Teamwork must be more than a motto. It has to be practiced and worked on. Here's three drills to help.
Working with a new team, an old team, or a mix of returning and new players, a common beginning of the season issue is a lack of on-ice chemistry. Players aren’t yet able to play together, anticipate each other’s moves, and work together on generating chances.
This is why every season I open up the first few practices with a lot of drills focused on just that: cycling and moving the puck, reading each other, and learning how to trust each other to make smart decisions that lead to chances.
Drills created with Hockey Coach Vision.
PP/PK Game
Divide the ice in half from the blueline in, place a 3-on-2 on one side, and an opposite 3-on-2 on the other. On each side, the two represent defence, while the 3 are offence.
The offence’s only objective is possession and scoring, while the defence is trying to gain the puck and pass to their team on the opposite side. Neither side can cross the middle line.
The side waiting for the puck must be moving and following the play in order to generate passing lanes and should be vocally communicating with their teammates.
Button Hook Cycle
This simple 2-on-1 drill is great for offensive reads, but also for defence knowing who to cover in certain situations. One forward and one defenseman head down the boards with some minimal pressure (I have mixed feelings about not going full pressure, but for the sake of teaching, this one’s important), and the forward should button hook up the boards and if they see their offensive partner coming down with speed, dump the puck into the corner for them to quickly retrieve.
The first forward needs to then crash the net hard, while the defender covers them with full pressure now trying to take away the pass.
The forward with the puck should leave the corner and head to the decision making zone, looking for a chance to make that quick pass to the net. If that pass option becomes unavailable, you can have them then head towards the net themselves.
3 on the Boards
This is a staple at my practices, at many age levels, and rightfully so. It serves many purposes, but one is undeniably the teamwork it creates.
The object is for the offence to score, or for the defence to get possession and pass it to their three forwards waiting on the boards. If they complete the pass, the three players on the boards become offence, the current defence skates off, and the three previous forwards now play defence. At that time, three new players from the now defending team come down the boards and wait for the defence to make a pass to them.
Both sides of the play have the whole zone to find open ice to move the puck to activate their next three players, or for the offensive players to keep possession and choose their shot wisely.
One bad shot or pass, and the other team gains possession and puts them more at risk of losing their offensive status.
When a player gets selfish and doesn’t use their teammates, the drill falls apart quickly and the team loses possession. This teaches a lesson early on, and outside of an actual game in which you could be leaving points on the table.
Teamwork must be more than a motto. It has to be practiced and worked on. These drills in various ways show players how to look for each other, trust each other, and when they do that, and see results, they will be hungry for more of it.
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