TOPIC: Position Over Possession: Optimizing OZP
Nathaniel Brooks coached for seven years on the staff of the U Sports’ Ryerson Rams and was recently hired as the Skill Development Coach with the Arizona Coyotes. With an expertise that focuses on the offensive side of the game, Brooks presented at TCS Live on optimizing offensive zone possession, through the use of body and spatial positioning. The four drills in Coach Brooks’ sequence are designed to help players put themselves in the best position to control the offensive zone and teach skills to keep the puck in their possession.
Protect Warm Up
DESCRIPTION:
P1 player (Offence) gets head start in the F/O circle. Whistle / P1 player rounds puck and protects from P2 in the circle (Quick whistles). Next guys up.
KEY POINTS:
• Progression #1 - Change position of Defender.
• Key concept - Get body position then protect the puck.
Rams Wall Sequence
DESCRIPTION:
C chips puck along the wall, F1 retrieves puck and works cutbacks up and down wall as needed. D1 player (Defence) mirrors offensive player but can’t execute pin until coach blows the whistle. On whistle, F1 is trying to score while D1 player is defending. Continous drill, once wall battle clears the next two players are going. Progression - Add another offensive player on whistle for either a back door drive or scissor play.
KEY POINTS:
• Key concept - Puck protection, establishing your position on the defender.
Strong Post Retrieval 2v2 / 3v3
DESCRIPTION:
F2 sets up on the near post with D2 playing tight defensively. F1 and D2 start near the face off circle. Coach starts play by rimming puck behind the net to F2. F2 bumps D2 to gain separation, then retrieves the puck behind the net to start 2v2 play. Forwards can cycle pucks, scissor, etc. to gain space and time and create scoring chances. Game can progress to 3v3 by adding one more attacking player and one more defender.
KEY POINTS:
• Defenders maintain good body position.
• Attacking players, work together to try to isolate one defender to create a 2v1 situation.
Rams 2v2 2nd Man Support Sequence
DESCRIPTION:
C1 starts play by chipping a puck low to P1. P1 and P2 play 1v1 out of the corner. On the whistle, C2 chips a puck into the other corner to start a race for the puck between P3 and P4. P1 and P2 cut across quickly to create a 2v2 situation. The team that recovers the puck is on offense 2v2.
KEY POINTS:
• Tight checking.
• Play out each 1v1 and 2v2 to the whistle.
• In 2v2 play, on change of possession, players must make at least one pass to their teammate before attacking the net. Another option is to make give and go passes with one of the coaches before attacking the net.
