Hockey training: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What hockey training is

Hockey training teaches skating, stickhandling, passing and shooting, on ice or off ice, for players at different levels. Players book it before a season, when they want to improve a skill like backward skating or wrist shots, or when a tryout is coming up.

Signs you need it

  • The player is slow turning or stopping and falls behind in skating drills
  • Stickhandling breaks down when the player goes at speed or faces a defender
  • Passes are off target or come too late for a teammate to receive them
  • Wrist shots and slap shots go high, wide or lack accuracy
  • A tryout or travel team selection is near and the player needs specific skills

What the pro does

  • Watches the player skate, handle the puck and shoot to find the skill that limits them most
  • Teaches edge work, crossovers and stops with drills that build balance
  • Works on stickhandling with cones and drills at speed, then adds a defender
  • Teaches passing and shooting mechanics, with targets and a set number of reps
  • Covers positioning and off-puck movement for the player's position

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Ice or off-ice training, and whether ice time is included
  • Individual versus small group training
  • The player's age and level, since younger players need more skating basics
  • Session length and the number of sessions in a block
  • Whether the trainer provides pucks, cones and a shooting net
  • Whether the focus is one skill or a full program, such as goaltending

What a written quote should spell out

  • Number of sessions, session length and start date
  • Rink or facility location and whether ice time is included
  • Whether pucks, cones and nets are provided
  • Group size and whether the training is individual
  • Make-up policy for rink closures and cancellations

Questions to ask before you hire

  • What do you check first when you watch my child skate and handle the puck?
  • Do you train on ice or off ice, and what does each one add to the player's skills?
  • How do you teach edge work and stops for players at this level?
  • Will you give the player drills to do at home, such as stickhandling or shooting?
  • What safety equipment do you require, such as helmet, gloves and a shield?
  • Do you hold a coaching certificate, and how long have you coached players this age?
  • How will we measure progress over the next month?

Red flags

  • Runs fast contact or checking drills with no focus on equipment or form
  • Promises a spot on a select team or a college scholarship
  • Will not say what safety equipment is required for the sessions
  • Teaches only shooting and skips skating technique the player needs for everything else

What you can do yourself

A player can practice stickhandling in a driveway with a ball or puck, do wall passes, and work on shooting into a net. Skating practice on a public rink with a parent nearby is a good start for young players. Hire a trainer when skating technique is holding the player back, when shooting or passing has a clear fault, or when they are preparing for a tryout.

Licenses and permits

No license is usually required to train hockey players. Ask whether the trainer holds a coaching certificate and whether the rink or facility requires proof of insurance. If the trainer works with children, ask for proof of a background check. Check with your state or local licensing agency only if the rink has its own rules for sessions.

Hockey training questions

Do I need to be able to skate well before I start training?

No, but basic balance is important. A trainer can start with skating fundamentals and build from there, so skill work does not depend on fast skating.

Should my child train on ice or off ice?

Both help. Ice work builds skating and balance. Off-ice work, such as stickhandling and shooting on a board or mat, builds touch with more reps. Ask the trainer how they mix the two.

Does the trainer need a background check?

If the trainer works with children, ask for proof of a background check before the first session. Many rinks and clubs ask for one.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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