Helpful hints for Coaching 12U or Pee Wee Hockey

Andrew Trimble
06/16/2025
5:45 am

Like a train roaring down the tracks, the introduction of body checking is coming in 1 to 2 short years, and players need to practice good habits and be prepared. Like a shark smelling blood in the water, early maturing hockey players who may be bigger at 11 or 12 in stature will now command fear against their opponents.

With the rapidly approaching body checking and “hitting” coming in a short time frame, the Pee Wee age bracket needs to reinforce good habits and awareness on the ice. Consistent skills that make the game safer and eliminate potential vulnerable plays or game sequences. With “the Michigan” youth players drop their head and eyes, then raise them abruptly once (and if) they get the puck on their stick. They then make a play in the middle of the ice with a raised stick. These plays can open up players to injury and large collisions.

I’m not saying players should spend some time at home or on the pond and practice the “Michigan”, but you as the coach, have the power and influence to practice skills and drills that protect your team and empower them to make effective and repeatable plays all over the ice. That is where the focus should remain at your practices at this level and skill sessions.

USA Hockey defines 9-12 as the “Golden Age” of skill development. In Ontario Canada, this is what they say about the U12 age group:

The Peewee age group is the most significant period for hockey development. This is the window of accelerated adaptation to motor coordination. Group interaction, team building and social activities should be emphasized. A reasonable balance of practices and games will foster the ongoing development and mastery of essential skills in hockey. Peewee | The Golden Age of Player Development (omha.net)

So although now that these players may be able to do things that they’ve never done before, and perform tricks that are unique and cool, you as the coach have to make it a priority to continue on the path to development. Assist them and drill down into sound fundamentals and continued growth in their skill enhancement path.

2 Small Area Games for the U12 or Pee Wee Levels

Power Play/ PK Game

Players at U12 can start to understand special teams concepts to a great extent and this drill can be really effective in teaching spatial awareness, stick positioning, passing and communication and much more. Line down the middle of the zone prevents each group of 5 from crossing. 3 v2 on each side. PK can only clear to the PP on the other side, not out of zone.

Forecheck Game

3v3 – teams shoot on net on the side that they are lined up on. On the whistle the puck comes out and is put in the corner. Players have to skate around the far net to play the puck. When doing this one team will be on the breakout/ other on the forecheck. Reinforce angling, d-side awareness, and good stick positioning. Play to whistle and alternate corners to dump puck.