Wednesday Drill of the Week: 3v3 on Rim

May 15, 2013 Leave a comment

3v3 on Rim

 

This drill is a simple 3v3 Drill using one end of the ice. Everyone starts stationary. Offensive team starts with two forwards on the goal line and one in the high slot. Defensive team starts with two defensemen on top of the crease, one forward in the mid slot. The drill starts with a coach rimming a puck to either forward, and then plays out 3v3 from that point.

Why do 3v3 this way? It isolates position specific skills for teaching. First, it allows the forwards to retrieve the puck first, forcing them to work on playing the puck off the runner and working with a defender on their back. Second, it helps forwards to understand spacing, support options and release points when the puck is below the goal line. One the defensive side, it helps defenders work on closing down on attackers, taking away time and space, and anticipating the offensive play. As a team, the quicker you can anticipate what the offensive team will do, the quicker you can shut it down.

As a coach, you can work on individual skills this way, as well as basic down low defensive zone and offensive zone play.

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Wednesday Drill of the Week: Matignon 2v0

May 8, 2013 Leave a comment

A simple post and go shooting drill for this week.

Matignon 2v0

 

Forwards start at the blue lines, opposite ends go at the same time. One forward leaves with a puck, skates to the red line and passes it to a defenseman. Puck moves D to D, while the opposite forward posts up at the far blue line. After the D to D pass, a quick hitter is made to the posted forward who then passes it to the supporting forward and they attack the net 2v0. The drill then starts again from the other direction.

While the drill itself is simple, there are some nuances that can be added and/or emphasized to increase the degree of difficulty and work on specific skills. For example, the D can do an escape upon receiving the first pass, and the pass up to the forward can be required to be direct or indirect. The forwards can be required to chip the puck or place a good area pass. On the 2v0, the D can be required to follow the play up ice and the forwards can be required to utilize a 2v0 move such as a cross and drop, net drive/far pad shot, etc. The simplicity of the drill allows for players to focus on refining specific skill sets.

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Wednesday Drill of the Week: Ducks Shooting

April 24, 2013 Leave a comment

Ducks Shooting

This week is a continuous shooting drill. Ducks Shooting is a good drill for getting the legs and hands moving, working on passing, working on timing, and letting the goaltenders see some shots.

Players line up on the goal lines. One player starts on each blue line. The drill begins with a whistle where the X on the near blue curls up near the red and presents himself for a pass. He receives a puck from the corner and then immediately passes to the X on the far blue who has timed the start of his loop so that he can catch a pass in sync from the near blue. He then goes in and takes a shot on net. Meanwhile, the player who made the first pass skates up to the near blue, the player who made the second pass skates up to the far blue and then each goes on a similar timing loop, passing and receiving, going in to shoot. The drill moves continuously, and runs out of both ends. After you pass, you take the place and the pattern of the person you passed the puck to. This drill flows nicely and can create a good pace to start a practice.

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Wednesday Drill of the Week: Western Two Shot

April 3, 2013 Leave a comment

This week’s drill is a half ice shooting skills drill involving both forwards and defensemen.

Western 2 Shot

 

The drill begins with forwards in both corners and defensemen manning the points. The forward on the strong side passes to the D, who moves it D-D. The forward then rolls through the high slot for a pass and a shot. A forward comes to the net front from the opposite side. After this is executed, the forwards stay in front of the net while a second puck is passed to the strong point for a point shot. The drill then begins again from the other side of the ice.

Skills worked on in this drill for forwards should be catch and release, goalie screen, and shot tipping (both high and low). Defensemen should work on moving the puck with their eyes up, making hard accurate passes, and getting pucks to the net with traffic.

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Wednesday Drill of the Week: Carolina Flow

March 27, 2013 Leave a comment

This week’s drill is a simple warmup/shooting drill that incorporates a lot of flow, timing and precision.

UMass ShootingCarolina Flow begins with lines in all four corners. One player takes off from opposite lines and button hooks just inside the far blue line. They receive a hard pass from the opposite line. Meanwhile, a player skates out of the same side and skates into a support position. They then attack the far net in a 2v0. As soon as the player makes the hard cross ice pass, they take off and button hook inside the far blue line. The drill is continuous.

Players should focus on speed/pace of the drill, hard accurate passes, timing and support, driving the net, and shooting to score/shooting for rebounds.

 

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Wednesday Drill of the Week: BU 2v1

March 20, 2013 Leave a comment

This week I have a simple but effective 2v1 drill. The BU 2v1 incorporates speed and passing for forwards and passing, distribution and skating skills for defensemen.

BU 2v1

 

A defenseman starts with the puck, skates out to the center of the ice and passes to a forward. The forward fires a hard pass down to a D on the far side of the ice and then swings low into a support position. At the same time, a forward steps out behind the D and presents an option. The D who made the first pass gaps up. The two forwards then receive a distribution pass from the D and attack 2v1. The D can be introduced as a third option (activation/follow the play). The drill then starts again from the other side on a whistle.

Forwards should focus on puck support and next play thinking – creating options for their teammate with and without the puck (drive the net, puck carrier drive, cross and drop, etc). D need to maintain good gaps, strong sticks in passing lanes, and try to influence the play into tight areas.

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Wednesday Drill of the Week: Speed Pass/Shot

March 13, 2013 Leave a comment

Short and simple passing and shooting drill this week. Speed Pass/Shot focuses on specific skills and keeps the drill simple to enhance a players ability to dial in on a few specific things. The main skills? Listed in the drill title.

Speed Pass Shot

 

Place a player on each of the three neutral zone lines. Player 1 takes off with a puck, give and go exchange with each player, then accelerate into a shot on net. While the drill itself and the execution is simple, it is the skills worked on that are important. Players should focus on keeping their feet moving at a high tempo the entire time. They should focus on their ability to pass and receive, and transition from receiving to passing quickly (all while moving their feet). Finally, they should focus on the execution of attacking the net with speed and getting off a quick release with their feet moving. Players should complete this drill with their heads up and presenting extremely good targets for their teammates.

While it is a simple drill, when executed properly and at a high tempo it will improve a players ability to pass and receive, as well as shoot on the move.

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Wednesday Drill of the Week: 2v2 Short/Long

March 6, 2013 Leave a comment

Re-starting my weekly drill. This week is the 2v2 Short/Long Drill. It works on rushes from both sides (offense/defense)

2v2 Short Long

 

Two forwards (F in a circle) touch the top of the circles, exchange a puck and attack two defensemen 2v2. The two D are cannot play the rush until the coach releases them. On a whistle, the D re-gap and two forwards (XF) leave from the near blue line, touch the top of the far circles, exchange and attack 2v2. The drill then resets and re-starts.

This drill is very good for defensemen to work on their rush defense. It focuses on backwards skating, rush recognition, stick position, pivots, and most importantly – gapping. All of these elements are in play for defensemen. To further increase the difficulty, it is possible to add in a third forward joining the rush late and/or a backchecker. The drill also helps forwards with their rush attack options. Forwards should focus on attacking with speed, creating a 2v1 on a defenseman, driving the net, etc.

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Wednesday Drill of the Week

November 7, 2012 Leave a comment

This weeks drill is a simple but easy one. It works on skills for both forwards, defensemen and goalies. The name of the drill is 3v0 Stretch/Drive.

 

The first forward skates towards the D with a puck, and passes it to him when he hits the Red Line. The other forward takes off in a stretch pattern across the far blue. The defenseman passes the puck to the stretching forward, while the first forward does a tight turn at the blue. The stretch forward then carries the puck wide into the zone and goes below the goal line. The other forward follows the play up and stops at the net, while the defenseman comes in dot wide and stops at the other dot. The forward with the puck now has multiple plays at the net front. The drill then starts again on a whistle, going the other direction.

Focus on good passes and attacking the net hard for the skaters. The forwards should make good heads up plays and drive hard. The goalies can work on their depth, as well as their adjustment from a low angle to a high angle.

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Hockey Warm-Up Skates

August 18, 2012 Leave a comment

Over a number of years playing and watching hockey games and practices, I have noticed an odd habit with hockey players. If given no direction, when they first step on the ice they will automatically skate in a counter-clockwise direction. Age, ability level or familiarity doesn’t seem to make any difference. I was at a camp this week and I made the players skate in a clockwise direction and I heard comments like “Why?” and “This is strange”. The players felt uncomfortable skating in the opposite direction than what they were used to.

I’m curious as to why. No one teaches them to skate this way direction. There is no rule in warmups or practices about skating one direction. So why is this a habit? Where/when does it start? Does it actually affect how players skate? Are players better at skating/crossing over got the left than to the right? Do coaches even notice that players skate the same way all the time?

I’d love to hear if anyone has any ideas about this as it is something that has baffled me for a while now.

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