As a one who was on the bench for a couple of yaers as an assistant but also a father of a player I disagree to an extent. The reality is that 7-9 year olds are not going to understand much more than basic elements and the thought process is ususally-puck-net-score.

The one thing I have noticed is even at this level you can have forwards suggesting "we would win if our defense was better, or defense saying our forwards cant score.etc" Now I found one way to eliminate this is to move them a round a bit. A winger may have a deeper appreciation on D when he sees the forwards NOT helping. The D may understand that being a winger is no easy thing when the D is nowhere to help out.

I am not saying to do this all the time, but you want to develop an "understanding" of the game. I said in an earlier post how my daughter still considers (she is 17) her "best coach" a coach who did just that. Now to his credit some of those players moved a bit more than others, but she understand now the role of each position. When a D (on her side) rushes it s second nature to drop back to the point to cover. YET you would be (or maybe not) surprised how many players sinmply dont do it. I think that is a function of poor fundamentals.

Teach them the game. Not how to win a game. It may mean a few less wins (though i dont think so) but it will develop players who if they continue to play will impress the next coach and who will look back at you as the one who taught them the game.