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The word STEP is an acronym which stands for Sequential Training for Elite Performance.

 STEP Hockey Academy has adopted and implemented The Martial Arts Philosophy and North American hockey curriculum.

 The Martial Arts Philosophy was, and still is, “instruction by qualified professional educators". 

 Essential to the success and execution of The STEP curriculum is an understanding of the Ancient Asian philosophy.  This philosophy is designed to ensure the success of sound teaching principals and quality customer service.

This program is divided into 5 levels within which there are 2 levels each taking one year to complete. I know that this sounds daunting but as shown in the following progression, this course covers the complete hockey curriculum. However, within this curriculum is the ability to select various components such as shooting, stick handling, skating, checking or game theory.

The following represents only level One and is deemed as STEP 1

This level with be broken down into basic categories:

1 - Learn the skills involved

2 – Learn how to use those skills in competitive one on one situations

3 – Apply one on one skills into a group or team environment

4 – Game play for “REAL” application

5 – Game Statistical analysis for LSAD “Learned Skill Active Deployment”

Players will learn and master:

1.         Skating

·        Hockey “basic “stance – “ready position” when stationary and when gliding

·        Edge control – inside and outside edges when striding, turning, stopping, crossing over, pivoting forwards and backwards (single foot, two feet).

·        Forward start – “V” start, Crossover start (left and right)

·        Forward striding – transition and long striding

·        Controlled skating

·        Forward drives – heel pushes (left and right)

·        Controlled stop – Both feet (left and right)

·        One foot stop – outside leg/inside edge

·        Backward start – “C” cut push-off (left and right)

·        Backward stop – “V” stop (inside edges)

·        Gliding turn – Left and right

·        Forward crossovers – left and right

·        Backward crossovers – left and right

·        Forward to backward pivoting – left and right

·        Backward to forward pivoting – left and right

2.         Stick / Puck Handling

·        Basic hand positions on stick (top and bottom hand)

·        Top and bottom grips (holding onto stick correctly)

·        Wrist and arm action (when stick/puck handling)

·        One hand carry (breakaway)

·        Two hand carry (when striding)

·        Side to side “dribble” front of body

·        Forward to backward “dribble” (forehand side of body)

·        3 zone theory - Basics of the attack triangle

·        Open ice push and chase

·        Skate recovery off forehand dribble

·        Forehand deke

·         Backhand deke

·         Protecting the puck

·         Accelerating with the puck (“V” start and Crossover starts)

·         Backward puck carry and stickhandle

·         Start, stop, start with puck

·         Turn Glide carry

·         Crossover carry and stickhandle

·        Give and take in (pass and receive off of stickhandle) stride

3.         Passing and Receiving

·        Forehand and Backhand sweep pass flat or saucer (while standing still or skating)

·        Flip pass (forehand and backhand – while stationary or in motion)

·        Receiving forehand and backhand (while stationary or in motion)

·        Receiving with skate (inside and outside skates – stationary or in motion)

·        Indirect pass – use of boards (rebound or “rimming”)

·        Receiving puck off of “rim” with stake and/or stick (forehand and backhand)

·        Touch pass

·        Timing

4.         Shooting

·        Forehand Sweep and wrist shots

·        Forehand and backhand flip shots

·        Forehand and backhand Chip shots

·        Backhand Sweep and wrist shots  

5.         Checking

·        Basic stick check

·        Poke check

·        Stick lift check

·        Basic angling

·        Man on man covering (near the puck, away from the puck)

·        Gap concepts (check puck carrier or covering receiver)

·        Blocking passes (body, stick)

Knowledge of the game

·        Positional play

·        Defensive zone

·        Offensive zone

·        Face-offs

·        Tactics/Concepts

·        One on ones (with and without puck)

·        Odd man situations (2 on 1’s)

·        Short man situations (1 on 2’s)

·        Triangulation

·        Face-off responsibilities

·        Systems

·        Breaking out

·        Forechecking

·        Backchecking

·        Common Infraction - enforcing correct techniques

·        Minor (2 minutes)

·        Major (5 minutes)

·        Game misconducts (10 minutes)

·        Game Play

                  ·        Heads up hockey

·        Anticipation

·        Timing

·     Read and react

Sportsmanship, Teamsmanship and Character Development

·        Players are part of a team and the understanding of team commitment

·        Respect for teammates, opponents, coaches, officials and parents

·        Taking instruction from the on-ice authorities (coaches and referees)

·        Self control and discipline

·        To always try their best

 Game Rules and Play

The STEP program uses games to develop sportsmanship and knowledge of the game.  Games are played using a relaxed rules format where infractions like icing and offsides are not always called. Eliminating these infractions from the game dramatically increase the amount of playing time.  Some parents worry that these rules are a disadvantage to players, this is not the case. Freedom of movement and decision making is critical to developing confidence.

Note on Checking

         One of the greatest challenges in teaching hockey is teaching players proper checking skills.  

Checking is an advanced skill, which is taught only after a player masters skating, stick handling and shooting skills.  First level  are taught positioning/angling, stick checks – shoulder, hip and body checks are taught at later stages.  Coaches will focus on teaching the proper techniques for stick checking, (like playing with arms, elbows and sticks down) and also make sure that players do not learn or use illegal stick-work.