Youth Hockey Coaching Tips
Hockey at all ages should be about having a great time, making friends that last a lifetime, and fulfilling the competitive fire that lies within us all. Winning or losing is not critical. Trying our very best in an attempt to win, within the context of a team full of friends, should always be the goal.
The great road trips, filled with laser tag, bowling, swimming pools, and exploring new towns are all part of the experience. If you stick with hockey throughout your life you will continue to meet great people wherever you go. The faces change and people get older, but the fun can remain for a lifetime.
Always remember the good people you meet, and forget the others.
Coaching Tips
- Overview of youth hockey philosophy
- Remember good people and forget the rest
- Winning isn't the only goal
- Ice Time and Winning
- How to select and evaluate a coach
- Road Trips should be fun and memorable
- The team manager is critical
- Small teams so everyone plays a lot
- Scrimmage as much as possible
- Schedule a Mix of Competition Levels
- Dealing with Youth Hockey Parents
- Get out of the way of the kids energy
- If you don't pass, you don't play
- Build from strength not weakness
- Hesitation is the enemy
- A goal against isn’t always a mistake
- Statistics can be Dangerous
- Pick Your Battles
- Stay in Hockey for your whole life
- Great Memories
Barry’s Teams
Teams Barry has coached
- Vail Squirt B 2023-2024
- Vail Squirt B 2010-2011
- Vail Bantam A and B 2005-2006
- Vail Peewee B 2004-2005
- Vail Midget AA 2004-2005
- Vail Bantam A 2003-2004
- Vail Bantam A 2002-2003
- Taos Mountain Dragons AA 2001-2002
- Vail Peewee A 2000-2001
- Vail Peewee AA 1999-2000
- Vail Squirts A 1998-1999
- Vail Squirt AA 1997-1998
- Vail Mites AA 1996-1997
- Vail Mites AA 1995-1996
- Vail Mites AA 1994-1995
- Los Angeles Junior AAA National Champions 1982-1983
- Los Angeles Midget AA 1981-1982
Philosophical Ideas
These come from my book, If It Makes Sense to You, Try It. It has 127 short phrases that help me when I get off track. Many of them apply to coaching hockey.
- You May Have No Idea You Helped Somebody a Great Deal
- Decisions Need a “Switchover Moment”
- You Can Be the Parent, Boss, or Coach—and Friend
- Good Boys Don’t Do That
- Always Tell a Child the Truth
- Aim Small, Miss Small
- Think About What to Do Instead of What Not to Do
- Watch Out for “I Don’t Know”—Because You Probably Do Know
- Be the Man in the Arena
- Redefine Perfection
- A Great Employee Is Not Always a Great Manager
- Don’t Fight Emotions—The Way Out Is Through
- Exact Words Matter
- Sometimes You’re a Big Fish in a Small Pond
- You Don’t Have to Get Angry to Get Your Way
- What Are Some of Your Favorite Things?
About Coach Barry
I was born in 1953 and raised in the Chicago area. I've been coaching and playing hockey for over 50 years and I always tell the kids that if they stick with hockey throughout their life they will meet great people. Many of my best friends are from teams I've played on, or kids I've coached, or their parents. Teams I’ve played on:
