TOPIC: The Importance of the Second Player in Puck Support and Puck Pressure
A player’s ability to assist a teammate in regaining or maintaining puck possession is a huge part in today’s game. While outnumbering the opponent in puck battles is a clear advantage, a player’s ability to read and react in these situations, along with how they work together to win puck possession is the key. Entering his third season as Head Coach of USA Hockey’s NTDP, Dan Muse joined us at TCS Live and delivered a presentation on The Importance of the Second Player in Puck Support and Puck Pressure - and has shared a 5 part drill series to practice the execution and develop habits that will translate to a game.
2V2 Corner – Transition with Coach
DESCRIPTION:
• Play 2v2 from top of the circles and down • Starts with a 50/50 puck in the corner. The team that recovers is on offense.
• To transition from offense to defense, the puck must be recovered and passed to coach.
• Coach always deposits puck into corner where team in transition to offense can get it.
KEY POINTS:
• Quick transition. • Puck protection.
2V2 Rotation
DESCRIPTION:
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Lines set up as shown. Lines on outside on offense (reds). Lines nearest coach on defense (whites).
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Starts with a 1v1 after coach deposits in corner (Just 1v1 for 1st puck).
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After about 15 seconds, coach will deposit a puck in opposite corner. Red 2 is 1st on puck, Red 1 (who played the 1v1) is second player support. White 2 is 1st defender and White 1 is 2nd defender.
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Newpuckinalternatingcornersevery15seconds.Rotationis1st offense or 1st defense and then go to 2nd offense/2nd defense. Switch lines 1⁄2 way, so that team starting on defense is now on offense
- Same set up as 2v2 rotation from corners, but now coach always starts with puck from behind net or half wall.
- For 2v2 from behind net, it will work best if having players skate above face off dots when transitioning from 1st to 2nd pucks.
KEY POINTS:
• Quick transition from offense to defence and defence to offense.
• Puck protection on the wall.
• Work on taking rimmed pucks cleanly off of the wall.
2v2 Walls
DESCRIPTION:
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Start 2v2 in zone (P1 and P2 on defense with P3 and P4 waiting on half wall against boards).
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When defenders (P1 and P2 ) recover puck, they pass or rim to P3/P4.
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P1 and P2 are out.
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P1 and P2 now defend.
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P3 and P4 attack off the wall as soon as they receive puck.
- P3 and P4 come in and wait on opposite half wall.
KEY POINTS:
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Work on taking pucks cleanly off of the wall and attacking the net quickly.
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Quick transition from offense to defence.
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Good communication on defence on switches.
2v2 Rim
DESCRIPTION:
• Players are lined up in alternating colors on wall as shown.
• Start with 2 defenders in zone.
• Exercise starts with P1 rimming to P2.
• P1 and P2 (defenders) must get above faceoff dots and then defend P1/P2 who collect puck off rim and attack.
• When defenders recover and skate puck above top of circle or on coaches whistle the next offense players (P3/P4) start with a rim to the opposite side. The players that were on offense (P1/P2) get above face-off dots and defend. (P1/P2 go to the back of line).
KEY POINTS:
• Work on taking the puck cleanly off of the wall.
• Get puck to the front of the net as quickly as possible. • Quick transition from offense to defence.
2v2 / 3v3 Transition – Hit the Corner
DESCRIPTION:
• Cross-Ice game.
• Can play 2v2 or 3v3 (diagramed as 3v3).
• Have a line drawn through middle of zone and mark half circle in each corner.
• Start 3v3 in zone (Reds on offense, whites on defense, and next 3 whites waiting at line).
• When whites recover puck they pass to one of 3 whites waiting.
• Three new whites must tag puck into corner and then attack.
• Reds that started on offense sprint back and defend.
• Three new reds come out and wait.
KEY POINTS:
• Quick transition for offense to defence.
