Youth Hockey Tryout Checklist: What Players and Parents Should Do Before Evaluations

Youth hockey tryouts require preparation across several areas:

• Skating
• Puck skills
• Decision-making
• Physical readiness
• Mental preparation
• Equipment condition
• Parent support
• Association requirements

Use this checklist before the first evaluation session.

1. Start Before the Final Week

Avoid last-minute preparation.

Begin several weeks before evaluations when possible. Use regular practices, skill sessions, and age-appropriate training to rebuild timing and confidence.

Prioritize:

• Skating fundamentals
• Puck control
• Passing and receiving
• Shooting
• Small-area games
• Decision-making under pressure
• Consistent effort

Do not try to change every part of a player’s game immediately before tryouts.

Focus on skills that transfer directly to evaluation sessions. Clean skating, quick decisions, reliable passing, and consistent effort usually provide more value than attempting unfamiliar moves.

2. Attend Prep Skates and Skill Sessions

Attend association prep skates when available.

Use these sessions to:

• Get back on the ice
• Rebuild skating rhythm
• Test equipment
• Practise transitions
• Read game situations
• Become comfortable around teammates and coaches

Hockey Canada guidance commonly emphasizes preparation sessions before formal evaluations and multiple evaluation sessions rather than making decisions from one skate.

For example, age-group pathways may include several preparation practices followed by formal sessions involving:

• Skills
• Small-area games
• Scrimmage or game situations

Formal structures vary by age group, association, and program. Check the association’s published requirements before registering or attending.

Review:

• Session dates
• Arrival times
• Locations
• Required equipment
• Tryout jersey information
• Registration requirements
• Required documents
• Attendance rules

Use the Hockey Canada evaluation guidance and the player’s local association information as references.

3. Build the Skating Foundation

Skating is evaluated in nearly every youth hockey tryout.

Work on:

• First-step acceleration
• Starts from different positions
• Two-foot and one-foot balance
• Forward stops
• Backward stops
• Inside and outside edges
• Crossovers
• Forward-to-backward transitions
• Backward-to-forward transitions
• Tight turns
• Net drives
• Recovery after contact or a direction change

Practise both technique and application.

A player may be asked to skate through a drill, then use the same skills during a small-area game. The goal is to apply skating ability while reading the play.

Keep the training age-appropriate.

Avoid adding excessive conditioning, long extra sessions, or unfamiliar workouts close to evaluations. Fatigue can reduce skating quality and increase the risk of injury.

4. Practise the Puck Skills Coaches Can See

Use short, consistent skill sessions.

Include:

• Stickhandling while moving
• Protecting the puck
• Passing forehand and backhand
• Receiving passes in motion
• Shooting off the pass
• Shooting while moving
• Quick-release shooting
• Puck retrievals
• Head-up puck control

Add pressure when appropriate.

Use small-area games, limited-space drills, and decision-making exercises to connect skills to real play.

Avoid focusing only on stationary stickhandling. Tryout sessions often show whether a player can control the puck while skating, scanning, passing, and responding to pressure.

5. Use Small-Area Games for Decision-Making

Small-area games create repeated opportunities to:

• Find space
• Support the puck carrier
• Protect the middle
• Make short passes
• Transition quickly
• Compete for loose pucks
• Defend after a turnover
• Make decisions under pressure

Players should practise both sides of the puck.

Show:

• Quick support
• Defensive responsibility
• Effort after losing possession
• Awareness of teammates
• Safe passing options
• Immediate transitions

Do not chase the puck without purpose.

Read the play, move into a useful position, and make the next simple decision.

6. Play to Strengths

Identify two or three reliable strengths before evaluations.

Examples include:

• Fast starts
• Strong edge control
• Accurate passing
• Defensive positioning
• Puck protection
• Net-front work
• Communication
• Compete level
• Coachability

Use these strengths consistently.

Do not attempt a move or playing style that feels unnatural just to attract attention. A player who makes simple plays, supports teammates, and works consistently gives evaluators useful information.

Show complete shifts.

Continue working when the puck is away from the player. Backcheck, support teammates, communicate, and stay engaged on the bench.

7. Prepare the Body Without Overtraining

Reduce training volume as evaluations approach.

Use the final days for:

• Light skill work
• Mobility
• Easy skating
• Recovery
• Sleep
• Equipment checks

Avoid:

• Hard conditioning sessions
• New training programs
• Heavy lifting
• Long extra skates
• Unfamiliar supplements
• Late-night activity

Use consistent sleep times.

Prioritize balanced meals containing:

• Carbohydrates for activity
• Protein for recovery
• Fruits and vegetables
• Regular fluids

Hydrate throughout the day instead of waiting until arrival at the rink.

Use a familiar meal before the session. Avoid testing new foods on tryout day.

8. Prepare Mentally

Use a process-focused plan.

Set goals such as:

• Skate hard through every drill
• Listen to instructions
• Make the next simple play
• Recover quickly after mistakes
• Support teammates
• Apply feedback

Avoid making the entire day about team placement.

Use a familiar pre-skate routine. Include the same basic steps for meals, equipment, arrival, warm-up, and focus.

Visualize simple actions:

• A strong first stride
• A controlled stop
• A clean pass
• A quick recovery after a mistake
• A responsible defensive play

Anxiety can occur before evaluations. Use routines and controllable actions to maintain focus.

9. Check Equipment Before Tryout Day

Complete a full equipment inspection at least one day before the first evaluation.

Check:

• Helmet condition
• Helmet certification and required markings
• Cage or shield
• Chin strap
• Mouthguard
• Shoulder pads
• Elbow pads
• Hockey pants
• Shin guards
• Protective cup or pelvic protector
• Gloves
• Skates
• Stick
• Socks
• Jersey
• Laces
• Tape

Look for:

• Cracks
• Broken straps
• Loose hardware
• Damaged protective areas
• Worn palms
• Loose skate eyelets
• Frayed laces
• Poor fit
• Missing required items

Equipment should fit securely without restricting movement.

C/S Hockey checks equipment, identifies issues, provides advice based on player needs and gear feel, corrects problems where possible, and explains when repair or replacement is necessary.

C/S Hockey is Calgary’s only current professional hockey glove repalming service.

10. Confirm That the Skates Feel Right

Do not make a last-minute skate change without testing it.

Skate preparation should be based on feel. If the skates feel wrong, they are wrong, even if the sharpening is recent or the setup appears correct on paper.

Check:

• Comfort
• Stability
• Edge confidence
• Stopping control
• Turning response
• Acceleration
• Whether one skate feels different from the other
• Whether the player is slipping, catching, or fighting the ice

Have C/S Hockey inspect skates when the player reports a problem.

Make changes early enough to test them during practice.

Skate Preparation Flow Chart

Do the current skates feel right?
        |
        |-- Yes
        |     |
        |     --> Keep the current setup.
        |         Do not change the hollow or profile.
        |
        |-- No
              |
              --> Have C/S Hockey inspect the skates.
                    |
                    --> Is the issue confirmed?
                          |
                          |-- No
                          |     |
                          |     --> Test the current setup again.
                          |         Check fit, laces, edges, and player feedback.
                          |
                          |-- Yes
                                |
                                --> Change one variable at a time.
                                      |
                                      --> Test the hollow first.
                                            |
                                            --> Does the new hollow feel right?
                                                  |
                                                  |-- Yes
                                                  |     |
                                                  |     --> Keep the profile unchanged.
                                                  |
                                                  |-- No
                                                        |
                                                        --> Review the hollow again.
                                                            Change only one adjustment.
                                                            Test before making another change.
                                                            Review the profile only after
                                                            the hollow is understood.

Do not change the hollow and profile at the same time.

Test one adjustment before making another. This keeps the result clear and helps identify what corrected the problem.

11. Pack the Bag the Night Before

Pack all required items before bedtime.

Include:

• Two sticks when possible
• Skates
• Helmet
• Full protective equipment
• Gloves
• Socks
• Jersey or tryout jersey
• Water bottle
• Snacks
• Extra laces
• Extra tape
• Spare socks
• Towel
• Required documents
• Registration information
• Association forms

Check the association’s instructions for colours, numbers, jerseys, and identification requirements.

12. Arrive Early

Arrive with enough time to:

• Find the correct dressing room
• Confirm registration
• Change without rushing
• Inspect equipment
• Tie skates properly
• Complete a warm-up
• Review the session instructions

Use the association’s stated arrival time when one is provided.

A calm arrival reduces avoidable stress and leaves time to address an equipment problem before the player steps on the ice.

13. Parent Checklist

Parents can support preparation by managing the routine without increasing pressure.

Provide:

• Consistent sleep times
• Regular meals
• Water
• Transportation planning
• Equipment checks
• Early arrival
• Calm communication
• Recovery food after the session

Focus post-session conversations on:

• Effort
• Coachability
• Learning
• One positive action
• One area to practise

Avoid detailed criticism immediately after the skate.

Avoid giving instructions from the stands unless the association specifically permits it. Let coaches evaluate and coach.

The player’s task is to compete, listen, make decisions, and stay engaged.

14. Final Tryout Checklist

Before the Week Begins

• Confirm the association’s process
• Register and submit documents
• Review all session dates
• Attend preparation skates
• Start skill work early
• Check equipment fit
• Identify player strengths

Before the First Evaluation

• Reduce training volume
• Maintain regular sleep
• Eat balanced meals
• Hydrate consistently
• Inspect skates and gear
• Test any skate adjustment
• Pack extra laces, tape, socks, and water
• Confirm jersey requirements

At the Rink

• Arrive early
• Warm up properly
• Listen to instructions
• Skate with purpose
• Make simple plays
• Communicate
• Compete for loose pucks
• Backcheck
• Respond to feedback
• Stay engaged between shifts

Call C/S Hockey at +1 (825) 201-5698 to ask questions, book appointments, or get connected with the right person. This is a call-only reception line. Do not text.

C/S Hockey checks skates and hockey equipment, identifies problems, provides practical advice, and corrects issues where possible before evaluations.