These seven small area game examples are ready to be worked into your practice today.

In 2020, with the WHL shut down, I ended up putting my skills coach hat back on and went to work. During the COVID stoppage, smaller group training sessions in our province were allowed. During my training sessions, we always finished with small area games. I had to find games that adhered to our provincial COVID-19 guidelines and prevented close contact. I found a Swiss 4-vs-2 game on Ice Hockey Systems that I modified to ensure the players stayed clear of each other. The game was great for promoting good puck movement to create scoring opportunities. Also, your defenders need to make reads and have good stick placement. This got me thinking: what kind of small area games can I modify or create to develop the power play in the offensive zone?

When you watch successful power plays in the offensive zone you see certain characteristics:

• They make plays under pressure.
• There is cohesion within the units and they can adjust on the fly.
• They are predatory and are always ready to pass/shoot.
• Players are quick to support and create outlets (with possession or on retrievals).
• They have the confidence to make the play.

On the other side of the coin, teams that struggle in the offensive zone suffer from one or all of these issues:

• Overanalyzing – Players have been given so much structure that they can’t make the read and execute the play that has been given to them. Instead of organically supporting their teammate they need to “stay where they are supposed to” or not sure where to go in case things don’t go as planned.
• Over handling – When players handle the puck in front of their body as opposed to having the puck ready on the hip or having to handle the puck one more time before passing.
• Not Ready for Pucks – Sticks are up in the air or players are “surprised” that they receive the puck and handle the puck as opposed to passing or shooting it.
• Under confident – They don’t want to make the “wrong” play so they hold onto the puck or move it around the perimeter too slow.

I started throwing the small area games together and I wanted to create games that promoted:

• Support – Helping under pressure and finding the open ice.
• Passing – Increasing passing accuracy and reaction time to make the pass.
• Deception – Fake passes and shots as well as increasing peripheral awareness by “looking off” passes.
• Rotation – Making rotations more organic and eliminating the guessing game.
• Using the back of the net – Adding another angle of attack while players above work to find seams.

Modified Swiss 4v2

• PP unit set up in stationary box w/ 2 defenders splitting passing area in half.
• PP unit can pass puck around perimeter but cannot shoot UNLESS pass goes diagonal through the seam.
• Defenders interrupt shooting lanes and if they intercept passes, players rotate positions
• Passes have to stay on the ice.

X-Seam X-Ice SAG

This game promotes under handling, passing, deception and finding support.

• Flanks on each dot lane w/ 2 D on hashmark lanes.
• All players can move north-south within their respective lanes.
• PP must pass the puck (on the ice) x-seam then shoot.
• Be deceptive…look off passes.

Bumper Support SAG

This is the next progression to the X-Seam X-Ice SAG.

• Flanks on dot lanes and Bumper in mid-lane w/ 2 D on hash mark lanes.
• All players can move north-south within their respective lanes.
• Coach gives Flank a pass. They must hit the Bumper who is responsible for re-distributing the puck to either Flank and then shoot.
• D must try to have good sticks and take away passing lanes.
• No sauce passes and expect pucks to come to you.

Low Play SAG

This game promotes low plays under the net.

• PP is set up in diamond w/ low F below goal line.
• Unit plays 4v2 with mobile Flanks and Top and 2 D free to move above goal line inside PP unit.
• Have to make a low play before you can shoot.
• Low F is just a distributor, they cannot shoot.
• Defenders can anywhere in playing area and are not restricted to lanes.

Modified Grease Pan PP SAG

This is a progression from the Low Play SAG.

• Mark the area around the net with paint/marker.
• Low F must stay in “Grease Pan” (marked area tight to the net).
• Before a play can happen, pass must be made to the “Grease Pan.”
• Bumper/Flanks can move north/south in lanes.
• Low F is now allowed to score.
• Both D can roam.
• Have to find the open play 2 of 3 will be covered.

Scissor PP SAG

This game promotes movement and rotation within your PP and eliminates guesswork.

• PP players will scissor on each play before they can pass/shoot.
• Promotes quick directional reads and promotes shooting on the way down to the net.
• When a PP player decides to go under the net, the whole group shifts.

All Bumper SAG

This SAG generates offense solely through the Bumper.

• PP sets up in stationary box w/ active Bumper moving north/south through mid-lane.
• 2 D work the hash mark lanes taking away lanes by moving north-south.
• Puck has to go to the net thru Bumper (shot-tip or pass/shot).
• Promotes proper stick placement and being ready for the puck.