Young players need to feel the puck on their stick before they can handle it at speed. This drill builds touch and control in a low-pressure environment.
Equipment needed: 8 cones, 1 puck per player, 1 stick per player.
Setup: Create two 10-yard straight lines of cones, spaced 1 yard apart. Kids line up at one end with a puck and stick.
How to run it:
- Kid walks through the cones with the puck, keeping it on the stick. Focus is on control, not speed.
- Puck should stay in front of the player, about 1 foot ahead. The stick should be in the middle of the body.
- Do 3 reps walking through cones, then 3 reps at a slow jog.
- Don’t worry about crossing over the puck or fancy moves yet. Just keep it on the stick.
What to look for:
If a puck is bouncing off the stick or rolling away, the player is hitting it instead of controlling it. The hands should stay quiet, absorbing the puck. The puck should move side to side with the stick blade, not bounce. If a player is looking down constantly, they’re not getting feel for the puck. By the third rep, kids should glance down less often.
Gear for this drill (affiliate)
Youth hockey stick → — sized for ages 5-7. Lighter shaft so the kid can actually load and release.
Practice pucks → — buy a 6-pack so you don’t lose the drill chasing one runaway.
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Variation: