--- title: Articles | 4Check Hockey description: Hockey Mindset | Discover weekly tips, insightful articles, and essential tools to enhance your skills as a hockey player, coach, or parent. Learn how to effectively use our custom hockey dummies for training, checking, contact, injury prevention, and concussion prevention. --- [![4Check Hockey](https://4checkhockey.com/hubfs/4Check%20Logo%202025_white.png)](https://4checkhockey.com/) [Programs](https://4checkhockey.com/pricing) [About](https://4checkhockey.com/about) [Resources](https://4checkhockey.com/resources) [Articles](https://4checkhockey.com/articles) [Members](https://4checkhockey.com/members) [Contact](https://4checkhockey.com/contact) [Programs](https://4checkhockey.com/pricing) [About](https://4checkhockey.com/about) [Resources](https://4checkhockey.com/resources) [Articles](https://4checkhockey.com/articles) [Members](https://4checkhockey.com/members) [Contact](https://4checkhockey.com/contact) 4Check Hockey # Articles Weekly tips and insight on player development, confidence, team culture, and safe contact, for players, coaches, and parents. [![The Freedom to Play](https://4checkhockey.com/hubfs/4Check-Hockey-9-11-Cover.jpeg)](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/the-freedom-to-play) 4Check Hockey ## [The Freedom to Play](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/the-freedom-to-play) A 9/11 reflection from 4Check Hockey Jon Francisco · September 08, 2026 [![Confidence Isn't About Perfection, It's Perspective](https://4checkhockey.com/hubfs/nathan-mackinnon-missing%20shot.jpeg)](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/confidence-isnt-about-perfection-its-perspective) 4Check Hockey ## [Confidence Isn't About Perfection, It's Perspective](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/confidence-isnt-about-perfection-its-perspective) As a new hockey season approaches, players everywhere are working to improve their skills, earn roster spots, and ... Jon Francisco · August 03, 2026 [![Developing Hockey Players Means More Than Teaching Skills](https://4checkhockey.com/hubfs/Player%20Development%20article%201.jpg)](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/developing-hockey-players-means-more-than-teaching-skills) 4Check Hockey ## [Developing Hockey Players Means More Than Teaching Skills](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/developing-hockey-players-means-more-than-teaching-skills) When most people think about player development, they picture skating drills, shooting stations, and puck handling ... Jon Francisco · July 13, 2026 [![Why Avoiding Contact Training Can Actually Increase Injury Risk](https://4checkhockey.com/hubfs/Max%20teaching.jpg)](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/why-avoiding-contact-training-can-actually-increase-injury-risk) 4Check Hockey ## [Why Avoiding Contact Training Can Actually Increase Injury Risk](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/why-avoiding-contact-training-can-actually-increase-injury-risk) It seems logical at first. If contact in hockey can lead to injuries, then avoiding contact in practice should make ... Jon Francisco · May 25, 2026 [![Why Team Identity and Unity Matter in the Playoffs](https://4checkhockey.com/hubfs/florida%20panthers%20celebration.jpg)](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/why-team-identity-and-unity-matter-in-the-playoffs) 4Check Hockey ## [Why Team Identity and Unity Matter in the Playoffs](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/why-team-identity-and-unity-matter-in-the-playoffs) The Playoffs Reveal Who Teams Really Are The Stanley Cup Playoffs uncover far more than skill and systems. They expose ... Jon Francisco · May 11, 2026 [![Why Goaltending Is the Backbone of Stanley Cup Playoff Success](https://4checkhockey.com/hubfs/Aves%20goalie.jpeg)](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/why-goaltending-is-the-backbone-of-stanley-cup-playoff-success) 4Check Hockey ## [Why Goaltending Is the Backbone of Stanley Cup Playoff Success](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/why-goaltending-is-the-backbone-of-stanley-cup-playoff-success) Why Goaltending Becomes the Center of Everything Goaltending is always important in hockey, but once the Stanley Cup ... Jon Francisco · May 04, 2026 [![How Home Ice Advantage Shapes Stanley Cup Playoff Outcomes](https://4checkhockey.com/hubfs/Sabres%20celly.jpg)](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/how-home-ice-advantage-shapes-stanley-cup-playoff-outcomes) 4Check Hockey ## [How Home Ice Advantage Shapes Stanley Cup Playoff Outcomes](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/how-home-ice-advantage-shapes-stanley-cup-playoff-outcomes) Why Home Ice Matters More in the Playoffs Home ice advantage takes on a completely different meaning once the Stanley ... Jon Francisco · April 27, 2026 [![Why This Is the Best Time of Year for a Hockey Fan](https://4checkhockey.com/hubfs/Stanley%20Cup.jpg)](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/why-this-is-the-best-time-of-year-for-a-hockey-fan) Hockey Skills ## [Why This Is the Best Time of Year for a Hockey Fan](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/why-this-is-the-best-time-of-year-for-a-hockey-fan) There is no better time of year to be a hockey fan than right now, because the Stanley Cup Playoffs have begun. The ... Jon Francisco · April 21, 2026 [![When Hockey Breaks You AND Builds You](https://4checkhockey.com/hubfs/Jon%20injured%20Reign_original.jpg)](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/when-hockey-breaks-you-and-builds-you) 4Check Hockey ## [When Hockey Breaks You AND Builds You](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/when-hockey-breaks-you-and-builds-you) The Part of the Game No One Talks About Where the Love of the Game Begins Every player remembers the first time they ... Jon Francisco · March 09, 2026 [![What A Winning Culture Looks Like](https://4checkhockey.com/hubfs/Moorhead%20High%20School%20State%20Championship.png)](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/what-a-winning-culture-looks-like) 4Check Hockey ## [What A Winning Culture Looks Like](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/what-a-winning-culture-looks-like) Playoff time always brings out the truth in teams. The pace rises, space disappears, and every mistake feels bigger. ... Jon Francisco · March 04, 2026 [![Success Is Not An Accident: Part 2](https://4checkhockey.com/hubfs/para%20olympic%20players_optimized.jpg)](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/success-is-not-an-accident-part-2) Traits ## [Success Is Not An Accident: Part 2](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/success-is-not-an-accident-part-2) We are continuing our series on the habits that shape strong, confident young athletes. In Part 1, we focused on ... Jon Francisco · February 09, 2026 [![The Pressure Cooker: Why Kids Quit Sports (Part 2)](https://4checkhockey.com/hubfs/Sad%20kid%20talking%20to%20parent%202.jpeg)](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/the-pressure-cooker-why-kids-quit-sports-part-2) 4Check Hockey ## [The Pressure Cooker: Why Kids Quit Sports (Part 2)](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/the-pressure-cooker-why-kids-quit-sports-part-2) Pressure in youth sports has reached an all-time high. Kids feel it, parents feel it, and coaches feel it. What was ... Jon Francisco · January 19, 2026 [![The Culture of Judgment: If You Can’t Do It, Stop Running Your Mouth](https://4checkhockey.com/hubfs/social-media-platform-logos-1.jpg)](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/the-culture-of-judgment-if-you-cant-do-it-stop-running-your-mouth) 4Check Hockey ## [The Culture of Judgment: If You Can’t Do It, Stop Running Your Mouth](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/the-culture-of-judgment-if-you-cant-do-it-stop-running-your-mouth) Sports were built on respect: for the game, for the grind, for the people who put in the work. But that respect is ... Jon Francisco · January 07, 2026 [![Mid-Season Reset: Take Advantage!](https://4checkhockey.com/hubfs/goals-notebook.jpg)](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/mid-season-reset-take-advantage) 4Check Hockey ## [Mid-Season Reset: Take Advantage!](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/mid-season-reset-take-advantage) Your Game, Your Mindset, Your Goals. Own Them. Jon Francisco · December 17, 2025 [![Are Private Lessons Worth The Money?](https://4checkhockey.com/hubfs/Private%20lessons.jpg)](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/are-private-lessons-worth-the-money) 4Check Hockey ## [Are Private Lessons Worth The Money?](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/are-private-lessons-worth-the-money) The ol’ question in youth sports: “What’s the Return on Investment (ROI)?” Before we tackle this subject, understand ... Jon Francisco · November 19, 2025 [![Stuck in the Lineup? Find Your Way Back](https://4checkhockey.com/hubfs/players%20on%20bench.jpg)](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/stuck-in-the-lineup-find-your-way-back) 4Check Hockey ## [Stuck in the Lineup? Find Your Way Back](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/stuck-in-the-lineup-find-your-way-back) It’s mid-season. The fog of tryouts and early practices has lifted. Coaches are starting to lock in their lines. ... Jon Francisco · October 22, 2025 [![Losing Perspective: A Modern Parenting Challenge](https://4checkhockey.com/hubfs/ODR-skate%20tying.jpeg)](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/losing-perspective-a-modern-parenting-challenge) 4Check Hockey ## [Losing Perspective: A Modern Parenting Challenge](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/losing-perspective-a-modern-parenting-challenge) In today’s hyper-competitive youth sports landscape, it’s easier than ever for parents to lose sight of what truly ... Jon Francisco · October 08, 2025 [![Youth Hockey’s Silent Struggle](https://4checkhockey.com/hubfs/Tying%20youth%20skates.jpg)](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/youth-hockeys-silent-struggle) 4Check Hockey ## [Youth Hockey’s Silent Struggle](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/youth-hockeys-silent-struggle) Youth hockey is more than just a game—it’s a lifestyle for many families. Early mornings, long drives, tournament ... Jon Francisco · September 17, 2025 [![Coach, Own Your Screw-Ups](https://4checkhockey.com/hubfs/Wathier%20coaching.jpg)](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/coach-own-your-screw-ups) 4Check Hockey ## [Coach, Own Your Screw-Ups](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/coach-own-your-screw-ups) Why Admitting Mistakes Builds Stronger Teams In youth hockey, coaches are often seen as the ones who set the tone, make ... Jon Francisco · September 10, 2025 [![](https://4checkhockey.com/hubfs/Net%20front%20battle.jpg)](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/work-hard-huh-what-does-that-really-mean) 4Check Hockey ## ["Work Hard," Huh? What Does That REALLY Mean?](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/work-hard-huh-what-does-that-really-mean) “Working hard” is one of the most common phrases you’ll hear—from coaches barking on the bench to push their players in ... Jon Francisco · September 03, 2025 [![Stars Get Hype—Role Players Get Ice Time](https://4checkhockey.com/hubfs/players%20blocking%20shot.jpeg)](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/stars-get-hype-role-players-get-ice-time) 4Check Hockey ## [Stars Get Hype—Role Players Get Ice Time](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/stars-get-hype-role-players-get-ice-time) In hockey, it’s easy to get caught up in the highlight reels—the toe drags, top-shelf snipes, and buzzer-beaters. But ... Jon Francisco · August 27, 2025 [![Define Your Game—Or Someone Else Will](https://4checkhockey.com/hubfs/Butch%20Cassidy%20Starting%20Lineup.jpg)](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/define-your-game-or-someone-else-will) 4Check Hockey ## [Define Your Game—Or Someone Else Will](https://4checkhockey.com/articles/define-your-game-or-someone-else-will) Every hockey player faces a unique challenge: how to absorb coaching while still playing the game in a way that feels ... Jon Francisco · August 20, 2025 ![4Check Hockey](https://4checkhockey.com/hubfs/4Check%20Logo%202025_white.png) Training coaches, players, and organizations in safe, effective checking and concussion prevention. Hermantown, MN 55811, USA #### Explore [About Us](https://4checkhockey.com/about) [Programs & Pricing](https://4checkhockey.com/pricing) [Resources](https://4checkhockey.com/resources) [Articles](https://4checkhockey.com/articles) #### Get Started [Partner With Your Organization](https://4checkhockey.com/contact) [Request A Camp](https://4checkhockey.com/contact-camp-request) [Refer An Organization](https://4checkhockey.com/organization-referral) #### More [Find A Camp](https://4checkhockey.com/find-a-camp) [Members](https://4checkhockey.com/members) [Contact](https://4checkhockey.com/contact) Copyright © 2026, 4Check Hockey