Checking Clinics

Board Checking – how to give and receive a check – as well as the safety notes to go with it……recognizing positions to be in for checking
Direct Contact Checking (Head on)
Gap Control Checking


Checking Clinics


Board Checking – how to give and receive a check – as well as the safety notes to go with it……recognizing positions to be in for checking
Direct Contact Checking (Head on)
Gap Control Checking

We come to your 1 hour practice and teach your team Checking Skills, call us or email to book.

What is “Checking from Behind”


“Checking from Behind” is one of the most dangerous plays in hockey. Many younger players (Novice, Atom, Peewee, Bantam) will wear a STOP patch on the back of their jerseys to reinforce the important point of never hitting a player in the back, especially when he is along the boards. This includes open ice hits!


If a player can read the number and name on the back of an opponents Jersey, there’s no doubt he’s behind and should avoid contact that may push an opponent into the boards.
Players are most vulnerable to injury when they are 3-4 feet off the boards and “Checking from Behind” occurs. Impact can cause the player to go head first into the wall.


A player who is actually closer to the boards can brace himself (or herself) and absorb the impact. But at 3-4 feet away there’s simply no room to protect against being driven into an unmovable barrier.
Every year the hockey community reads about a player seriously injured, even paralyzed, by a “Checking from Behind” penalty. Hockey is a fast and physical game, so contact is going to happen.


As coaches, and parents, we have a responsibility to make sure we teach kids to recognize dangerous situations and protect themselves, their teammates, and opponents from serious injury.
In instances where “Checking from Behind” is called and the opponent is not injured the Referee has the discretion to call a Minor plus a Misconduct penalty, or a Major plus a Game Misconduct. If the player is injured, or the Referee determines that there was intent to injure he must impose the Major plus Game Misconduct as penalty.


I like to tell my players “if you see his/her numbers, slam on your brakes.” There’s simply no reason to hit a player when he/she is defenseless.



Please have your manager call (403)980-4081 to book.


Sportattack Spring Hockey takes a unique approach to hockey schools.


As the City of Airdrie is unable to confirm dates and times until January, these dates may change; but the Months will be the same. In general, we have always been successful at obtaining these dates.