The LJK Way

At Leeds Junior Knights, we believe junior hockey is about far more than the score at the end of a game. Our responsibility is to help young people develop confidence, resilience, character, and a life-long love of the game.

LJK was founded on the belief there was a better way to develop young British players; by maximising ice touches per week and streaming by ability rather than simply age.

Our programme places long-term player development ahead of short-term results. Our training looks different to most British clubs - more players on the ice, high tempo sessions, with a heavy focus on skill development and compete.

In games, we make full use of our bench, giving players regular opportunities to contribute and ensuring that development remains at the heart of our approach.

Our ambition is to be recognised as one of the UK's leading player development programmes - not simply because of the players we produce, but because of the people they become.

If our players leave Leeds Junior Knights with confidence, resilience, lifelong friendships and a love for hockey, then we've achieved something far greater than winning a championship.

That's the LJK Way.

The LJK Way

  • Our ambition is to be recognised as the leading player development programme in the UK. Success is measured by producing better hockey players, better people, and a lifelong passion for hockey.

  • Winning is important, but it’s not our primary objective. Championships are earned by consistently developing players over many years. We encourage creativity, decision-making, and learning through mistakes because those qualities produce better hockey players.

  • Each week’s training forms part of a structured curriculum.

    Tuesday and Thursday focus primarily on technical skill development through the Five Pillars.

    Monday and Wednesdays build on those foundations, introducing tactical concepts, decision making and game play appropriate to each age group.

    Each month follows a four-session cycle before progressing to the next theme.

  • Every monthly block consists of four sessions before moving on to the next skill:

    Session 1 - Introduce the skill
    Session 2 - Build understanding and confidence
    Session 3 - Refine under greater pressure and speed
    Session 4 - Perform instinctively in realistic game situations.

    This curriculum approach allows players to revisit, refine, and retain skills instead of consistently seeing new drills. Our goal is mastery, not novelty.

  • 1. Skating
    2. Puck control
    3. Passing
    4. Shooting
    5. Battle & compete

    Gameplay connects all five pillars into realistic hockey situations.




  • Our curriculum is influenced by USA Hockey's skill progression model but adapted for Leeds Junior Knights. We combine proven long-term player development principles with our own Five Pillars, four-session learning blocks, station-based coaching and maximum repetitions to create a programme that suits our players and our environment.

  • Players learn by repeated exposure, purposeful practice and progressive challenge. We design sessions that maximise puck touches, decision making and feedback. Learning is not judged by performance in one session but by improvement over time.

  • Visitors often describe our practices as busy. We describe them as organised chaos. Every station has a purpose, every repetition is planned and every player is engaged. Short queues, high tempo, continuous movement and constant decision making create an environment where learning thrives.

  • Younger players develop fundamental movement skills including running, jumping, balance, coordination, throwing and catching. As players mature, off-ice training progresses to strength, speed, power, mobility and injury prevention. Better athletes become better hockey players.

  • Our pathway gives every player the opportunity to progress from Learn to Play through Leeds Junior Knights and, where appropriate, into Leeds Knights 2, senior hockey and Great Britain programmes. Progress is based on development rather than age alone.

  • The best environment is created when coaches, players and parents work together. Coaches provide expert guidance, players commit to learning and parents provide encouragement and perspective. Together we create an environment where every child can thrive.

  • Our philosophy is supported by established principles of long-term athlete development, physical literacy, deliberate practice and modern skill acquisition. We believe players learn best when they experience repetition, challenge, decision making and the freedom to make mistakes in a positive environment.