advice | How long is a hockey shift
The appropriate minor hockey shift length is about 40 seconds. If a player is on the ice for 40 seconds and competes at 100% he should be exhausted at the end of the shift. A hockey shift combines aerobic with anaerobic (short bursts) activity – the longer the shift the less likely the player is competing at maximum capacity during those most important short bursts.
If you’re a parent or coach there are a few considerations to factor for shift length. Never let a shift go too long, especially early in a game. Shifts longer than 40 seconds early in the game can crush your team’s energy and momentum. Players need sufficient recovery time early in a game to ensure they have the stamina to compete at 100% of their capacity for the full game.
When do you want shorter shifts (40 seconds or less)?
- On a penalty kill – even if players aren’t tired they need to get off to avoid being stuck in their zone
- Early in a game – get everyone on the ice and into the game sooner than later
- More frequently when a team is in tournament play and has multiple games in a day
When to cut a shift even shorter?
- If the players are collectively performing without high energy
- If the other team scores a goal that could have been prevented with more effort