Better Defencemen U11/ U13 Camp

Defensemen Camp Overview 

In today’s game of hockey, the position of defense is getting harder and harder to play. The expectation to be a solid defensive player, yet be able to contribute offensively, has become crucial for getting noticed at the higher levels. With the speed of the game always getting faster and the skill set of players getting higher, the challenges defensemen face increase just the same. 

Better Player is offering a camp to help today's defensemen learn proper d-side positioning, skating skills to keep you facing and engaged in the play, proper gap control, and learning to walk the offensive blue line while being a scoring threat at all times. We will teach evasive concepts in the d-zone, neutral zone, and offensive zone to allow more space and time. Finally, we will cover the 4 main breakout styles every defenseman should master.

Today’s defensemen have to develop aggressive patience, as we like to call it. Learn to have a tight gap, to control an offensive player through body position, yet not over-committing and leaving yourself vulnerable to being beaten badly.  

This program is for defense-minded players. Forwards are welcome, but this is all about playing D.  

Skills/Concepts:

• Skating Skills (D man specific)

• Puck handling skills

• Gap and Gap control (what your gap says about what ice you’re protecting)

• Offensive skills

• Walking the Offensive Blue Line

• Body control and Body positioning

• Quick release shots

• Good first pass

• Evasive skills in all three zones

• Proper D support (we work as a pair)

What We Expect:

Hard work, a will to learn, and come with a desire to understand defense and get better.  

What We Provide:

• 9 hours of on-ice instruction and skill development.  Six, 1.5-hour practices

• 5 to 1 Player to instructor Ratio

• High tempo, yet corrective learning environment

• Instruction from Coaches who played D and coach D currently at Junior and Midget AAA levels

• Camp Jersey

Groups, Dates, Times and Location

 U11/ U13 Group

Saturday August 9 12:00 to 1:30pm Terwillegar Rec Centre Arena C

Sunday August 10 12:00 to 1:30 pm Terwillegar Rec Centre Arena C

Saturday August 16th  12:00 to 1:30 pm Terwillegar Rec Centre Arena C

Sunday August 17 12:00 to 1:30 pm Terwillegar Rec Centre Arena C

Saturday August 23 12:00 to 1:30pm Kinsmen Twin Arena A

Sunday August 24 12:00 to 1:30pm Kinsmen Twin Arena A

Truly this program is the Best Program to help you learn and become Better Defensemen on both sides of the puck.