Real-world examples of checking drills for ice hockey players

Simple body-contact examples of checking drills for ice hockey

Let’s start with the foundation: teaching players how to give and receive contact safely. The best examples of checking drills for ice hockey at younger ages are controlled, slow, and predictable. The goal is to build habits, not to blow kids up.

Example of a stationary “hit and hold” wall drill

Set up players in pairs along the boards. One player stands about a stick length away from the wall, the other approaches slowly.

• The skater glides in with knees bent, hands in tight, shoulder and hip lined up.
• Contact is made gently, pinning the partner to the wall for one second.
• Emphasize staying low, keeping the head up, and driving through the legs rather than lunging with the upper body.

This is one of the simplest examples of checking drills for ice hockey, but it teaches three big things: balance, safe contact, and how to absorb a hit without panicking. It’s a great warm-up drill before any higher-speed contact work.

Angle-and-bump along the boards

Now add skating and angling. Place a puck in the corner. One player starts on the half wall with the puck, the other starts a few strides away.

• The puck carrier skates up the boards at half speed.
• The checker starts inside the dots and skates an angle to meet the puck carrier at the boards.
• Contact is made by steering the puck carrier into the wall with the body and stick, not by launching.

This drill is a strong example of how to teach players that checking is really about taking away space and steering the opponent into bad ice. It’s also a good chance to reinforce keeping hands down and avoiding checks from behind.

Angling-focused examples of checking drills for ice hockey

Modern coaching in 2024–2025 puts a huge emphasis on angling as the foundation of checking. If you watch top-level youth and college hockey, the best examples of checking drills for ice hockey all start with skating lanes and stick positioning.

Example of a “dot lane” angling drill

Line up offensive players along the boards at the red line with pucks. Defensive players line up inside the dots.

• The offensive player skates up-ice along the boards.
• The defender starts a second later, skating inside-out to cut off the middle of the ice.
• The defender’s stick is in the lane, blade on the ice, steering the attacker toward the wall.
• Just before the blue line, the defender finishes with a controlled bump or rub-out along the boards.

This is one of the best examples of examples of checking drills for ice hockey because it layers skills: gap control, stick-on-puck, body contact, and finishing the play. You can progress it by allowing the attacker to cut back or pull a move, forcing the defender to adjust the angle.

Angling from behind on backcheck

Here’s another real example of a game-like drill. Start an offensive player at the red line with a puck and a defender three strides behind.

• On the whistle, both players skate toward the far net.
• The defender must angle from behind, taking a path that cuts off the middle.
• The goal is to catch up, get stick-on-puck from the side, then finish with a light shoulder-to-shoulder bump.

This drill teaches players not to reach or hook when chasing. Instead, they learn to take smart routes and use legal body contact at the end of the backcheck.

For more on why this approach fits modern safety standards, coaches can review USA Hockey’s body checking education resources at usahockey.com and concussion information from the CDC HEADS UP program.

Battle drill examples of checking drills for ice hockey

Once players understand basic contact and angling, you can move into tighter battle drills. These are some of the best examples of checking drills for ice hockey because they feel like real shifts.

Corner battle with puck protection

Two players start in the corner with one puck.

• On the whistle, the puck carrier tries to escape up the boards or behind the net.
• The defender focuses on body position first, then stick.
• Legal contact is allowed: pinning, rubbing out, and using the hips to separate the puck.
• After 5–8 seconds, blow the whistle and rotate pairs.

This drill is a real example of how checking shows up in games: not as a highlight-reel hit at center ice, but as a grind in the corners. You can add a coach or third player in the slot as a passing option to make it more game-like.

Net-front box-out battles

Checking isn’t just for the boards. Net-front play is a huge part of modern defense.

• A defender starts in front of the net, an offensive player in the low slot.
• A coach or player at the point has pucks.
• On the whistle, the point player shoots low, looking for tips or rebounds.
• The defender uses body contact to box out, keep inside position, and tie up the stick.

This is another strong example of examples of checking drills for ice hockey that emphasize control. You’re teaching defenders to be physical without cross-checking or taking penalties. It also gives goalies realistic traffic to work through.

Full-ice and transition examples of checking drills for ice hockey

To really prepare for games, you want checking drills that include speed, transition, and decision-making. The best examples of checking drills for ice hockey in 2024–2025 look a lot like mini scrimmages, just with a clear teaching focus.

1-on-1 full-ice with gap and finish

Set up one offensive and one defensive player at your blue line.

• The coach dumps a puck to the far blue line.
• The offensive player takes off to retrieve it.
• The defender skates hard to close the gap, staying inside the dots.
• As they enter the defensive zone, the defender angles the attacker toward the wall and finishes with body contact if the angle is good.

This drill gives a real example of how gap control leads to clean checks. Players learn that if they’re too far away, they’ll miss the hit or take a bad penalty. If the gap is right, the check becomes almost automatic.

2-on-2 neutral-zone transition

This one feels like something you’d see in a junior or college practice.

• Two offensive players and two defenders start in the neutral zone.
• The coach dumps a puck to one side.
• The pair closest to the puck becomes offense; the other pair defends.
• Defenders must angle, communicate, and finish checks when the opportunity is there.

You can set rules such as “every rush must end with a legal body check attempt” to force defenders to recognize windows for contact. This is one of the best examples of examples of checking drills for ice hockey that brings together reading the play, communication, and physical play.

Safety-first contact: modern trends in 2024–2025

If you’re coaching checking in 2024–2025, you’re also coaching safety. Concussion awareness has changed how we teach contact, and the best examples of checking drills for ice hockey now build in safety messages on every rep.

Here are a few trends you’ll see in current coaching:

• Head-up habits: Every drill above should start with a reminder: see what you hit. Players are taught to avoid blind-side checks, especially at the youth and high school levels.
• Core strength and balance: Off-ice work on neck, core, and leg strength supports safer contact. Research shared by organizations like the NIH has highlighted the role of neck strength in reducing head acceleration during impacts.
• Limiting big open-ice hits in practice: Most modern coaches use more controlled contact and battle drills instead of lining kids up for huge collisions in the middle.
• Return-to-play awareness: Coaches increasingly follow medical guidance from sources like Mayo Clinic and CDC HEADS UP when a player has a suspected concussion.

When you design or choose examples of examples of checking drills for ice hockey, ask yourself: does this drill teach smart, legal contact that would make sense in a high-level game today? If not, tweak it.

Position-specific examples of checking drills for ice hockey

Different positions use checking in different ways. Here are a few real examples of how to tailor drills.

For defensemen: blue-line gap and step-up

Defenders line up at the defensive blue line, forwards at the red line.

• The forward attacks with speed and a puck.
• The defender starts backward, matching speed and holding the blue line.
• As the forward crosses the blue line, the defender steps up with stick-on-puck and finishes with body contact if the gap is right.

This is a classic example of a checking drill for defensemen, teaching them when to hold and when to step up.

For forwards: forecheck bump and recover

Set up a 2-0 or 2-1 forecheck scenario.

• A defenseman retrieves a puck behind the net.
• One forward pressures hard, angling the D toward the wall.
• The second forward reads the play and positions for a turnover.
• The first forward finishes with a controlled bump, never from behind, then recovers to a good support spot.

This drill shows forwards that checking isn’t just for defense; it’s a weapon on the forecheck that creates offense.

FAQ: common questions about checking drills

What are some simple examples of checking drills for new contact players?

For players just learning contact, the best starting points are stationary wall “hit and hold” drills, slow angle-and-bump along the boards, and basic corner battles with limited speed. Each example of a drill should focus on balance, safe body position, and keeping the head up.

Can you give an example of a checking drill that builds confidence after an injury?

A good example of a confidence-building drill is a low-speed, 1-on-1 corner battle where the coach controls the intensity. Players know the contact will be light and predictable, so they can focus on trusting their body again. Gradually increase the speed and physicality over several practices.

How often should checking drills be used in a weekly practice plan?

For contact-age teams, many coaches use some form of checking or battle drill in nearly every practice, but not always at full intensity. One or two focused segments per session, mixed with skill and systems work, tends to be enough. The idea is to keep contact habits fresh without turning every skate into a hitting clinic.

What are examples of unsafe checking habits coaches should watch for?

Common red flags include players leaving their feet, leading with the hands or elbows, checking from behind, blind-side hits, and targeting the head. If you see these in any example of a checking drill, stop and correct immediately. Reinforce angles, stick-on-puck, and shoulder-to-shoulder contact instead.

Where can I find more guidance on safe checking and concussion prevention?

Coaches and parents can review:

• USA Hockey’s body contact and checking resources: usahockey.com/bodychecking
• CDC HEADS UP concussion safety: cdc.gov/heads-up
• Mayo Clinic’s concussion care and return-to-play guidance: mayoclinic.org

These resources support what the best examples of checking drills for ice hockey are all trying to do: keep the game physical, fast, and competitive, while protecting players for the long haul.