Jim’s Intro to Checking
Hi folks, Jim here, the only commentator who once tried to demonstrate proper checking technique using a folding chair. The chair didn’t survive.
What is checking?
Checking is the legal use of the body or stick to disrupt an opponent’s progress, separate them from the puck, or pressure them into mistakes. It’s one of hockey’s defining features, combining physical skill with tactical timing. Checking can take several forms, including body checks, poke checks, stick checks, and hip checks, each with different rules depending on the league and level of play. When done correctly, checking is controlled, purposeful, and an essential part of both offense and defense.
How does it work?
Checking works through positioning, timing, and control, not brute force.
- Body Checking:
- The most iconic form, using the body to legally impede an opponent who has possession of the puck.
- Shoulders or hips are used to angle the opponent off the puck, usually along the boards or during zone entries.
- The check must be delivered with control, without charging, elbowing, or targeting the head.
- Stick Checking:
- Using the stick to knock the puck away without slashing or hooking.
- Includes poke checks (extending the stick to disrupt puck carriers) and sweep checks.
- Hip Checking:
- Lowering the hips to knock an opponent off balance, often near the boards. Less common today but still legal when executed properly.
- Angling and Containment:
- Steering opponents into poor positions where they can be checked safely or pressured into turnovers.
Each type of check has its place, but all rely on good skating, anticipation, and body control rather than reckless hits.
How do you make good decisions with it?
Good checking decisions depend on timing, legality, and game awareness.
- Check Only When Legal: The opponent must have possession or be actively playing the puck. Hitting a player without the puck is interference.
- Angle First, Hit Second: Use body position to guide opponents into predictable lanes before delivering the check.
- Keep It Clean: Avoid high hits, charging, boarding, or late contact.
- Know the Situation: A big hit can energize a team, but a poorly timed one can lead to a penalty or leave your position exposed.
- Use Stick Work Wisely: Poke checks and stick lifts can be just as effective as body checks in the right moment.
How do you master it?
Mastering checking is about technique, skating, and discipline.
- Body Positioning: Stay low, balanced, and centered. Good checkers control contact, not chase it.
- Reading the Play: Anticipate where the puck carrier is going, not where they are.
- Practicing Safe Contact: Especially at younger levels, players are taught how to give and receive checks safely to reduce injury risk.
- Variety: Skilled players blend different types of checks (poke first, body second) to disrupt without drawing penalties.
What does it look like when done right?
A well-executed check is smooth, controlled, and effective. The puck carrier is separated from the puck without injury or chaos. The defender maintains balance, recovers quickly, and either gains possession or shuts down the rush. Big clean hits can swing momentum, while subtle stick checks can quietly dismantle plays without a sound.
Commentator’s Corner
Jim’s Take
I’ve seen clean checks bring crowds to their feet and bad ones bring teams to the penalty kill. The best checkers are more tacticians on skates than wrecking balls.
Parent Tip
Teach players that checking is a skill, not a license to hit. Proper technique and respect keep everyone safe while building strong defensive habits.
Player Tip
Work on your skating and angles first. Good checkers control space, time their contact, and keep their team in the play.
A Final Thought
Checking is both art and science. When done right, it changes games through control, not chaos. Master the technique, respect the rules, and checking becomes one of the most powerful tools in your hockey toolkit.
