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I am the Head Coach of a PeeWee Hockey team.

as many of you might now, PeeWee is the age in alberta where body contact is allowed. We, as coaches, take many clinics during the PeeWee age to ensure that we are properly instructed on how to coach at this level. One of these courses is the Checking clinic.

In the checking clinic, we learn different ways to introduce checking into the game. there's angling, protect the dot, British Bulldog, lock arms and bump, etc etc.

In most practices I will have a drill that will involve some form of checking. I want the kids to get used to the concept and to be able to learn in an environment where it is safe. Hockey games against other teams throw a variable into the mix and you cannot control the contact.

we are now 3 months into the season, we played about 15 games so far and I have a child that wont engage. He is not large in stature and is of a smaller build, height wise he is about average. He's a great kid, very personable, soft spoken and just plain nice. The problem is, when it comes to games against other teams, he'll go out on the ice and skate around but he typically wont get involved in the play and he definately shys away from the contact.

All the other first year kids have learned and are involved. This one, I cant get engaged.
Please help me, CP. I want this child to succeed but I am at a loss of what to do with him. We have talked about it and I spend a lot of time with him trying to get his confidence up. We talk about being the Hittor and not the Hittee, we talk about being close to the boards when you are going to take a hit. I am one step away from wrapping him in bubble wrap.
your thoughts and suggestions are welcomed and would be appreciated.