Ever hear of a coach making a blanket statement to the parents that ALL kids sticks must be cut to chin length without skates on....no exceptions?
Don't you think the coach should really address a stick handling problem individually? Some of these kids have good stickhandling skills and are use to the length of their sticks as-is.

No, it's only a guideline and a rather short one at that. Typical guideline is chin length with skates.

Never taller than nose on skates is really the top end and as they get older and develop a skating style (bent over or more of a stand up skater) they should adjust the length themselves.

I can understand a coach making that recommendation, but if the coach is insisting they all be cut then my reply - "You pay for the sticks then you can cut them anyway you like. Until then...."

Can't say I've ever heard of that. A little weird to say the leaste. I have had kids tell me that their parents told them not to cut the stick because a $200.00 stick should last forever. HAHAHA Anyhow, No higher than nose or lower than chin on skates is what I recommend to parents. I use one that is mid neck for my no-check games. A little short, but I'm a low skater.

I'd like to know the age level the first post was talking about.

Of course, if a kid can't puckhandle yet, it's quite likely he's not going to last long enough in the game to grow into an extra long stick!


Still, my vote is to deal with each player on an individual basis.

All that said, I'd really like to know who dreamed-up the idea of measuring a stick to the chin, the nose, wherever? Does this method have anything remotely to do with a given player's posture as he or she moves with the puck? And, does it take into account the stick's lie?

Stick lie is much much more important. Most people never check lie and many manufacturers don't issue lie #'s . Typicall youth stick is a #4 or #5 lie.

Cutting sticks a little on the short side is standard for developing players. It allows for more manuverability , but even more importantly it forces the young player to play in a lower posture. A lower posture results in a better stride and more power on their shots.

Especially D-men when developing should have shorter sticks. I know, your thinking a longer stick would make pokechecking easier etc. No, you want to teach the developing player to play D with his feet and body not his stick. He will learn how to incorporate a stick soon enough. Concentration should be on playing the body with skating skill. The #1 tool for a D-man.

I am a big advocate for shorter stick rather than longer but I agree with other coaches saying to deal with it on an indovidual basis and that lie is very important. Any youth player should be fine with a 5.5 lie. I worry about kids if they show up with an 8 lie.

What factors in a lot is the players stance. If they are an upright skater then a higher lie is better. If their are more bent over a lower lie is more important. Other factors: long or short arms or legs, and the length of the stick blade.

My stick check method goes like this. Check stick length with skates on, player standing up straight, stick on its toe. If it is up at the nose then that is a concer as well if it is far below the chin.

Step two is to have the player get into their skating stance/ready position. Is the blade completely on the ground? Is there a gap under the toe or the heel? Is the player is a proper hockey stance?

With a gap between the toe and the ice the player could be bent over too much, or need to raise their elbow more. If it is a 4 lie already, then it is likely poor stance, OR - the stick is too long. Have the player choke up on the stick (moving the top hand down the shaft - don't change the arm position in the stance just have the player stay still and slide the stick back through the hands) until the the blade is flat on the ice. Cut the stick a quarter of an inch longer than where the top part of the hand is (giving you a bit of room for the knob).

Same procedure if their is a gap at the heel. Go to a higher lie (from a 4 to a 5 or 6). Or you may need a longer stick.

As for the $200 stick, there is no need for those until U14 (Bantam) or U16 (Midget). They will develop better passing and stickhandling skills with a $20 wood stick. Pee wee and under should get through a season using just 2 or 3 wood sticks, and no one worries about cutting them. Kids grow - save your money.

As the general rule of thumb. Shorter is better for tight turns corners, puck control. Keep it between the colorbone and the chin as long as in the proper stance the blade is flat on the ice.

A good explanation of stick lie is here: http://www.bbsticks.com/liedetector.htm

Lastly, check the wear of the tape on the blade. If there is uneven wear then there is an issue. Less wear on the toe means it is off the ice. Correct the stance, go to a lower lie or shorten the stick.

Sorry - long post but, there isn't a simple answer.

Jim, that was great info on the stick lie, although I would argue against measuring the stick in an upright position. Really, I see no connection between a length derived in that manner and the way a player ultimately moves and interacts with his or her stick in the game action.

For whatever it's worth, here's a method I borrowed from someone else about 30-ish years ago, and it's worked awesomely for the thousands of kids I've had over that span...

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The player should be in skates, standing with feet spread comfortably (in something close to a ready position), and the stick-shaft held in the top hand. With the stick-blade kept flat on the floor/ice, the player slides his or her top hand up and down the shaft until the top-hand elbow strikes a 90-degree angle. Mark the spot just above the player's top hand.

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A lot like you, Jim, before cutting the shaft, I then have the player move the stick in all different ways in front of his or her body. I especially want to be sure the player can "reverse the grip" as if cutting sharply towards the forehand.

Also -- as Jim and others have mentioned, shorter is almost always better.

That said, I don't ever want a player to feel uncomfortable entering a game. So, I'll always suggest that a properly measured stick should be used exclusively at practices (and at home, off-ice), while allowing the player to use whatever is most comfortable for his or her games. Sooner or later, though, almost all players eventually fall in love with the shorter stick.

As an aside, I'm hoping coaches of young players will trust that I know my stuff when it comes to the science of skill development... So, in reference to the current topic, I have to suggest that most fine motor skills -- like quick hands in puckhandling -- are best developed as early as possible. After a point -- perhaps around puberty, it's harder (if not nearly impossible) to affect much change. (If that last thought frightens some of you, it was meant to.)

Then, a few final thoughts on sticks... I recommend "super junior" models for the very youngest kids, and I'll even suggest that players in the next levels stay with a "junior" model until about 12- or 13-years of age. (Most slight adult women should use the junior model forever.) Not only will the lightness and easy grip help them develop really quick hands and a wider reach, but the extra flexibility in the thinner shafts will really put some zip in their shots.