Cognitive skills in youth hockey – Hockey IQ for kids

Hockey training for kids should be fun, right? Yes clearly but… at around 10 years, game intelligence or a hockey-mindset, often referred to as hockey IQ starts to be part of the game. Though it is a prejudice to believe a player either has a hockey-mindset or not. A hockey-mindset can be trained! So, teaching hockey IQ is not fun? It depends of the mindset of the young player...

players on bench

So, what is a hockey -mindset or hockey IQ?

It is a set of cognitive skills that play a significant role in hockey performance. These are for example - decision-making, pattern recognition, anticipation, focus, and creativity to find solutions. These essential skills can be developed and trained! Coaches need to try tailoring their coaching methods to include specific exercises and drills that target the enhancement of these cognitive abilities.

How can coaches teach hockey IQ?

Foster game intelligence

Encourage your players to develop game intelligence by promoting awareness, anticipation, and understanding of the game's patterns. Incorporate drills and activities that enhance pattern recognition and decision-making speed. Study game footage and help kids analyzing specific situations or strategic game elements, such as break-outs or defense plays.

Train under pressure

It is vital to help kids to train under pressure to simulate real game situations. Coaches can create practices that mirror high-pressure moments and require quick decision-making. It is very important to encourage young players to embrace challenges and learn from mistakes to develop their mental resilience and adaptability. Give them a safe environment where it is “allowed to make mistakes”.

Cultivate a growth mindset

Foster a growth mindset within your youth hockey team. Promote the belief that abilities can be developed through hard work and dedication. Encourage positive self-talk and visualization to enhance confidence and resilience. Teach players to embrace challenges, learn from failures, their own or of others, and persist in their pursuit of improvement.

Emphasize teamwork and communication

Recognize the importance of collective intelligence and effective teamwork. Encourage open communication, trust-building, and collaboration among your players. Promote a shared understanding of the game and the team's strategies. Incorporate team-building exercises and activities that enhance communication and cohesion.

Coaches must remember to adapt these principles to the specific age group and skill level of their players. Create a supportive and positive learning environment, provide constructive feedback, and tailor your coaching methods to the individual needs and abilities of each player. Coaches play a vital role developing hockey IQ in kids. By using some of these actions coaches can enhance their coaching strategies and therefore contribute to the development of confident, intelligent, and effective youth hockey player.

If you have any thoughts or comments reach out to your coach or contact us.

Coach Rene