Benefits of Cross Ice Hockey

• The children have more energy with which they can improve their skills when they are skating 85 feet across the ice surface as opposed to the 200 foot length of the ice surface.
• Group sizes become smaller which means learning and teaching will become more effective.
• The close feeling of belonging to a team will motivate a child to participate with even greater enthusiasm.
• Drills designed according to the varying skill levels of players within the group are easier to organize.
• More puck contact resulting in improved puck control skills.
• More repetition/frequency in drills in one ice session.
• Decision-making skills are enhanced as more decisions must be made more frequently at a higher tempo.

• Playing on a smaller rink results in increased puck possession time for each player.
• Individual technical skills develop more quickly.
• More frequent line changes in the game means more ice time for each player.
• Children remain active between their shifts with various activities in the neutral zone.
• Line changes are made quickly since the players are directly beside the playing surface.
• Each player's activity increases greatly.
• Scoring skills are enhanced since the players have more shooting opportunities and the child sized goal nets force the players to shoot more accurate.
• The goalkeeper's reading of the game and reaction to changing game situations becomes more effective.
• More repetition for goalkeepers.
• The game is full of continuously changing situations.
• The speed in playing situations increases, which will require quicker mental and physical reactions by the players.
• Due to increased tempo, all of the team members take part in solving the playing situations which leads to a sharing of responsibilities between the players.
• The feeling of being an important part of the action increases because of the small size of the rink.
• Hockey sense, or understanding the principles of the game, is being developed at a young age.
• There are no unnecessary breaks in the game

• More efficient use of ice time and space.
• The size of the rink is in proportion with the size of the players.
• USA Hockey recommends that teams play with two or three units of four or five players and one goalkeeper, which results in each player having more ice time.
• More ice time for practicing and playing is made available to more teams within a single association.
• Many teams can practice together by sharing the ice surface.

• More children get a chance to play ice hockey.
• More children will experience a feeling of success when playing hockey.
• The same exciting and fun environment as in a "real" game is created.
• Both more and less gifted children will benefit from close/tight action on the ice.
• Children are excited and motivated to continue playing hockey.
• Hockey will be more appealing and rewarding to a wider range of children and their parents.