Players should be learning through mistakes and trial and error and not a rigid boxed system.

At younger youth hockey levels, USA Hockey –following the American Development Model (ADM) recommendations– doesn’t want players learning complex team systems. That doesn’t mean, however, we should not be teaching them fundamental systems like a breakout, and how to move the puck through the neutral zone. 

The reason the ADM model doesn’t want complex or strict systems has a lot to do with stifling creativity. Players should be learning through mistakes and trial and error and not a rigid boxed system.

To teach these fundamental ideas, my team has a practice plan that incorporates these concepts, but leaves different steps open-ended so that they must make the best choices and find creative ways to problem solve.

The Breakout

In this drill, we run it as two stations so that players are working the breakout on both sides of the zone. The coach dumps a puck behind the net and the three players in line skate into the zone. The first skater is the defense who goes behind the net to retrieve the puck. Second in is the winger who skates down low and then opens up on the board for a pass. The third is the centre who does their best to shadow the defense and be there for support. 

We start the drill with no pressure and have the defense pass to the winger, who then passes to the centre rushing up the middle. We then add coach pressure to the wing, forcing the defense to pass to the centre. The centre can either skate it out or find the winger if they get around the coach.

The last progression of this drill has the coach randomly choosing to cover the wing or centre and forcing the defense to make a quick decision on who is best to pass to.

Now, to include the goals, all versions of this drill also have an attack on the net. After the two forwards cross the blueline, they turn back and enter the zone against the single defender. We use this to teach defense to cover the pass, and to make sure the goalies are getting regular work throughout the drill.

The Neutral Zone

In the neutral zone, we like to practice Mike Johnston’s “Boucher drill” from his 30 in 30 series. This drill does require full ice, which can be a challenge, but it allows us to teach a neutral zone regroup and then work on our options for attacking the net. 

The Break In

Our break in drill looks simple, but helps put fundamental ideas into their heads. We have the forwards line up on the centre ice line and put pucks with one of them. In the example here, the centre has the pucks and sends a pass to one of the wingers. The centre should then drive the net (or retrieve the puck), and the trailing winger should find open ice.

This forces the winger to pick one of two passes, or dump the puck in. The other two forwards find open ice to generate a scoring chance, while the defense works to gain possession and end the play.

The two defensemen in the zone are trying to get control of the puck and clear it. We started this drill allowing them to simply ice the puck and beat the blueline. After the basics were down, we put two coaches up at the point and the defense have to make a pass to them for the clear to count.

The drill on average runs for 25 seconds and we blow it dead, unless the play is continuous, and we feel they will learn from continuing. If neither offense or defense is gaining control, we kill the drill and send in the next group.

While even the most strict of hockey systems allow for players to make the best decisions possible, we believe these keep it simple enough to fall within the ADM system, while also keeping our teams competitive and playing a more structured game. They also foster creativity and develop hockey IQ.