At this point in the season finding ways to keep practices fresh for players can be a challenge. Teams have had months of games and practices and need to keep everyone engaged as they focus on powering through the rest of the season.

The upcoming weeks can produce many highlights for your team to close out the regular season. Here are some ideas to keep your practices fresh and your players excited to come to the rink every day:

Players will get bored of doing the same drills over and over again. Add in some small area games and watch the natural competitive edge come out in a reduced space. Players will be more engaged while also learning team play, skills and tactics. You can also use odd-man battle drills like 2v1 or 2v2 to promote creativity and practice in-game scenarios. No matter the size of the playing area, you’ll find your players will want to come out on top.

There are many ways a coach can add a layer of competition to their practices. Special team scenarios and forwards versus defencemen create competitive situations, but adding a wrinkle like extra points for a certain number of passes makes the drills more challenging. New situations provide new perspectives and strategies.

When players have an understanding of the reasoning behind each drill they will have a better understanding on how it will benefit them in a competitive situation. Players need to be motivated and by defining how your practices relate to game situations will empower your athletes to give maximum effort in all training situations instead of just going through the motions.

CoachThem is the ultimate digital asset for coaches at every level of the game. By making practice planning and drill creation more efficient and effective, their platform enhances how coaches lead their teams. Their tools make it simple to collaborate and share with your fellow coaches, and streamline the communication with your players so everyone’s in the know before hitting the ice. With CoachThem, you’ll spend less time preparing and more time teaching, connecting with your group and providing the best possible hockey experience.