Hockey Season Is Back: How to Keep Training at Home

September 18, 2026

Ice time is booked, the bags smell again, and the season has begun. Even after a full day of hockey they’re still asking to shoot a few more pucks. That’s where The SportScreen comes in — giving kids a place to keep practising, and playing the sport they love at home, whether it’s in the garage, on the driveway, or in the backyard.

What a home hockey setup actually needs

Three things, in this order: a smooth surface to shoot and stickhandle from, a backstop that catches pucks and protects what is behind it, and a target to aim at. A retractable hockey shooting tarp covers the backstop and target in one piece and rolls up when the space goes back to being a garage or driveway.

Why home reps matter more once the season starts

In-season ice is mostly team ice. It goes to systems, line work and situational play — all necessary, but individual skills can sometimes take a backseat. Developing your forehand, backhand, slapshot, and other shooting and passing skills takes dedicated practice, and that’s where extra reps at home can make a difference.

 

Home training fills that gap. It is not a substitute for the rink and it will not turn anyone into a different player on its own. What it offers is volume and convenience: repetition on the things that respond to repetition, available on a Tuesday night in November without booking anything or driving anywhere.

 

The other benefit is less measurable. A setup at home means hockey becomes something the family does in passing rather than something that requires an expedition. Younger siblings pick up a stick. Parents take a few shots. That alone is valuable: more time together, more opportunities to play, and more memories made.

Layer one: the surface you shoot from

Concrete eats blades and kills the feel of a puck. A synthetic ice shooting pad gives you a slick, consistent surface that lets the puck actually slide, so a wrist shot loads and releases the way it does on ice. Another option is a Hockey Wraparound Blade Protector which wraps around the blade of your stick to protect it while playing on the driveaway or rough surface. Both options protect the stick you just paid for.

 

Our SportScreen Shooting Pad Bundle pairs the SportScreen roll up shooting tarp with a synthetic ice surface for exactly this reason — the two work as a system. If you already have The SportScreen, the Shooting Pad & Puck Rebounder adds the surface plus a rebounder, so pucks come back to you instead of ending up in the neighbour’s hedge.

Layer two: the backstop

This is the part people underestimate. A hard puck meets a garage door, a car, or drywall exactly once before the setup becomes a problem. A shooting tarp absorbs the shot, keeps pucks in a predictable area, and lets you shoot at full effort without flinching.

 

The Hockey SportScreen is a retractable roll-up tarp built for this. It comes in standard 10ft and 16ft widths or custom size options, with a hand crank or remote control, and a red hockey target included. The SportScreen is trusted by many professional athletes, both NHL and PWHL players.

Hockey SportScreen models and options

Model Widths What you get Best for
Hockey SportScreen 10 ft, 16 ft Retractable roll-up tarp, red target included A standard garage door opening
Shooting Pad Bundle 10 ft, 16 ft Tarp plus a synthetic ice shooting surface Players currently shooting off concrete
Custom SportScreen 8–18 ft Built to your opening, your choice of target Openings between the standard sizes

Layer three: something to aim at

Shooting at a blank surface builds a shot. Shooting at corners builds accuracy. Targets with cut outs for aiming are included with The SportScreen — Red and Black Hockey Targets attach with Velcro, so you can easily swap them out. Because the targets are interchangeable, the same screen serves a house with more than one sport in it — lacrosse, soccer and baseball targets all fit the same way. More on that in our piece on turning one space into a multi-sport training zone.

Where to put it

Mounting over your garage door provides easy, year-round use. The screen mounts across the door opening and rolls up when you need the space back. Shoot from either side of the screen, giving you the flexibility to practice year-round. Beautiful day? Take your shots outside. Bad weather? Stay inside your garage with covered protection. When selecting your screen size, be sure to measure both the opening width and available mounting width. Then, reference the dimensions listed on the product page to ensure your selected size is the right fit for your space.

 

A basement is another popular option. It offers an easy to access space that's quiet and useable in any season or weather. Keep in mind that ceiling height may limit a full follow-through — this setup is better for stickhandling and quick releases than slap shots.

 

While these are two mounting options for The SportScreen we have seen SportScreens mounted in all kinds of places - barn doors, between trees, above outdoor rinks, the list is endless! If you're mounting around garage rails, on a wall, or from the ceiling and need additional space to achieve the recommended 8–12" of clearance, our Versatile Mounting Bracket Kit offers a flexible solution for most mounting situations.

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What to actually Practice

A setup only delivers value when it gets used. With the ability to roll your SportScreen up and down at the touch of a button or with a hand crank, getting ready to play is quick and effortless. And when it's time to play, the possibilities are endless:

  • Pick a corner and make it your target. Focus on hitting that same spot with each shot, working on your accuracy and consistency. Deliberate practice helps you build the precision needed to pick corners when it counts.
  • Shoot in motion. Standing still is the easy version. Pull the puck across your body first, then release.
  • Stickhandling on a timer. Two minutes of continuous puck movement is harder than it sounds and needs no target at all.
  • Quick release. Reduce the time between receiving and shooting. A puck rebounder makes this drill work solo.
  • Work on your weaker side. Uncomfortable, unglamorous, and the thing most players skip. It might not feel natural, but building confidence with both sides of your game makes you a more versatile player. 

Keep it short. Fifteen focused minutes several times a week will do more than you think to improve your game and confidence off ice. 

Common questions

What is a retractable hockey shooting tarp?

A screen that mounts to ceiling or wall surfaces, most commonly over a garage door. The screen is attached to a mechanism that allows the screen to roll up out of the way when not in use. It catches pucks, protects the surface behind it, and allows for Velcroing multiple targets for easy play. The roll-up design is what lets a garage stay a garage - take your space back when you're done playing with the touch of a button. 

Will a shooting tarp protect my garage door?

That is what it is designed to do: absorb the shot so the puck never reaches the door. Mount it across the opening and shoot into the tarp, not past it. The SportScreen has been protecting garage doors and property since 2010!

What size hockey shooting tarp do I need?

Measure the width of the opening you want to cover. Standard Hockey SportScreen models are 10 ft and 16 ft wide. If your opening falls between sizes, the Custom SportScreen is built to width ranges from 8 ft to 18 ft.

Hand crank or remote control?

Both raise and lower the same screen. Hand crank costs less but takes 1-2 minutes; remote control is easier and takes around 30 seconds to setup. If you're child is younger or the screen is mounted high the remote control may be the easier option.

Do I need to take the sportscreen down in the winter?

The SportScreen is designed to withstand a variety of weather conditions. If you live in an area that experiences snow, be sure to regularly clear snow buildup from the headroll tube to prevent excess weight from causing it to bow.

Do I need a shooting pad as well?

Not strictly, but concrete and asphalt are hard on sticks and do not let a puck slide properly. A synthetic ice pad makes the reps feel closer to the real thing and saves your blade.

Can the same screen be used for other sports?

Yes. Targets attach with velcro and are interchangeable across hockey, lacrosse, soccer and baseball, so one screen can serve several players in the same house. For multi-sport families we offer Multi-Sport Bundles that allow you to select 3 targets for your SportScreen!

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