The Next Step: What to Expect When Your Player Joins Bantam

The jump from Peewee to Bantam hockey may not come with a change in ice size, but it brings one of the biggest developmental shifts in youth hockey: the introduction of legal body contact.

For many players born in 2012, this fall will mark their first season at the Bantam level. Our summer programming also welcomes players born 2010–2013, because:

• 2010s are preparing for high school hockey

• 2011s are entering their second year of Bantam

• 2013s are nearing the transition and benefit from early exposure

While body-checking isn’t permitted at the 12U level, body contact is. According to USA Hockey’s American Development Model, players in this age group should be introduced to the fundamentals of safe and legal contact—including the proper technique for delivering and receiving a check. That means preparing for Bantam-level play starts well before players officially move up.

If your player is looking for extra ice time in Lincoln, these summer sessions offer the development opportunity many families search for under "stick and puck" or Lincoln ice hockey drop-ins—but with coaching and structure included.

🥊 The Introduction of Body Contact

At the Bantam level (14U), appropriate and legal body contact becomes part of the game. This doesn’t mean open-ice checking or heavy hits—it means players begin learning how to use their bodies within the rules to gain control and maintain safety.

Our focus is not on checking but on helping players understand how to:

• Give and receive contact with control

• Use angling and positioning effectively

• Absorb and manage physical play

• Develop confidence and safety in tight game situations

When introduced and taught properly, body contact becomes an extension of good defensive play—not a tactic for aggression.

According to USA Hockey, progressive contact training should begin in Peewee with body contact confidence drills, not just physicality for its own sake. The Bantam level formalizes what players have already begun to learn in a supportive setting.

🤝 Why Early Exposure Matters

For many players, Bantam is the first time they’ll engage in intentional physical contact—and that can feel intimidating.

Players who are introduced to contact skills early and in low-pressure environments develop:

• Better balance and body control

• Awareness of how to protect themselves on the ice

• Confidence in tight, physical situations

Conversely, those without preparation can feel overwhelmed, hesitant, or unsafe—which affects both their performance and enjoyment of the game.

🧠 What Parents and Coaches Can Do

As with any developmental milestone, support and preparation are key.

• Encourage good habits now: body positioning, edge control, shoulder checks

• Emphasize smart play, not just physicality

• Support programs that teach contact as a skill—not just a tactic

• Reinforce that physical confidence comes from repetition, not pressure

How NEH Supports the Peewee to Bantam Transition

Our Lincoln ice hockey Summer Drop-In Sessions are specifically designed to help 2010–2013 birth years get meaningful reps with and against older players.

This gives players the opportunity to:

• Practice physical decision-making in live scenarios

• Build skating strength and body control

• Gain exposure to the speed and spacing of Bantam-level play

• Learn how to handle contact legally, confidently, and safely

It’s not about promoting big hits—it’s about building awareness, safety, and adaptability.

For families searching for Lincoln ice hockey stick and puck sessions, this is a development-focused option that provides structure, coaching, and small group attention.

📅 Lincoln Ice Hockey Summer Drop-In Details:

• June 7, 14, 28

• 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

• Breslow Ice Center – Lincoln, NE

• $15 per session

• Limited to 30 skaters per session

✨ Confidence Through Contact

Help your player feel prepared—not surprised—when they step into Bantam.

 Our Lincoln ice hockey development-based drop-ins give athletes the edge and confidence to handle physical play safely and effectively.

Reserve Your Spot

When coach said ‘take the body’… the goalie took it personally.

Don’t let your kid be this guy. Get 'em some reps, learn some angles, and keep the cages on for now!