Quick answer
The best thing a hockey dad can do in the garden is not coach — it's feed passes, run simple accuracy games, keep the pucks moving, and stay quiet while doing it. Twenty minutes of your kid handling real puck feeds from you beats any solo drill they run on their own. You don't need a coaching certificate. You need a bucket of pucks, a decent backhand, and the discipline to shut up when things are going well.
Key takeaways
- Your role is training partner, not head coach — keep the feedback short and the reps flowing.
- A dad who feeds crisp passes creates better players than a dad who stops every rep to explain.
- Build the garden space together with your kid — ownership of the space = more voluntary reps.
- The best garden sessions end with your kid wanting more, not with a coaching debrief.
- Simple accuracy games beat open-ended "just practice" every time for kids under 14.
- Your job during a good rep: retrieve pucks.
The training-partner mindset (not the coaching mindset)
There's a version of garden hockey training that creates pressure and a version that creates reps. The difference is almost entirely in the dad's head.
A training partner shows up, sets up the net, feeds passes, calls out targets, runs the pucks back, and laughs when something goes wrong. A coach stops play to explain what went wrong, demonstrates the correct technique, and asks if you understood. One of these produces 200 reps in a session. The other produces 40 reps and one sullen kid.
Most players I work with who train a lot off-ice had a parent who was willing to be boring — to stand at one end and feed passes for 20 minutes without turning it into a lecture. That consistency, over a full off-season, is what moves the needle.
Coach Erik's tip: Give one piece of feedback per session, maximum. Pick the single most important thing and say it once, early. Then let the reps do the work. If you're saying something after every rep, you're coaching — and your kid has already stopped listening.
How to feed passes like a useful training partner
A good pass feed is the most valuable thing you can do. Here is what makes it useful:
- Put it on the forehand. Until your kid tells you otherwise, forehand-side passes are the default. Clean reception = clean rep.
- Vary the speed — deliberately. Mix in slow feeds, fast feeds, and the occasional bad pass. Real games have all three.
- Call the next action before you pass. "Shoot top right" or "one-timer" while the puck is still on your stick. This builds hockey IQ alongside the physical skill.
- Stand still. Move only when the drill calls for it. A moving feeder is a distraction.
You do not need to be an ex-player to do this well. You need to be reliable. Reliable passes on time build a player's confidence faster than perfectly coached technique delivered inconsistently.
Garden games that make reps fun (and effective)
Open-ended practice without structure goes stale after ten minutes for most kids. Simple games with a score fix this completely. Here are five that work at every level:
| Game | Setup | What it trains | Dad's role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corner call | Hang shooting targets (€33.16) in two corners; kid calls corner before each shot | Shooting accuracy + decision-making | Feed passes, track hits vs. misses |
| 10-pass challenge | 10 passes between you, then kid shoots; count consecutive clean passes | Passing + shot off a feed | Feed from different angles each round |
| Puck racing | Two rows of 5 pucks; kid stickhandles through cones, you time it | Puck control under time pressure | Keep the clock and announce the time |
| Beat the rebounder | Set up rebounder (€66.36); kid gets 3 seconds to shoot the return pass | Quick release + one-touch shooting | Reset pucks, run the timer |
| First to 5 | You both shoot at targets; first to hit 5 wins | Accuracy under low-stakes competition | Actually compete — kids love beating dad |
The scoring structure in these games is not about pressure — it is about giving the kid a reason to stay focused for the next rep. When there's a score to beat, the session runs longer by itself. You don't have to motivate anyone.
Building the space together: why it matters
Here is something I've seen play out dozens of times: when a kid helps set up their own training area — laying tiles, hanging the net, placing the targets — they use it more. Ownership of the space creates voluntary reps, and voluntary reps are the ones that actually develop a player.
Building the space together does not need to be a big project. It can be a Saturday afternoon with a 10-pack of training tiles (2 m², €116.16) and a net. Let your kid decide where the goal goes. Let them pick the corner. Ask them what they want to work on. The session after you build it will tell you exactly how much that ownership matters.
If you have the space, a dedicated spot beats a portable setup. A 20-pack (4 m², €224.06) or 30-pack (6 m², €331.96) of tiles gives enough surface for both a shooting station and a stickhandling circle. A steel goal (€149.36) that stays put removes the setup barrier — when the goal is already there, the kid just grabs a stick and goes.
Coach Erik's tip: If your kid isn't using the garden setup you built, the setup is probably too complicated to get started alone. The easier it is to start a session in under two minutes, the more sessions happen. Leave the tiles out. Leave the net up. Keep a bucket of pucks next to the goal.
When to shut up and retrieve pucks
There is a specific scenario in garden training that dads get wrong constantly: the good streak.
Your kid hits four corners in a row. Every shot is exactly where they called it. This is the moment to say nothing, load the next pass, and keep going. This is not the time to say "see, that's what I've been telling you" or to explain why it worked. The player is in flow. Your only job is to keep the pucks coming.
The other moment to be quiet: the miss streak. Three, four shots in a row that go wide. The instinct is to explain. The right move is to reset the situation — move the kid closer by three steps, simplify the drill, and let them find a success on their own. Confidence is rebuilt by finding your own way out, not by being walked through it.
For younger kids (under 10), puck retrieval is genuinely the highest-value thing you can contribute. At that age, most of a session is physically going to get pucks. The more seamlessly you handle that, the more reps fit into a 20-minute window.
A starter session plan (20 minutes)
- 0–3 min: Warm-up passes. Feed 15–20 passes at medium speed, both forehand and backhand. No scoring, no feedback. Kid gets hands warm.
- 3–10 min: Corner call game. Targets up. Kid calls corner, you feed, they shoot. Track hits. Stop when 5 are hit or after 20 shots.
- 10–15 min: Your choice. Ask the kid what they want to work on. Let them pick. If they say "one-timers," you feed one-timers for five minutes without commentary.
- 15–19 min: Competition round. First to hit 3 targets wins. Actually try. Losing to your kid is good for them.
- 19–20 min: Cool-down shots. 5 shots at their favourite target, no pressure. End on something they can do well.
Total active reps in this session: 60–80 touches, depending on pace. That is a meaningful development session run by a dad who never needed to explain a single technique concept.
Gear that makes you a better training partner
You don't need much. But the right pieces make your role easier and the sessions longer.
- Shooting pad (120×60 cm, €49.76) — gives the puck ice-like glide; essential for any shooting or stickhandling work off-ice
- Shooting targets (€33.16, Made in Europe) — hang in the net, instantly create accuracy games
- 10-pack of pucks (€24.86) — fewer puck-chasing trips per session means more reps
- Cones (€24.86 for a 3-pack) — set up stickhandling routes and courses; kid sets their own layout
- Rebounder (€66.36, Made in Europe) — lets your kid run passing and quick-release drills when you're not available to feed
The rebounder in particular is worth noting: it turns solo sessions into two-player sessions without requiring a second person. Your kid can work on pass-receive-shoot sequences at any time, which means you don't have to be the only source of reps. Better Hockey is a Swedish brand: Swedish design, tested to the highest durability standards, and used by many well-known NHL players, including Swedish pros, as ambassadors.
Common mistakes
- Coaching every rep. More than one note per session damages the training relationship. Fix: pick one thing, say it once, move on.
- Making it a workout instead of a session. "We're not going in until you hit 10 in a row" creates dread, not development. Fix: end when energy is still positive.
- Feeding bad passes and calling it "training for real games." Inconsistent feeds mostly produce confusion. Fix: be as reliable as possible; add variety deliberately, not accidentally.
- Not competing in the games. Kids lose interest quickly if dad is just being nice. Fix: actually try to win; your kid will focus harder to beat you.
- Building a setup the kid can't set up alone. If it takes two adults 15 minutes to assemble, it doesn't get used. Fix: tiles, a net, and a bucket of pucks. Done in two minutes.
- Taking the session indoors when things get hard. Stopping when the kid is frustrated removes the chance to work through it. Fix: simplify the drill instead of ending the session.
FAQ
How long should a garden hockey training session be?
For kids under 10, 15–20 minutes is the right length. Ages 10–13 can go 25–35 minutes before focus drops. Older teens can handle 45–60 minute structured sessions. Stop before the energy goes negative — a session that ends well makes the next one easier to start.
What if I'm not a hockey player — can I still help?
Yes. You don't need to have played to be a useful training partner. You need to be able to slide a puck, run a stopwatch, and keep score. The kid is doing the skill work; you are creating the conditions for it. Most of what makes a good training partner is patience and reliability, not technical knowledge.
How many passes should I feed per session?
Aim for 50–100 pass feeds in a 20-minute session. That's about 3–5 per minute, which is realistic. Keep a bucket of at least 10 pucks beside you so you can feed several in a row before retrieving.
Should I give my kid feedback after every shot?
No. Give one focused note per session, early, then let the reps happen. Kids process feedback through movement, not through conversation. Too much verbal feedback during practice creates a habit of waiting to be told what to do instead of developing feel.
What's the best way to make garden training a habit?
Keep the setup simple enough to start in under two minutes. Leave the goal up, leave the pucks out, and commit to a specific time — even just "after dinner on Tuesdays and Thursdays." Routine beats motivation. Most kids who train consistently didn't become passionate first; the habit came before the passion.
How much space do I need for a useful garden setup?
A 5×5 m area is enough for shooting and basic stickhandling. A 6×9 m area lets you run passes properly. You don't need a full rink. Most tile setups start with 10–20 tiles (2–4 m²) and expand from there.
Summary
Being a great garden training partner comes down to one thing: creating reps, not coaching moments. Feed clean passes, run simple games with scores, let your kid pick what they want to work on, and retrieve pucks when the rep is done. Build the space together so your kid owns it. The sessions where you say the least and move the most pucks are usually the best ones.
Follow us @betterhockeysweden for more ideas for training with your kids. More on setting up a garden training zone: home hockey training setup guide, parents' guide to hockey training, and best hockey drills for kids.
