The Baffled Parent's Guide to Coaching Youth Hockey »

Bruce Driver played 11 seasons for the New Jersey Devils, including the 1995 Stanley Cup championship team. He spent his last three NHL seasons playing for the New York Rangers. Clare Wharton is a longtime "hockey mom" and journalist.

"This is a great book that touches on the most important parts of the game: sportsmanship, discipline, and most importantly, fun.—Larry Robinson, member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, six-time Stanley Cup Champion

Coach. You thought you were just going to sign up your child for the youth league, but when no one else stepped forward, you volunteered to coach the team. But you can't tell a flip pass from a slap shot or an angle check from a hip check! Don't panic—Coaching Youth Hockey is here to help.

From your first team meeting to the season-ending pizza party, Coaching Youth Hockey will get you started and keep you going. You'll learn how to teach the fundamental skills of passing, stickhandling, shooting, and checking. You'll even learn to develop your own coaching style—one that works best for you and your players. Before you know it, you'll be coaching players who are moving, motivated, and most of all, having fun.

• Survive your first practice and first game
  
  
• Match drills to ability
  
  
• Make practices safe, fun, and rewarding
  
  
• Improve your players and your team
  
  
• Reach all your players
  
  
• Be the coach you never had
  
  

"A must-read book that provides guidelines for both parents and coaches in their relationships with young athletes."—Lou Lamoriello, CEO, president, and general manager, New Jersey Devils

"Just what hockey needs! Everything you may encounter with young players can be answered in the pages of this extremely well-written book."—Tom McVie, forty-nine years in pro hockey as a player, coach, and scout

"I was totallyconfused about instructing my sons when they played hockey. This book would have prevented me from ever having been baffled."—Stan Fischler, "The Hockey Maven," NHL analyst for MSG SportsDesk, and author of Fischler's Illustrated History of Hockey

"Bruce Driver's success as a player came from being a student of the game. He has applied his knowledge of hockey to this coaching guide in an extremely thorough way. A must-read for all youth coaches."—Grant Standbrook, head recruiter and assistant coach, Maine Black Bears; former head coach, Dartmouth College

Bruce Driver played for the New Jersey Devils for eleven seasons, winning the Stanley Cup in 1995. He spent his last three years in the NHL with the New York Rangers. He has coached high school and youth hockey since 1999.

Clare Wharton is a freelance journalist, veteran "hockey mom," and avid fan.

Bruce Driver played 11 seasons for the New Jersey Devils, including the 1995 Stanley Cup championship team. He spent his last three NHL seasons playing for the New York Rangers. Clare Wharton is a longtime "hockey mom" and journalist.

Preface: In Canada, Every Kid Plays HockeyFrom Player to CoachIntroduction: Welcome Aboard, CoachHow to Use This BookA Word on Coaching StylePart One: Coaching 101: Everything You Need to Know about Coaching Youth Hockey1. Creating an Atmosphere of Good HabitsEstablish Your Identity as CoachQuestions and Answers2. Before Hitting the Ice: Hockey Clear and SimpleThe Ice RinkBare BasicsBasic RulesAs the Game Progresses3. Setting Up the SeasonFirst Things FirstSelecting an Assistant CoachThe Many Hats of a Team ManagerMeeting the ParentsHockey EquipmentQuestions and Answers4. Essential Skills and How to Teach ThemThe FundamentalsSkatingPassingStickhandlingShootingChecking5. GoaltendingThe Last Line of DefenseGoalie FundamentalsGoalie Drills6. Offense and DefenseOffensive FundamentalsDefensive Fundamentals7. The PracticePreparation and CooperationGetting Your Players to Respond to You ImmediatelyAlways Think SafetyFirst PracticePlanning the PracticePractice Session WorksheetGeneral Practice FormatPractice Success8. Sample PracticesBasic PracticeIntermediate PracticeIntermediate/Advanced PracticeQuestions and Answers9. The GameSet an ExampleRespect the OfficialsBe ReadyGame OverviewProblems and SolutionsQuestions and Answers10. Dealing with Parents and Gender IssuesPerspective on ParentsHelp Parents Look at the Big PictureKeeping Emotions in CheckAddressing Gender IssuesQuestions and AnswersPart Two: Drills: Foundations for the Growth of Players and Coaches11. Fundamental Drills12. Offensive Drills13. Defensive Drills14. Game Situation DrillsAppendixReferee SignalsGlossaryResourcesIndexAcknowledgmentsAbout the Authors