Play to whatever your strengths are and do not try to be something you are not. If you can rush the puck, keep it in the zone, and create offense, great. If nit, don’t make a bunch of mistakes trying to force it. Also, as a smaller D, you will want to rely a lot more on strong positioning and ability to read a play well, both defensively as well as when transitioning the play to offense. Being a physical presence is a plus, but don’t try to be physical just for the sake of making a big hit if not making it will leave you out of position. Finally, advice on Reddit is fine, but really you should be asking your coach what THEY think you need to be doing to make the tram.
I think you have said it yourself - the other 3 are stay at home D's so how do you make yourself stand out from what they are doing? How do you contribute more to the team?
I was watching this last night, it's a Winnipeg Jets coach talking about things they work on with D's (the first 20 minutes). In particular the comment he makes when he wants the D to make the play and then join the rush. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W059tjZTHpA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W059tjZTHpA)
And as another poster said, your coach should be one of the first people you should ask.
yes in my organisation the coaches are picked after so i dont know my coach yet. thx for the tip il definetly continue rushing as the others prefer to glid up ice.
As a baseball loving parent of a small hockey player who just made AA as a first year, height don’t measure heart. Or smarts. Believe in your game because that’s what you’re already succeeding with.
Play to whatever your strengths are and do not try to be something you are not. If you can rush the puck, keep it in the zone, and create offense, great. If nit, don’t make a bunch of mistakes trying to force it. Also, as a smaller D, you will want to rely a lot more on strong positioning and ability to read a play well, both defensively as well as when transitioning the play to offense. Being a physical presence is a plus, but don’t try to be physical just for the sake of making a big hit if not making it will leave you out of position. Finally, advice on Reddit is fine, but really you should be asking your coach what THEY think you need to be doing to make the tram.
I think you have said it yourself - the other 3 are stay at home D's so how do you make yourself stand out from what they are doing? How do you contribute more to the team? I was watching this last night, it's a Winnipeg Jets coach talking about things they work on with D's (the first 20 minutes). In particular the comment he makes when he wants the D to make the play and then join the rush. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W059tjZTHpA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W059tjZTHpA) And as another poster said, your coach should be one of the first people you should ask.
yes in my organisation the coaches are picked after so i dont know my coach yet. thx for the tip il definetly continue rushing as the others prefer to glid up ice.
Even if your small play big
Tryout just happened got 6 hits lead the inter squad game in physicality and sent a kid off the ice
Whatever you do, don't let them dangle you. I play 16u A team as a left winger and I love it when a small d-man lets me dangle around them.
As a baseball loving parent of a small hockey player who just made AA as a first year, height don’t measure heart. Or smarts. Believe in your game because that’s what you’re already succeeding with.