These two drills force net front battles and encourage dirty goals into your practices. Forwards learn how to battle to score and defenders learn how smart physical play can prevent these goals.
When it comes to scoring goals, we all remember the highlight reels of star players beating out everyone and putting in a puck that no one thought possible. Connor McDavid's hockey resume comes to mind.
These are the least frequent goals most teams, if not all teams, score. Rather, most goals are what we call “dirty” goals, they are scored off a battle in front off enough pressure that the puck finally beats the goalie and the defenders in front of them.
Yet, getting players, especially at the younger ages, to understand this is difficult. That's why we use drills to force net front battles and force those dirty goals into our practices so they see the results of this work long before the games start.
Drills created with Hockey Coach Vision.
2-on-1 Net Front Battle
In this drill, two players battle in front of the net while another plays at the point. The point player plays a few roles, but is mostly shooting pucks on net. What makes this drill interesting is that while it focuses on the battle, it also works on deflections and screening, the breakout, keeping the puck in the zone, and shots from the point.
The coach first dumps a puck against the board and the 2 players battle for it with the forward attempting to get a shot on net. Right as the shot is made, the defender then goes behind the net and sends the pass to the forward mimicking a breakout pass. The forward then passes to the player at the point who will send a shot in net for a rebound or deflection.
As that is happening, the coach is moving behind the net and once the shot is taken, they will rim a puck up the boards, forcing the player at the point to work to close off the board and keep the puck inside the zone, before controlling and sending another shot on net.
2 Shot 2-on-2 Battle
Placing two tires at the faceoff dot, for the main purpose of showing players where to line up and then using it as a barrier to a line they cannot cross, the coach at the top of the circle will send a shot in on the goalie. On the shot, the 4 players, 2 offense and 2 defense battle for the puck. The forward will try and score, the defense is looking to clear.
One either a clear or a shot, the coach will then send a second shot onto the net creating a second battle with the same goal. The small area forces a physical net front battle and quick decision making as the second shot comes in quick after either the first clear or shot.
When it comes to designing a drill that works on these battles, it’s important to give players a tight area to work in. The more space you give them the more room they have to spread out and not engage. Shrinking the area causes them to enter those battles and get comfortable with the physical play that takes place in front of the net.
As forwards see goals going in, they begin to understand the importance of these battles. On the flip side, defense is learning how important their smart physical play can help prevent such goals.
3D Animated Drills are powered by the Hockey Coach Vision App. Test the FREE HCV APP and access 100+ Animated Drills: https://hockeycoachvision.com/
