Check only for purpose. Checking just for the sake of a hit is seldom of value and creates risk of self-injury, missed checks and open opposition players, as well as penalties.
These Golden Rules are the key items players should be striving to master as they progress up through the ranks to high school and college.
The best players at the highest levels of hockey follow the Golden Rules most often. A player of average skills and speed will do very well if these rules are mastered.
While the rules are basic and seem obvious, it may take many years of concentrated effort for most players to automatically perform them properly. This automatic reaction is what coaches should be teaching and players working towards.
1. Always back your partner — on the offensive blue line, in the neutral zone and especially in the defensive zone.
