misses, the defender is in poor body position to recover quickly.

key elements• Thestickshaftshouldbeextendednearorontheice.• Theblademustbeturnedtowardsthepuckandbeflatontheice.

common errors• Committingtooearlytothebentkneeposition

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LIFT The sTIckLifting the stick is typically executed when approaching the opponent from behind or from the side. When close enough to the puck carrier, the defender skates in front of or with him or her, lifts the opponent’s stick near the heel as quickly as possible and brings his or her stick down to take the puck away.

key elements• Approachpuckcarrierfrombehindorfromtheside.• Continueskatingwiththepuckcarrier.• Lifttheopponent’sstickquicklyandtakethepuck.

common errors• Failuretocontinueskatingmakesitdifficulttogaingoodpositiononthepuckcarrier.

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sTIck PressThe stick press is executed in close one on-one battles. It may be used to prevent an opponent from receiving a pass, shooting, or retrieving a loose puck. The player places his or her stick on top of the lower shaft of the opponent’s stick and presses down, preventing the opponent’s stick from moving. Leverage and relative upper body strength are keys to young players successfully executing the stick press.

key elements• Usedincloseoneononesituations• Stickplacedoverlowerpartofopponent’sstickandpresseddownhard

common errors• Thedefendernotplacingthesticklowonthestickshaftoftheoffensiveplayer• Notmaintaininggoodbodypositionontheoffensiveplayer

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sWeeP checkThe sweep check has similarities to the hook check and the poke check. It is executed from in front of the puck carrier. It can be executed from an upright position with the defender in the same position as if he or she is about to poke check. If the puck carrier is on the side away from the defender’s stick, the defender sweeps the blade towards the puck, being careful not to overcommit the body. If the sweep misses, the defender must remain in sound defensive body position.

Fromasimilarposition,thedefendercanlowerthestickclosetotheice.Thesweepingmotionmovestowardsthepuck with the curved area where the shaft meets the blade aiming for the puck. Caution must be used along with this check, as the defender is committing his or her body much more and is susceptible to the puck carrier cutting back on him or her.

key elements• Tophandonlyonthestick• Bladeflatontheice• Selectiveusageofthesweepcheck• Overcommitmentofthebody

common errors• Committingtooearlytothebentkneeposition

hIT The sTIckThis move is employed when you are even with the puck carrier and skating parallel to her or him. Hit the opponent’s stick near the heel to force her or him to lose control of the puck.

key elements• Beparallelwiththeopponent.• Hittheheeloftheopponent’sstick.

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NOTEPAD:

AGES 10 AND UNDER Teaching Body Contact and Checking · 4 Teaching Body Contact and Checking scan – The player moves the eyes back and forth to increase awareness of everything

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