BENCHING PLAYERS in YOUTH HOCKEY? (Hockey Coaching Tips)

Should coaches be benching players in youth hockey? Their philosophy makes sense at the end…
(Clip from PowerTech Development Podcast Episode 175 - How Coaches Think)

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[mehmd]

Benching is a strong word in hockey. It may mean many things and is usually derogatory.

My thoughts are as follows:
Benching may be used for many reasons.

Behavioral reasons. A kid is mouthing off, whining about ice time, blatantly disregarding teammates and coaches, etc.
Health reasons. Hard hit. Out of gas, etc.
Game strategy. 2 minutes left in game and you need the right mix of players on the ice to make the right play.
Educational reason. Let the player see a few shifts/plays to learn a new play.

The reasons for "benching" may be completely different depending on the level of play (Tier 1 or Tier 2 youth hockey, house league) and age group.

Tier 1 competitive hockey is expected to be much more advanced in how hockey is played. You have better coaches and players. The expectation is high level development and winning.

Tier 2 hockey is less unless it is a high level AA team.

House league. Everyone should play and rotate.

Age makes a huge difference also. To me at any age group less than 14 U it is all about development and game situation. Benching should be minimal. Allow the players to make mistakes and learn from them. Give them the tools mentally and physically to learn and grow. At 16u and above then that changes and things become more specialized. Kids are a little more mature and can handle "benching" differently.

The coach needs to learn the players and determine their temperament, maturity, skill level, motivation, etc. Some players work well with pressure, some don't and need positive reinforcement.

Above all else, the coach must communicate clearly to the player/players why they are doing what they are doing. I would also add, communicate with the parents privately so there is no miscommunication.

[Geissele_match]

Benching kids is an effective tool that can be one of the most effective methods of holding kids accountable. Especially when trying to implement systems into more competitive play.

[camel]

My option is that for u13A and under the coaches should roll the lines 98% of the time. On slight occasions they may reward or discipline a kid with the other 2%. However we all know that many coaches will abuse their ability to shorten the bench. They also usually target the same kids at this age. If it’s for reward or discipline, communication must be done with the kids after the game. At U13, U15, AA the coaches should have the option to shorten the bench by no more than 1/3 of the playing time. Development is still very important at this age and level. At AAA U13 and above, I believe no more than 50% of a players playing time should be shortened to try and win a game. Again this is just youth hockey. CHL, college is a different story, there should be no expectation to play. This method would be less ambiguous for parents and players. It would also give the coaches the room they need to manage their bench.

[warnniklz]

In peewee, I was benched for 2 periods... except my coach wouldn't explain why.