TOPIC: Event Creation: Step Fakes
With experience developing players and programs from youth to collegiate hockey, Brad Fast has been training and coaching players throughout Michigan since 2011. At TCS Live, Fast delivered a presentation on using deception, specifically step fakes, to create offensive opportunities with more time and space. Fast’s four part progression includes a series of drills that supports players becoming comfortable with the fundamentals of step fakes before being introduced to new pressure, speeds and situations to execute the skills.
Mono – Step Fakes
DESCRIPTION:
Player performs a ‘step fake’ before each of the cones/ tires. Progress into minimal stick-handling so that you are protecting the puck while performing the step-fake.
KEY POINTS:
• Smooth hands and feet.
• Practice deception.
• Work the drill from the left side and the right side. • Shoot in movement with your feet moving.
Commodore Drill
DESCRIPTION:
Commodore
• With a pile of pucks in the high slot, player grabs a puck, moves laterally, performs a step fake, then shoots. After their shot, they return to grab another puck and shoot from the other side.
Progressions:
• Shadow Defense.
• Mines -Coach slides a puck into the path of the shooter.
KEY POINTS:
• Smooth hands and feet.
• Practice deception.
• Work on faking going both to left and to the right.
Step Fakes – Forwards
DESCRIPTION:
Coach Dumps a puck into the corner.
Version 1: F retrieves the puck and skates up the wall, step faking towards the boards before skating the edge of the circle and taking their shot.
Version 2: F retrieves the puck and skates up the wall, step faking towards the middle of the ice and then turns back down the wall to drive the net via the goalline.
KEY POINTS:
• Do it correctly slowly then build up to game speed. • Work on going to left and to the right.
The Pits
VIEW DRILL VIDEO
DESCRIPTION:
Coach dumps a puck into the corner. F retrieves the puck and skates up the wall, step faking towards the boards before skating the edge of the circle and taking their shot. Coach then passes to D1 who step fakes back towards the coach, before passing to D2. D2 moves laterally and shoots.
KEY POINTS:
-
Make the step fake then accelerate out of the corner to the net.
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Shoot in movement with feet moving.
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Good timing and technique on screening the goalie.
- D moves puck quickly to the other D for a quick low wrist shot.
