Its not only popular but it is the national game of my country.We don't play ice hockey but we appreciate all type of hockey.I am also a coach in India in DPS.

tobbilla78, would you believe that I actually coached a girls' high school "field hockey" team for one season? I was the school's ice hockey coach, I filled-in because the girls' coach went on leave, and the team I coached had their best season ever. I didn't know a lot about that sport, but I used a lot of my ice hockey drills to really get those girls in shape and moving the ball with great speed.

Anyway, I hope other young coaches read your last post, because we all should be studying and borrrowing from sports similar to our own.

I've written a lot on this subject for a few magazines, and I've produced a few short videos, mainly suggesting that's there's only so much that can be accomplished through traditional training means.

Hi Coach,
I have been coaching youth ice hockey for about 25 years and, most recently, have gone back to coaching Mites/Squirts. DEFINITELY make sure that all of your kids get to play virtually every position (even goalie!) at some time during your season. Just think how different the game looks from the different positions. The whole game is in front of a defenseman while a forward often only sees 2/3 of the ice (if that much). In order to learn the whole game a young player must see the whole game and experience every aspect of it. A forward who has played defense becomes a better defensive forward, etc... Plan it out. If you plan on using a player for a week or so in a specific position, have them practice that position once or twice beforehand.
Above all, don't even try to figure out what position a player will end up at when they get older- show and teach it all to them and their future options become much greater- so their opportunities also become greater.
Good luck and HAVE FUN!

BB, I haven't coached Mites in about 36-years (unless it was in a hockey school setting). However, no harm done; I think you have otherwise contributed a different -- and valid -- slant on the discussion at hand.

Then, before getting further into that topic, I'd like to raise two points in reference to our many years in the game (your 25, and my whatever-it-is-by-now).

- First, it's quite likely that we've both by now worked with some extremes in the game (I've taught many pros, yet I still often do some Learn-to-play clinics and schools for the other youth levels). The benefit I see in this is that I get to understand the things some older guys struggle with, and I can usually figure ways to prevent the next group of younger kids from experiencing the same problems. (Your path and mine might be different in some ways, but I'm guessing you know what I mean about helping young kids with what we've learned from the older ones.)

- Secondly, I've been to coaching seminars around the world (literally), and I've spoken at plenty of them. And I've often cringed when a speaker would offer a tip that wasn't suited to everyone in attendance (or if he didn't qualify it by suggesting that the tip might only be valid with a certain level of play). As examples... Picture a Mite coach using drills that are more appropriate to high schoolers; or, a Midget coach using a drill that his kids probably out-grew when they were Squirts.

All that said (and hopefully appreciated), let's return to the main topic...

For, my take on the Mite level is that it actually encompasses a pretty broad spectrum of ages, attention spans and abilities. And, tying into my second point above, I'll suggest that even the various levels within that division might require totally different approaches.

In the Boston-area, the introductory levels of play might vary in designation from town to town -- like Instructionals, Mite Cs or even Mite Ds. No matter the name, these are usually cute little ones who haven't a clue -- about positions, basic rules or even how to line up for a face-off. BB, this is where I believe your approach works really well. (If I could dictate the rules for this level, there wouldn't be any, and there probably wouldn't be any formal face-offs, either! Just drop the puck and let them go nuts for 60-minutes.)

The kids just slightly more talented, more aware, and better skilled are billed as Mite Bs in my area. And, for them, I'd recommend a little more stability in the line-up. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I think young kids need stability, and the chance to learn a limited number of responsibilities. (Hey, we're only talking about 30-weeks to learn a position or two.)

Last are the top teams in that bracket... These -- As, AAs, AAAs, whatever -- are no longer 5- and 6-year olds, and they usually want to be treated a little bit more like "big guys". I'm not saying to treat them any differently than the 8- or 9-year olds they are. But, I believe they should be respected for their abilities to learn, and for the fact that most of them truly do want to be taught the game.

For what it's worth, I took a middle of the road approach to middle of the road mites. I agree with Coach Chic that at the mini-mite or youngest level let them do whatever. At mite travel (if such exists where you are), I'd leave kids in positions as much as possible being cognizant that it might make sense to switch up defense if you are asking a kid who doesn't want to play the position to be back there. At mite house, I took a middle of the road approach. I broke the season into 5 parts which worked out well because there were right around 15 games. So for three games a kid played and practiced at the same position (goalie excluded, more on that in a minute). I actually tried to keep them at Defense and Wing for six games straight for consistency because I do think it helps to give them time to learn what you are doing out there. In this way, each kid played center for 3 games, something they all wanted. I also let every kid who wanted to play goalie. It was painful!!! Some were really not good, but it was house mite hockey and the organization said everyone should be offered the opportunity. 14 of my 16 kids played goalie. When playoffs came, I put kids where I thought they helped the team most.

It sounds like most of us are on the same track here...

Best of luck.

Excellent, myhockeyman! And, I do think that we all pretty much agree. In a way, it's about knowing where we are, and knowing what our job should be in reference to that. (Hey, in some coaching assignments, you get fired if you don't win; in some others, you ought to be fired if you don't put development first!)

Having been a Coach for a long time from AAA to A at many ages I don't agree with some comments here.I presently coach a Tyke Travel Team. 7 year olds.My opinion is that most 7/8/9 year olds can't grasp defence at this young age,yes some do most don't. I think it is benificial to develop many players at all positions.Practice at defence for 4 to 6 practices and play 2/3 games.Move them to forward and do the same.Give them the chance to play and they do suprise us.
Kid's don't develop until 13/14 and still have a hard time at D. With the new rules it's not a big man's game anymore.
Just an opinion and there are some good idea's here.In the end we are in it for the kid's let them enjoy the game.

Hi, as a coach i prefer moving players around rather than keeping them in one position. It give every player a chance to try different positions and i find lets them eventually decide which position they want to play as they grow.

I think the best drill to use with the youth teams is the 2 on 1 windmill. A problem I often see in youth teams is all the kids kind of bunch together and it looks like a crowd of players skating together and fighting for the puck. This drill forces them to stay spread out and make passes. I find it very effective