24 Tips for Raising Young Hockey Players

Whether you're new to Lincoln Ice Hockey or a seasoned youth ice hockey parent, this article offers practical, encouraging tips to support your player’s growth—on and off the ice. From staying positive to fueling fun, these insights help parents build a healthy, long-term relationship with the game.

Hockey Sense: Why It’s Important and How to Develop Young Players

This USA Hockey article breaks down the importance of hockey sense—a player’s ability to read the ice, scan their surroundings, and make quick, smart decisions during gameplay. It explains how coaches and parents can support young athletes, especially in Lincoln Ice Hockey and other youth ice hockey programs, by encouraging awareness, decision-making, and in-game problem solving. Practical tips like “scanning” and using small-area games help players build the instincts they need to thrive.

Dryland Training Tools

The ADM Dryland Training Cards from USA Hockey are designed to help coaches and parents develop well-rounded, physically literate athletes—starting with the fundamentals. Whether your child is just starting in Lincoln Ice Hockey or building skills for the next level, these age-appropriate exercises build agility, balance, coordination, and speed through fun, off-ice movement.

Rooted in the Long-Term Athlete Development model (LTAD), these resources emphasize the importance of developing athleticism first—then hockey-specific skills. For youth ice hockey players, this approach supports injury prevention, confidence, and long-term success both on and off the ice.