Practice Plans

Season Framework.

This is our basic framework for the season. We will follow this as our guide not our rule. It is designed to evolve as we progress and learn more about each other and our competition.

OUR SEASON

September 3, 2026 – March 2027

We are a 15-player team with 13 skaters and 2 goalies competing in an 8-team Northern California league and three tournaments:

● Early November: Tournament #1

● Late January: Tournament #2

● Late February: Tournament #3

Our goal is simple:

> Develop better hockey players while developing better teammates.

🐈‍⬛ BLACK CATS vs. 🐈 WHITE CATS

Practices will usually divide the team into two groups:

BLACK CATS

Fast • Aggressive • Relentless

Hunt the puck.

WHITE CATS

Smart • Calm • Precise

Control the game.

Black cats and white cats have different folklore and traditions, but neither is better or luckier. Both are capable of winning.

In practice:

> BLACK CATS vs. WHITE CATS

On game day:

ONE TEAM

Our practice competition will include skill contests, races, small-area games, checking, systems and game situations.

We will also recognize players for demonstrating our team values—not just for winning drills.

H.O.C.K.E.Y. — HOW WE ARE IS WHO WE ARE

H — Humility

Be coachable. Put the team before yourself.

O — Owner

Own your effort, preparation, actions and mistakes.

C — Curious

Ask questions. Learn. Look for ways to improve.

K — Kind

Treat teammates, coaches, opponents and officials with respect.

E — Engaged

Be present, prepared and willing to compete.

Y — You

Be yourself. Bring your best to the team every day.

H.O.C.K.E.Y. is how we behave when nobody is keeping score.

OUR PRACTICES

We practice Thursday and Friday.

Each practice includes:

20 minutes of dryland
Primarily stretching, mobility and activation.

60 minutes on ice

Most practices will use half ice to maximize puck touches, skating, decision-making and competition.

Thursday

Develop

Skills • Checking • Systems • Small-area games • Special teams

Friday

Compete

Pressure • Game situations • Black vs. White • Systems • Special teams

Prep for games and as the season progresses adjust based on who we are playing.

Full ice will be used when appropriate and available for breakouts, transition, forechecking, special teams and game simulation. We will scrimmage from time to time vs 14U-2.

> Half ice for repetition. Full ice for application.

CHECKING

Checking is an important part of 14U-A hockey, and approximately half of our team is new to checking.

We will teach it progressively and safely:

Read → Angle → Close → Contact → Separate → Recover

Players will learn:

● Safe body positioning

● Angling and gap control

● Receiving contact

● Board awareness

● Puck protection

● Separating players from the puck

● When to check—and when not to

The goal is not to make big hits.

> The goal is to become smart, confident and responsible players who can compete physically.

OUR TEAM SYSTEMS THIS SEASON

FORECHECK

2–1–2 — PRESSURE

Create turnovers and make opponents uncomfortable.

TRAP — CONTROL

Take away the middle, limit options and force opponents where we want them.

We will learn when to pressure and when to control.

POWER PLAY

1–3–1

Move the puck. Move ourselves. Create passing lanes. Get pucks to the net.

PENALTY KILL

DIAMOND

Protect the middle. Pressure the puck. Protect the net. Clear the zone.

Systems will become progressively more important as the season moves from learning → execution → competition.

TEAM LEADERSHIP

We will select by first regular season game:

2 Captains (Home and Away) — C
4 Alternate Captains (Home and Away)  — A

Leadership will be based on more than hockey ability.

We will look for players who consistently demonstrate:

Humility • Ownership • Curiosity • Kindness • Engagement

Leadership is not a title.

> Leadership is earned every day.

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT

Every player will have three individual check-ins with a coach during the season.

1 — September

Baseline from survey results - what is my starting point?

Strengths • Opportunities • Goals

2 — December

How am I progressing?

Development • Confidence • Checking • Team contribution

3 — February

Who am I becoming?

Consistency • Leadership • Competitive maturity • Team contribution

Players will be encouraged to take ownership of their own development.

GAME DAY

Every game begins with the same 40-minute pregame ritual:

10 min — Stretch & movement

10 min — Hockey warm-up

10 min — Competitive activation

5 min — Team message

5 min — Lock in

The goal is to arrive at game time physically ready, mentally focused and emotionally connected.

OUR SEASON

SEPTEMBER

BUILD

Learn who we are.