How I Design a Drill: Keep It Simple, Keep It Game-Like

One of the most common questions I get from coaches is: “How do you come up with your drills?”
The truth is, it’s actually pretty simple. You don’t need a massive playbook or a brand-new drill every day. You just need to understand what the game is giving you — and build from there.

Here’s the exact process I use when I design almost every drill I put on the ice.

1. Start With the Game Itself

Before anything else, I ask one question:

What is happening often in games?

It could be:

• A breakout decision a defenseman keeps hesitating on

• A winger losing the puck in the neutral zone

• A center not reading pressure off the rush

• A defenseman unsure when to close or contain

• A forward not recognizing when the third man should attack or delay

Identify the situation that shows up over and over again. That’s your starting point.

2. Isolate the Situation

Once you know the situation, strip it down to its simplest form.

What are the key teaching points that create a successful outcome?
And just as important — what decisions usually lead to mistakes or breakdowns?

I write these down. Clear, simple, non-negotiable.

For example:

• Shoulder check before receiving a puck

• Keep your feet moving into pressure

• Hit the middle support early

• Don’t drift wide when pressure is inside

• Close the gap before the offensive player hits speed

This gives you a blueprint. You’re now teaching, not guessing.

3. Create the Simplest Version of the Situation

My first rep of any drill is extremely basic.

No traffic.
No chaos.
No pressure.

Just the player, the puck, and the decision.

I want them to see the picture clearly and execute without being rushed. If they can’t do it slow, they won’t do it fast.

4. Add Pressure and Decisions Gradually

Once players show basic understanding, I start to layer in pressure.

This is where the drill starts to become fun — and real.

I look at:

• Where is the pressure coming from?

• How fast is it arriving?

• Do they have one support option or multiple?

• Am I an option they can use as a bumper or outlet?

The pressure will dictate their decision, and I want them making that decision quickly.

This is where players start to separate themselves. Some panic. Some pause. Some adapt. The drill exposes it all.

5. Manipulate the Pressure

When players start succeeding at one level, I change the variables.

I might:

• Add a second pressure player

• Change the angle of pressure

• Tighten or widen spacing

• Add a constraint (e.g., the pressure player must angle, not pokecheck)

• Force a specific read (e.g., pressure always comes from inside out)

The goal is to influence the exact situations I want to develop — not just run a drill for the sake of running a drill.

Every rep has purpose.

6. Add Transition — Offence to Defence, Defence to Offence

This is the final layer.

Hockey is a transition game. Most goals come off broken plays, turnovers, or quick changes of possession. So once players can execute the situation with pressure, I add transition.

Examples:

• If the offensive player loses the puck, they immediately defend

• If the defender gets a stick on the puck, they instantly counterattack

• If the play ends, we go the other way with a second wave

• All players stay engaged — nobody is a “one-job” player

This trains how fast they can adapt, switch roles, and make the next decision. This is where the drill starts to actually look like hockey — unpredictable, fast, and chaotic in the right way.

Final Thoughts

Designing drills doesn’t need to be complicated. The game already gives you every situation you need to teach. Your job is simply to:

• Identify it

• Simplify it

• Add pressure

• Manipulate the variables

• Add transition

• Let players problem-solve

The best drills aren’t the fanciest — they’re the most intentional.
They teach players how to read, react, adjust, and play fast.

If you build drills this way, your players won’t just get better at drills…
They’ll get better at hockey.