The sport of ice hockey is a contest of skill. The three basic skills involve skating, puck skills and checking. Checking is often the most misunderstood but most talked about skill. In this segment participants learn about the checking continuum that starts with on-ice awareness and situational awareness and ends with regaining the puck. The purpose of this segment is to illustrate where players can find themselves - regardless of age or level of play - on the checking continuum when attempting to defend.

1. set up a course to work on basic edge work, bubbles, balance and backwards skating. Have the group do the drill on a loop. Introduce pucks to add difficulty 

Using small-area games drives safe and effective skill development. It demands ” active coaching”.

In the small area game (SAG) youth German players discover skills in “real-time” and under game-like checking pressure.

Coaches these activity choices create "meta-stability" in skill; rapid acquisition of skill, and a high frequency of repetitions for the player-athlete.

With SAGs less structured, random or open practice is used. This is different from closed practice drills.

With SAG's the learner is challenged to choose and apply technical skills “reading and reacting” to the environment encountered. Individual and group tactics are acquired and stored in memory.

Situational awareness and movement confidence grow. As this player demonstrates safe and effective performance is realized!