In building up a toolbox of drills, coaches and associations can take from a number of different resources.
“There’s been so much research done within physical education and PE teachers around the country are doing some incredible things that we can often steal from their activities and adapt them to our on-ice sessions,” said Nowak. “PE teachers are teaching skipping, running, jumping, sprinting, forward and backward locomotion, all sorts of different types of movement.”
Learning different games that can be applied to the ice is just an internet search away. But don’t forget about your target audience as a resource.
“I’m a former educator, kids were playing infection on the playground every single day,” Nowak said. “That was an activity we talked about in the podcast and also in the skating course, where one person is it and when you tag the next person, they’re it with you. Kids are playing it on the playground, so ask kids, ‘What’s your favorite game?’ and find a way to adapt it onto the ice and really be learner centered.”
Building physical literacy through fun and games is the most engaging way to turn players from novice youngsters to lifelong active adults.
“Physical literacy is a kid’s ability to move on the ice, their ability to swim, to run on land. All of those things,” Nowak said. “We know that the kids that are more physically literate are more likely to be active for life. Being physically competent leads to confidence and that motivation to continue moving. It’s a constant cycle to keep moving. That can go really far in the lives of many people around the country, not just in hockey.”
