Anyone who’s been on the ice with me knows I start 95% of sessions with some form of small-area, possession-based game (related to OZ, DZ, or NZ — whatever the primary focus is that day). The most popular are advantage-based or neutral-numbered games. They offer so many benefits and transfer extremely well to the actual game. However, I’ve become increasingly intrigued by — and started prioritizing — possession games where the offence is in an outnumbered situation. I find this particularly representative of the situations players face in the offensive zone, especially with every team’s defensive priority to close quickly, outnumber, and shrink the ice. If players can understand how to support and break pressure in a defensively overloaded situation, it unlocks a ton of potential in their offensive game.

Game 1: 2v3 + 1 (side by side = lots of players involved) Offence plays 2v3 in a small area, with a support option on the opposite side to transfer to. Players then rotate to keep the numbers balanced.

Game 2: 4v5 + 1 Similar to Game 1 but in a larger space. Weak-side side change option. Players rotate to balance the numbers.

Game 3: 3v4 + 2v1 Offence plays 3v4 with the opportunity to switch sides into a 2v1 advantage on the other side. Players then rotate to keep the numbers balanced. 

Possession change options: Continuous on the fly (teams rotate and adjust numbers to maintain the game setup), OR - After a set number of defensive stops (e.g., 3 stops/turnovers and the rep is over).