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When More Skating Isn’t Better
When we set out to build GRIT Academy, we asked ourselves a critical question: What do youth hockey players actually need that they aren’t getting from their regular teams? Parents often want more reps, more conditioning, and higher intensity. We’ve all seen the standard power skating sessions: lines of players skating hard up and down the…
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Either they have it, or they don’t
How many times have you heard a coach or parent say, “You’ve either got it, or you don’t”? They are usually talking about a kid’s hockey IQ and vision. The common belief is that players are either born with great instincts, or they aren’t.While I agree that drive is hard to create out of thin air, hockey IQ and…
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Why we Jump (on Skates)
In modern hockey skill sessions, you occasionally see coaches placing hurdles on the ice. To the casual observer, it may look like a gimmick. But bounding is a sophisticated method of developing “active” skaters who possess superior edge control, explosive power, and injury resilience. 1. Mastering Edge Precision and Landing Mechanics Unlike jumping on dry…
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Helping Your Young Hockey Player Build a Game-Day Mindset
Simple, science-backed exercises parents can do in under 10 minutes If you’ve ever watched your child lace up before a big hockey game, you know that the nerves can hit hard — even at age eight. Excitement, worry, and pressure can swirl together, and how a player manages that moment can make all the difference.…
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How Young Hockey Players Can Boost Hockey IQ with Off-Ice Training
Discover how youth hockey players can improve spatial awareness and pattern recognition off the ice through games, sports, drills, and video review.
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How Often Should Young Athlete’s Train in the Off-Season: What the Science Says
As summer arrives, parents often ask: “How much should my kid be training in the summer?” While it’s tempting to keep the momentum going with endless camps and private sessions, the truth is: age and development stage matter. Summer is an opportunity to build skills and athleticism that helps your player get a jump going…
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How to Keep Your Young Player Motivated
A science-based look at how to keep kids driven, confident, and loving the game Between the ages of 7 and 13, kids go through huge changes — physically, mentally, and socially. These years are a golden window for developing athletic ability, but also a time when motivation can rise or fall quickly. So what keeps…
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What are best practices for a wicked shot-and what should minor players focus on?
When it comes to minor hockey, a strong, accurate shot can be a major advantage on the ice. But what are the best practices for shooting technique and at what ages should players begin exploring different shot styles? Let’s look at what basic shooting techniques you’ll see at the professional level, break down their technique,…
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Is your young athlete one-dimensional?
Why Junior and NCAA Scouts Seek Athletes—Not Hockey Players Quick Summary In the increasingly competitive world of elite hockey, raw talent alone no longer opens doors to the OHL, NCAA, or the NHL. Scouts at every level are looking beyond the score sheet. They’re evaluating how players move, adapt, recover, and perform under pressure. In…
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