How to Learn to Play Hockey Effectively: A Guide for Beginners

Are you looking to play hockey but do not know where to begin? Let us help you get started.

Learning to play hockey effectively

How to Learn Hockey Effectively: A Guide for Beginners

Learning hockey can seem overwhelming due to its fast pace, physical intensity, and required skill set. For myself, it took me over a year of playing and practicing hockey before I finally felt comfortable playing. However, from my experience, I found that with a structured approach and consistent effort, anyone can become a competent player. This guide breaks down the learning process into actionable steps, complete with examples and tips to help you master hockey from scratch.

1. Understand the Basics of Learning Hockey

Before hitting the ice, familiarize yourself with the rules and objectives of the game.

Key Concepts to Learn:

• Learning:  to have fun and build your skill sets before looking for competitive hockey.

• Game Length: Most pick-up and regular leagues are 50 minutes, which includes warm-ups. Structured games in our area of Ottawa are two 25-minute periods, which include warm-ups and a break between periods.

• Positions:  Try to learn the differences between Center, left wing, right wing, two defensemen, and a goalie.

• Penalties: If you are in a non-contact pick-up league, understand there is no tripping, high-sticking, slashing, or interference, which can lead to ejection from the game or the league. Competitive games will result in a player getting a penalty, normally 2-3 minutes in most competitive adult leagues.

Example: Watch NHL highlights or YouTube tutorials to see how players position themselves and interact on the ice. Below is a fun video to watch:

Player positioning

2. Invest in Proper Equipment

Safety is crucial in hockey, so having the right gear is required and non-negotiable in all leagues. No proper equipment, and getting hurt means you cannot play. Plus, most leagues will not allow you to play without equipment.

Essential Gear Checklist:

• Ice hockey skates

• Helmet with a cage or visor

• Shoulder pads

• Elbow pads

• Hockey gloves

• Shin guards

• Mouthguard

• Hockey stick (wood, which is heavy, composite, or carbon fiber)

Tip: Visit a local hockey store to get fitted. Incorrect fitting skates or pads can hinder performance and cause injuries. For Ottawa: Source for Sports, Hockey Pro Life and Play It Again are popular.

3. Learn to Skate Before Anything Else (Very Important)

Skating is the foundation of hockey. You must be comfortable gliding, stopping, turning, and accelerating if otherwise, you can hurt yourself or fellow players. Take lessons and do a lot of public skating if you can, I understand it can be difficult at times when public skating, but it will help.

Example Drill: Practice skating laps around the rink focusing on crossovers and tight turns, as well as forwards to back wards and hard/soft hockey stops.

4. Master Stickhandling and Puck Control (This will take time)

Stickhandling allows you to maneuver the puck around opponents and create scoring opportunities. But this is one of the more difficult skills to master, in my opinion. I still keep my head down so I can see the puck. However, attending practices for adults and doing repetitive skills on and off the ice will improve your ability to manage the puck.

Beginner Drills:

• Figure 8 Drill: Stick-handle the puck around two cones in a figure-eight pattern.

• Toe Drag Drill: Pull the puck back with the toe of your stick and push it sideways.

• Obstacle Course: Use cones or household items to mimic defenders and practice weaving the puck through them.

Pro Tip: Practice at home using a street puck or ball on a smooth surface. I use fake ice to practice this skill.

5. Learn to Pass and Shoot Accurately

Hockey is a team sport. Knowing how to pass and shoot correctly increases your value on the ice; however, like stick handling, this takes time. You need to learn how to not only pass but also how to receive a pass; it's much harder than it sounds for beginners. Shooting has three main types; we exclude slap shots as they are normally not allowed in most adult pick-up leagues and especially for beginners.

Types of Shots:

• Wrist Shot: Quick and accurate, ideal for beginners.

• Snapshot: Quick, powerful, but harder to master.

• Backhand: Unpredictable and useful in close-range situations.

Passing Drills:

• Practice wall passes if training solo at home.

• Partner passing to develop timing and accuracy when you can on the ice.

Example: When at home or at a practice, place targets on a net and aim for different sections to build shooting precision.

6. Understand Positioning and Team Play

Knowing where to be on the ice is just as important as handling the puck. I will admit that most beginner games result in everyone chasing the puck, but over time, with enough practice and studying the game, you will learn the importance of positioning for both offensive and defensive players.

Basic Strategies:

• Defensive Zone: Stay between the puck and your net.

• Neutral Zone: Anticipate play and be ready to transition.

• Offensive Zone: Find open ice and communicate with teammates.

Example: Join a local pick-up game to practice positioning and get a feel for the game's flow. Try a Beginner game before trying advanced levels if you are new.

7. Join a Hockey Program or League

Formal training accelerates your development, and development is key to success, which is important to us at the Ottawahockeyhub because it provides structure, feedback, and allows you to build your skills over time.

Options:

• Local community leagues are available.

• Adult hockey clinics can be found.

• Adult beginner programs/games to help develop your skills for higher-level playing.

• Online coaching and Training.

Benefit: Structured drills, regular practice, and game exposure build real-world hockey experience, but for most adults its about the fun and enjoyment of learning the game.

9. Watch and Analyze Professional Games and Training Videos

I mentioned this earlier, but it is important: watching professional players and trainers helps you learn strategies, spacing, game flow, and techniques. I spend time going through game or training videos just so I can learn more about the game. It can be hard because watching a video and then trying to do what you watch on the ice are two different things; it can look easy on the video, but sometimes it's actually hard.

What to Watch For:

• How players position themselves off the puck

• Special teams (power play and penalty kill setups)

• Goalie tendencies and angles

• Communication and line changes.

There are an abundance of training videos to help you learn.

Final Thoughts

Learning hockey effectively is a step-by-step journey. By breaking down each skill, investing in proper training, and staying consistent, you can grow into a confident player. Whether you're a teen just starting out or an adult trying a new sport, hockey welcomes all levels. Lace up, stay persistent, and enjoy the game!