Hockey Practice Plans for Ages 13–14
Age-appropriate hockey practices for 13–14 year olds (U14) — built to keep every kid active and having fun. Maximize ice time — every player moving, every drill.
By thirteen and fourteen, kids can train much like older athletes — structured warmups, focused skill work, tactical drills, and competitive game situations. They can handle repetition and correction, and many are genuinely committed. Push the intensity and the details, but keep the environment positive: this age quits fastest when practice becomes a joyless grind.
What a great 13–14 practice looks like
What to work on in hockey
Edges, starts, stops, and crossovers — the foundation of everything, built through movement games.
Stickhandling reps for every player, taught through fun obstacle-style drills.
Partner passing and shooting stations so no one waits for a turn.
Cross-ice and small-area games pack in touches, battles, and fun.
Gear: Full gear, sticks, plenty of pucks, cones, and nets for small-area games.
A sample 13–14 hockey practice plan
Here's a real 75-minute plan Coach Coach generated for a 13–14 hockey team. Yours is customized to your kids and ready in under 30 seconds.
🏆 Hockey Practice — Ages 13-14 — 75 min
⏱️ Warmup (10 min)
- Skating Laps with Puck Control — Kids skate laps around the rink while handling a puck. Encourage them to change pace and direction. Keep it dynamic by calling out "fast," "slow," or "zig-zag" at random. This gets them moving and comfortable handling the puck.
🎯 Skill Work (35 min)
- Passing Pairs (15 min) — Pair up players. Place them about 10 feet apart to start, then increase distance. Pass back and forth using forehand and backhand. Key cue: "Stick on the ice, eyes up." Success is smooth, controlled passes received cleanly.
- Shooting Stations (20 min) — Set up 2-3 stations: wrist shots from different angles, slap shots, and backhand goals. Rotate every 5 minutes. Key cue: "Follow through for accuracy." Success is good form over speed or power.
🏃 Game Time (25 min)
- 3v3 Half-Ice Scrimmage — Divide the rink in half, play with smaller nets if possible. Focus on quick passes and movement without the puck. Rotate teams every few minutes. Look for teamwork and communication.
🧊 Wrap Up (5 min)
- Penalty Shot Challenge — Each player takes a turn at a penalty shot. Cheer for each effort, focus on having fun. End with a team cheer and high-fives all around. Ask, "What's one thing you improved today?"
🎒 What to Bring
- 12 pucks · 8 cones · 12 sticks · 4 small nets (or use existing ones)
- Set up shooting stations in one zone and scrimmage in another to maximize space.
📋 Coach's Cheat Sheet
- "Great pass! Keep your stick low and strong."
- "Nice shot! Remember to follow through."
- Common mistake: Kids losing eye contact with the play. Encourage "Heads up! See the ice."
- Praise loudly: "Awesome hustle back on defense!"
✅ Coach Coach Check
- Every kid gets touches in every drill
- No standing in long lines
- Includes a small-sided game
- Age-appropriate intensity and fun
Coach your best practice tonight
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Build your hockey planHockey practice questions
What should a hockey practice for 13–14 year olds look like?
By thirteen and fourteen, kids can train much like older athletes — structured warmups, focused skill work, tactical drills, and competitive game situations. They can handle repetition and correction, and many are genuinely committed. Push the intensity and the details, but keep the environment positive: this age quits fastest when practice becomes a joyless grind.
How do I make the most of limited ice time?
Use stations and cross-ice setups. Divide the ice into zones so multiple small groups drill at once — every skater gets far more touches than in full-ice drills.
What should young hockey players focus on first?
Skating, always. Strong edges and balance underpin every other skill. Build puck handling on top once kids are comfortable moving.
Are small-area games good for youth hockey?
Yes — cross-ice and small-area games give kids more puck touches, battles, and decisions per minute than full-ice play, and they're a blast.