Hockey Practice Plans for Ages 5–6
Age-appropriate hockey practices for 5–6 year olds (U6) — built to keep every kid active and having fun. Maximize ice time — every player moving, every drill.
At 5 and 6, practice is really structured play. Attention spans are short — think 5-to-8-minute activities, constant movement, and zero standing in line. Every kid needs their own ball (or their own turn) because sharing and waiting is where you lose them. Skip the tactics entirely; the win is that they had fun, touched the ball a hundred times, and want to come back next week.
What a great 5–6 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 5–6 hockey practice plan
Here's a real 45-minute plan Coach Coach generated for a 5–6 hockey team. Yours is customized to your kids and ready in under 30 seconds.
🏆 Hockey Practice — Ages 5-6 — 45 min
⏱️ Warmup (10 min)
- Puck Tag — Set up a small area with cones. Kids skate around with pucks. One or two are "taggers" without pucks. If tagged, a player must do a fun task like a spin or a jump, then get back in. Keep it lively and encourage laughter.
🎯 Skill Work (20 min)
-
Red Light, Green Light — Line kids up at one end of the rink. On "green light," they skate with the puck; on "red light," they stop and stickhandle in place. Encourage them to keep heads up. Success = stopping quickly and keeping control of the puck.
-
Puck Obstacle Course — Set up cones in a zig-zag pattern. Kids weave through, practicing stickhandling. Encourage "soft hands" to keep the puck close. Success = making it through without losing the puck.
🏃 Game Time (10 min)
- Mini Hockey Games — Set up two small goals using cones. Split the kids into 3v3 teams (rest can cheer or rotate in). Play short, fun games focusing on passing and shooting. Keep shifts short to maintain energy and engagement.
🧊 Wrap Up (5 min)
- Freeze Dance — Play music while kids stickhandle around. Pause the music, and they freeze. Ask them "What's your favorite hockey move?" and end with high-fives all around.
🎒 What to Bring
- 10 cones · 10 pucks · 2 small nets or extra cones for goals · Music player (optional)
📋 Coach's Cheat Sheet
- "Keep your heads up!" — Encourage kids to look around while playing.
- "Soft hands, like petting a puppy!" — Helps kids control the puck better.
- Common Mistake: Kids looking at their feet — gently remind them to look where they're going.
- Praise: "Great job keeping control of your puck!"
✅ Coach Coach Check
- Every kid gets touches in every drill
- No standing in long lines
- At least one small-sided game
- Age-appropriate intensity and fun level
Coach your best practice tonight
Tell Coach Coach your sport, age group, and what to work on. Get a complete, age-appropriate hockey practice in under 30 seconds — free.
Build your hockey planHockey practice questions
What should a hockey practice for 5–6 year olds look like?
At 5 and 6, practice is really structured play. Attention spans are short — think 5-to-8-minute activities, constant movement, and zero standing in line. Every kid needs their own ball (or their own turn) because sharing and waiting is where you lose them. Skip the tactics entirely; the win is that they had fun, touched the ball a hundred times, and want to come back next week.
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.