Players seeking advancement to the Red Division must meet this list of skills criteria. Players are also placed in the Red Division if their skills do not meet the Maroon (Intermediate-Advanced) Criteria.

RED DIVISION OVERVIEW >
RED PLACEMENT DRILLS >

Skating

Speed
  • Skates entire surface unchallenged, quickly, without falling. Skater should be in control of body and stick demonstrating hockey form [see Maneuvering, Good Body Posture]. Quickly means at benchmark speed.
  • Accelerates into play or to cover another player. Minimal coasting. Moves feet to get into play or cover player and succeeds.
  • Keeps pace with the game at Red level. Able to stay with play including speed and stamina. Minimal coasting, no standing watching play.
 Stopping
  • Use ‘lots’ of ice to stop: Begins stop 1-2 feet from point designated.
  • Does not use boards or people to stop.
  • Mastered stopping well on one side, other side is weaker but functional. Hockey stop on one side, not a snow plow stop with both feet. Weaker still means a hockey stop though shaky, it does not mean “no stop” such as gliding through a turn or a power turn.
  • Able to step out in new direction, though not rapidly. Steps out with lead foot or crosses over stationary foot in new direction. No glide or power turn.
Maneuvering
  • Good body posture and position, remains in control and in balance:
    • Relaxed posture
    • Flexible ankle bends
    • Flexible knee bends – 2″ over toes
    • Body Lean Forward – Shoulders even with the toes
    • Back Straight
    • Chest Up
    • Stomach in
    • Head up
  • Wide slow turns. May not use crossovers consistently. Can complete crossover on at least on one side, not stepping by foot or just ahead of the foot, but full step over balancing foot.
  • Able to skate backwards, smoothly and without falling at benchmark speed with good posture, not just slow C-cuts.
  • Changes in direction are accomplished, although not smoothly and quickly. Able to turn both directions on transitions maintaining speed and direction without stopping.
Hustle
  • Chases loose pucks. Doesn’t wait for puck to come to them. Keeps feet moving. Leaning while gliding is not chasing.
  • Able to ice puck out of zone.
  • Dumps puck into zone and chases. Keeps feet moving, minimal coasting while shooting puck into zone.

Stickwork

Passing/Receiving
  • Two hands on stick, stick on ice consistently. Hands should be a forearms distance apart not on top of one another.
  • Able to puck-handle entire ice surface unchallenged with proper form [See Maneuvering, Good Body Posture] not pinched and over skating puck.
  • Able to receive forehand pass on the move, skating forward to catch puck on stick without it ricocheting off or stopping movement.
  • Able to pass and receive the puck unchallenged, without falling. While skating, can catch puck on stick or make clean pass to another skater without it ricocheting off or stopping movement.
Shooting
  • Mastered one forehand shot using proper technique – can aim shot
  • Still lacks strength on shot: Can be slightly weaker than benchmark strength but should be close.

Game Knowledge & Experience

Positioning
  • Knows correct position of all players in offensive and defensive zones, including faceoff lineup.
  • Able to play defense at blue line, attempts to keep puck in.
  • Skates to open pass.
Off-sides
  • Understands rule and concept of off-sides. See rule
  • Waits at blue line for puck to enter zone.
  • Knows when to clear the zone.
  • Should be able to know when to clear with minimal prompting from teammates.
Line changes
  • Changes with help from coaches.
  • Comes directly to bench to change quickly. May glide last 5 feet but should attempt to skate all the way to the bench.
Teamwork
  • Communicates respectfully with coach, players and line-mates.
  • On ice and on the bench, call for changes and call for puck on ice if open.