These two flow drills incorporate passing and shooting. Goalies should follow each pass, challenging the receiver and working on their angle coverage. Switch the starting position to the opposite side of the net after a while, so your players work the dill in both directions.
SHOOTING STAR This drill develops tic tac toe passing around the oppositions net.
Pile pucks close to the net, just behind the red line. Players form a star formation with the shooter positioned on the cissy line. Pass in the numbered sequence. To keep the drill flowing, players must immediately follow their pass each time. Right after the shot, the drill begins again. Start out slow and increase the tempo as your players improve. Add variation to the drill by making the formation wider or smaller. Progression : have players pass at their discretion, as long as all 5 players touch the puck, and the 5th man shoots ; good react drill for goalies.
PIVOT PASS FLOW This drill teaches players to use the points, and will improve your power play.
Pile pucks in the corner and have players line up in the above formation. Players pass arond the zone, following their pass each time. The man in the slot performs a one-timer ONLY. The drill starts again when the player in the opposite corner from the starting point receives his pass. Focus on players keeping their sticks on the ice to provide a passing target.
MAN IN THE SLOT
Special attention should be given to this part of the drill. Many times younger players will lift their stick as the puck comes toward them, in an attempt to get more power out of their shot with a slap. Nine times out of ten they will fan because their hand to eye coordination is not fully developed yet, and they have not learned how to position themselves as the puck approaches. Focus on keeping the stick on the ice in shooting stance. Passing player should aim for the gap between the shooter's skates. The shooter must line up with the pass accordingly as it approaches(many players will reach for the puck instead of moving into position). Make sure that they position themselves correctly. A sweep shot with a quick flick of the wrists at the end is what we are looking for here. The stick must not leave the ice until contact is made with the puck.
If you find that your players are having a lot of trouble performing this shot, run the drill a few times, having them practice trapping the puck in their skates instead of shooting. Coaches should clear pucks to the corner each time. This is also a good time for goalies to work on their angle coverage in a non pressure situation.
Thanks to Andrew Skoleski
for his drill submissions.
Head Coach: Manitoba Lightning AAA
South Winnipeg Storm A1