Empowering Players: Why Minor Hockey Coaches Should Let Players Choose Drills (Once in a While)

As a minor hockey coach, you spend countless hours planning practices, developing skill progressions, and structuring each session with a clear purpose. But what if, every so often, you handed the reins to your players and let them choose some of the drills?

While this might seem like a small shift, it can have a significant impact on engagement, learning, and team culture.

However, this isn’t about throwing away structure or letting players dictate practice with no guidance. Allowing players to choose drills needs to be planned in advance so their selections can be incorporated into the practice plan with intentionality. When done correctly, this approach fosters player investment, boosts motivation, and helps young athletes develop a deeper understanding of the game.

1. The Psychological Benefits of Player-Selected Drills

Hockey is as much a mental game as it is a physical one. Giving players some control over their development—even in small ways—can lead to greater buy-in, better focus, and an increased sense of responsibility for their own growth.

a) Autonomy Increases Motivation

Studies in sports psychology consistently show that athletes who feel a sense of autonomy—meaning they have some control over their training—tend to be more motivated and engaged. When players get to choose drills, they feel like their opinions matter, which naturally increases their enthusiasm.

Think about the difference between telling a player, “We’re working on shooting today,” versus asking, “Which shooting drill do you think would help you the most right now?” The second approach encourages critical thinking and ownership, leading to a deeper commitment to the drill.

b) Player-Driven Learning Improves Retention

When a player picks a drill, they’re more likely to be mentally invested in it. That engagement leads to better focus, which results in better learning and retention of skills. A drill they chose isn’t just something they’re doing because the coach said so—it’s something they decided was important to their development.

2. How Allowing Players to Choose Drills Helps Their Hockey IQ

Great hockey players aren’t just skilled—they’re smart. They recognize patterns, anticipate plays, and make quick decisions. Allowing players to occasionally choose drills encourages them to think critically about their own strengths and weaknesses, which builds their hockey IQ.

a) Teaches Players to Self-Assess

When given the chance to choose, players start thinking about what they need to work on. Instead of blindly going through drills, they begin evaluating their own skills. Are they struggling with passing under pressure? Do they need more work on quick releases? This kind of self-reflection is invaluable for development.

b) Reinforces the Purpose Behind Drills

When players are always assigned drills, they may not think about why they’re doing them. But when they choose a drill, they have to consider its purpose. This reinforces the idea that every drill has a function, making them more engaged in all aspects of practice—not just the ones they pick.

3. Creating a Sense of Team Ownership

Hockey is a team sport, and building a sense of team ownership is crucial. When players have occasional input into practice, they feel more connected to the team and more invested in their collective success.

a) Strengthens Team Chemistry

Allowing players to choose drills, especially as a group, creates opportunities for leadership and teamwork. When teammates discuss which drills they want to incorporate, they start communicating about what’s important for their collective improvement. This shared decision-making fosters camaraderie and reinforces the idea that they’re in this together.

b) Encourages Leadership Development

Giving players input on practice helps develop leadership skills. Older or more experienced players might advocate for certain drills to help the team, while younger players might learn to voice their opinions. Even quieter players have a chance to contribute in a low-pressure way, strengthening their confidence over time.

4. How to Implement Player-Selected Drills in an Organized Way

Simply asking players to pick drills on the spot would lead to chaos. To make this approach effective, it needs to be planned ahead of time. Here’s how to do it in a structured and intentional way.

a) Set Guidelines for Drill Selection

Rather than leaving it completely open-ended, provide a framework. Some options include:

• Giving players a list of drills to choose from (focused on the skills you’re working on that week).

• Allowing players to submit drill suggestions before practice.

• Assigning a different player or group each week to pick a drill.

This ensures that the chosen drills align with your overall development plan while still giving players a voice.

b) Plan the Drills into the Practice Structure

Once you have the drills players want to work on, incorporate them into your practice plan. A great way to do this is by designating a specific segment of practice for player-selected drills, such as:

• 5-10 minutes at the start of practice – Players warm up with a drill they chose.

• Mid-practice skill focus – If working on a theme (e.g., passing, defensive positioning), include one drill chosen by players.

• End-of-practice fun drill – Players pick a favorite drill to finish on a high note.

By fitting their selections into the plan, you ensure practices remain organized and purposeful.

c) Balance Player Choice with Coach’s Objectives

While you want to give players input, you also need to guide them. If they keep choosing the same drills, steer them toward new options that challenge them in different ways. One way to do this is to set themes:

• One week, players choose a shooting drill.

• The next, they pick a passing drill.

• Another week, they select a battle drill.

This keeps variety in practices while still giving players decision-making power.

5. Addressing Common Concerns

Some coaches might worry that allowing players to choose drills will lead to unproductive or unfocused practices. Here’s how to address some common concerns.

a) “Players Will Just Pick Fun Drills”

Yes, players might gravitate toward their favorite drills, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. If they enjoy a drill, they’re likely to put more effort into it. Plus, as a coach, you still control the overall practice plan—so if they pick a drill that doesn’t fit, you can guide them toward a better option.

b) “This Will Take Too Much Time”

It doesn’t have to. By planning ahead—asking for input before practice or giving a structured set of choices—you can seamlessly integrate their selections without disrupting practice flow.

c) “I’m the Coach. Shouldn’t I Decide Everything?”

Your role is to guide development, not control every aspect of it. Great coaches create an environment where players take ownership of their improvement. Allowing them to choose drills once in a while doesn’t undermine your authority—it enhances it by showing that you trust your players and value their input.

6. The Long-Term Benefits of Player-Selected Drills

Beyond the immediate benefits of engagement and motivation, allowing players to choose drills occasionally has long-term advantages. It helps them develop the mindset of a student of the game—someone who actively seeks to improve rather than passively follows instructions.

This carries over to higher levels of hockey, where players are expected to take more responsibility for their development. A player who has been taught to think critically about drills and skill development will be better prepared for junior, college, or professional hockey, where self-motivation is essential.

Final Thoughts

Letting minor hockey players choose drills once in a while isn’t about handing over control—it’s about fostering engagement, accountability, and critical thinking. When implemented with structure and planning, this approach makes practices more meaningful, builds team chemistry, and helps players develop a deeper understanding of the game.

As coaches, our goal is to develop not just skilled hockey players, but smart, motivated athletes who take ownership of their improvement. By allowing them some input into practice, we’re giving them a small but valuable opportunity to do just that.

Ed Garinger is a seasoned hockey coach, mentor, and educator with over two decades of experience. A native of the Bruce Peninsula, he played minor and junior hockey before earning his BA and BEd from Nipissing University, where he also competed in varsity volleyball and extramural hockey.

Coaching since age 14, Ed has balanced his teaching career with an extensive coaching and development portfolio, working with players at all levels. He has coached in the Provincial Junior Hockey League, led youth and high school teams, and served as a learning facilitator for the OMHA. His experience includes elite programs like the OHL/OHF U15 and U16 camps, U17 Regional Camps, and Hockey Canada’s Skills Academy.

A Hockey Canada HP1-certified coach, USA Hockey-certified coach, and Chartered Professional Coach (ChPC), Ed is committed to ongoing professional development and continually seeks to expand his knowledge to better serve players and coaches. Now based in Orillia, he enjoys passing on his passion for hockey to the next generation.