Hockey technique, as the federations teach it.

Hockey is learned on the ice from coaches. Hockey Canada's Coach 1 manual (2022) compares skating in hockey to running in soccer, the base everything else is built on, and both Hockey Canada and USA Hockey teach the game in stages; Hockey Canada's stages run from skills to tactics to team systems. These pages describe that teaching as the federation manuals, named coaches and published studies describe it. They are a reference to read alongside coaching, not a way to skip it.

How we handle technique

• Every teaching point is attributed. When a page says where the feet go or how to hold the stick, it names the manual, coach or study that says so. Coaches differ, and yours may teach it another way.
• Where sources disagree, we show both. Hockey Canada's own manual gives two different foot angles for the ready stance; coaches give different distances for where a slap shot meets the ice; Hockey Canada and USA Hockey time the girls' strength window differently. Each version is given with its source.
• Checking is taught as principles. The checking page sets out how Hockey Canada and USA Hockey teach body contact and body checking, and what they say is never acceptable. It is not a drill guide. The ages and penalties are rules, covered on the body-checking rules page with each rulebook's edition.
• Medical decisions belong to a doctor. The concussion page summarises each body's protocol with its date. It gives no first-aid or emergency procedures.
• Weak sourcing is flagged. No federation manual on team systems was found, so the systems page names its sources and leaves out descriptions that could not be confirmed.

What is in this section

Skills

• Skating: the ready stance, edges, starts, the stride, stops, turns and backward skating.
• Stickhandling: stick fit, the grip, puck control and the three families of dekes.
• Passing: leading a teammate, sweep and backhand passes, board passes and receiving.
• Shooting: wrist, flip, backhand, snap and slap shots, the one-timer and what the research says about flex.

Playing the game

• Checking and body contact: the four-step progression and safety at the boards.
• Positioning and systems: Hockey Canada's defence principles, forechecks, the trap and power-play shapes.
• Goaltending: stance, crease movement, the butterfly, angles, saves and post play.

The body and the long game

• Off-ice training: what the game demands and the federations' advice by age.
• Concussion and injuries: each body's protocol with its date, and the body-checking research.
• Player development: Hockey Canada's LTPD and USA Hockey's ADM.

New to the game itself? Start with how hockey works and getting started.