Wednesday Drill of the Week: Bruins High/Low

May 22, 2013 2 Comments

Bruins High Low

 

Having just posted two videos of the Rangers PP, I thought I would do a Bruins themed drill this week. This one is a simple shooting drill out of both ends called the Bruins High/Low drill. Three skaters go at a time (or two if you’re short on bodies).

The first skater leaves, goes around the circle and takes a shot. Second skater leaves from the same corner, gets above the blue line, exchanges with a coach on the far side, and then goes in and takes a shot. The third skater leaves from the opposite end, skates to the far blue, exchanges with a coach and then goes in and takes a third shot. Skaters need to focus on keeping their feet moving, skating with their head up, getting a good release off, and stopping at the net. The drill goes out of both ends simultaneously, with coaches constantly exchanging with skaters from both sides.

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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: Double Rim

April 10, 2013 Leave a comment

This week is a Defensemen pinch/shooting drill.

Double Rim

 

This drill starts with two D in position on the strong side of the blue line. Coach will move a puck up the wall (either through a hard rim up the runner, a chip off the glass, a hard play off the dasher, etc – test your defensemen and their ability to pinch pucks in on the wall), the D will stop it, control it, move it D-D who will then take a shot. Once the shot is taken, coach will hard rim a puck the other direction, the D need to move to the other side of the ice, stop the puck, control it, move it D-D for a shot. D need to focus on stopping pucks on the wall, controlling them, and making good hard passes to their partner. The partner in the middle of the ice should focus on keeping their feet pointed up ice, presenting a good target, and keeping their eyes up when they shoot.

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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 (Late Again!)

July 26, 2012 Leave a comment

Here it is, this week’s (and last’s) drill of the week:

It is a continuous flow drill, going 1 on 0 into 2 on 1 into 3 on 2. Great for situational play, skating, and line rushes.

The drill starts with forwards in either corner and defensemen on the red line. The first forward goes down on the far net 1 on 0. After shooting, the forward peels off towards the corner, receives a pass from that line, and attacks with support from the forward who passed the puck. A defenseman has stepped out, gapped up and now plays a 2 on 1 rush back. Once this rush plays out, the two forwards swing into the corner, receive a pass from the next person in line and then attack 3 on 2. Two new defensemen have stepped out to play the rush. When this rush hits the far blue line, the next forward goes from the next corner, starting the drill over again 1 on 0.

Keys to this drill for forwards are understanding the ice available to them, attacking open space, reading the defensemen and generating a quality scoring opportunity. Defensemen should focus on gap control, stick position, body position, and understanding the rush that is coming at them. Forwards should be trying to get to the net, while the D should be trying to keep the forward to the outside.

 

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