What each of these hockey practice drills has in common is the theme of keeping the pass short, but also really focusing on moving your legs.

In the last article I wrote, I focused on the progressive breakout and how you can use multiple drills, even station-based drills, to teach the breakout through possession. Yet, once you’re out of the zone, the question is usually centered around the rush. But before you get too ahead of yourself, let’s not forget about the neutral zone.

Too often we think the neutral zone is just something you skate through on your way to the offensive zone, but a lot can happen here. The worst thing that happens is a turnover. All the work to execute a nice breakout, and then a turnover sends you right back in.

Much like the breakout, the neutral zone can be taught through progression, but more importantly, it can be taught using some of the same ideas they learned in the breakout, making the whole process much easier to understand. This is especially important for the younger age groups.

Keep Your Passes Short

We focus on short neutral zone passes to keep control without the risk of a stretch pass. One drill that really focuses on what we often call the “three-foot pass” is discussed on Chalk Talk with Dan Muse, former Nashville Predators assistant coach.

In this drill, you have two forwards and a defenseman rushing through the neutral zone, but with two quick, short passes to move the puck up. The coach adding pressure just inside the blue line gives an opportunity for the drill to be progressed as well.

If the coach is pressuring the puck carrier, a quick short pass back to the passer, or even a drop back to the defense once they are inside the zone, offers a few opportunities to retain control in different scenarios.

Regroup

Can’t break through the blueline? While dump and chase is always an option, so is regrouping and trying again. Too often we take the path that leads to use throwing the puck into the zone, but making no effort to keep it first.

In this 30 in 30, Portland Winterhawks head coach Mike Johnston demonstrated a drill he called the “Boucher drill.”

In this drill, the forward makes a pass to the defenseman, who brings it slightly back into their defensive zone before moving it to another forward (or could be a defenseman offering support), and then utilizing a “three-foot pass” to another player coming in with speed to then execute a break-in. This drill is a favorite of mine because it forces them to remember that going back is always an option and allows another player to find the speed to then enter the zone with less resistance.

In this drill, you can also add a coach to the blueline to mix up how the players then enter the zone, rather than allowing them the same path each time.

Timing

This last drill I love because it can double as a warmup drill because it gets players moving, while also providing ample shots on net.

Running at the same time in each direction, this drill once again sees the short pass made to a neutral zone player. This drill, however, really focuses on timing because once the player gets the pass, they need to make a quick return pass and have to quickly loop back to the other side to take another pass and head in for a shot.

What makes this drill so functional is that if even one player doesn’t hustle or understand the timing, the whole thing can and will fall apart. So, if you’re that player struggling to keep the timing, you will know it very quickly and be forced to adjust your play.

What each drill has in common is the theme of keeping the pass short, but also really focusing on moving your legs.

In regrouping, you’re introducing decision making. Now when a player is approaching the blueline, they have more tools in the toolbox. Are they able to enter, do they dump and chase, or is this the time to regroup and try the break-in again?

And finally, all focus on what they can do to keep possession and minimize those neutral zone turnovers.