We all have the urge to rush our young hockey players into structured gameplay with set plays and positions. I've often found myself in locker rooms, watching coaches attempt to explain complex concepts to U11 players who barely know their own positions. (Not that I'm claiming to be any better.) The truth is, these kids just want to play the game. We build their habits during practice and not on a whiteboard! so try out this small-area game I devised after experimenting with a few others drills I came across on the coaches site. It teaches young players how to support each other in the offensive zone with a simple rule: only one offensive player is allowed in each designated area.

Use a bingo dabber to mark out you exterior zone (outside of the dots), interior slot (F3) and your Butt out guy (netfront) 

1. Start the drill with F1 facing the wall, and have D1 about a stick length away
2. Have F2 in their desinated net front area, and F3 in the high slot (this replicates the triangluar forecheck)
3. The coach will spot F1 the puck, and as soon as F1 recieves the pass from the coach, D1 is now activated to attack
4. F3 has to read the pressure on F1 by either coming in closer for support, or staying further away in his desinated area 
5. F2 will hang off the strong side post, so if F1 were to release the puck behind the net, he can be first on it
6. start with one or two defenders and slowly work your way up to a 3on3, the defending team can skate anywhere in the dzone
7. Players can interchange from their highlighted areas, but must have at least one player in 3 of the 4 areas

Key Notes

• F1 skate on first touch
• Shoulder check, look for your support
• Butt out (net front) guy for a behind the net support
• Triangulation reads

How it transfers to a game;