We use this drill to help young defensemen build the skill of handling the puck with their eyes up. Explain the difference between a good training mistake a bad one. When a player challenges him/herself to keep their eyes up during the lateral movement but loses the puck, celebrate that! This is the first step in building the skill. Young players must understand how the IQ loop works;

1. Gather Information: the eyes lead every play with or without the puck. Taking in information allows players to make better decisions.

2. Make a Decision: good decisions are made based on the context of the information gathered so scan early and often.

3. Execute: this is where the player's individual technical skills come into play. 

Focus Points

Apply the "where and when" of receiving a pass. Always present the stick where you want the pass and call for it when you want the pass. This simple communication is incredibly helpful to teammates in a fast and pressure-filled environment. This should be an all-the-time habit.

Get into a threatening position as quickly as possible. If you look like you can shoot or pass, and your eyes are up, your opponents are less likely to predict you play. 

Shoot with purpose. All too often in multi-shot drills, players "throw" the puck toward the net just to prepare for the next action. Each shot should matter. Adding targets like these rebounders simulates a teammate's stick for a deflection. Finding the stick from the point is a skill and needs to be practiced. 

Pace, details before pace. Let that progression be natural.

Be creative; add cutback versions, fake-shot versions, and even driving-the-net versions. 

If you have a larger group, this can easily be run 1/4 ice with 2 stations.