Early this week I was asked to create and run a U15 Battle practice plan. As you can see from some of the drills, we had three goalies and 21 players. So I designed a station-based practice for half the practice with limited rest times and finished with full ice drills that allowed for more recovery. 

During the third drill, I lost two players who ended up quitting. One had puked during the Continues 1v1 drill, and the other left with an injury in the corner 1v1 battle. I'm not going to lie, it turned out to be tougher than I originally anticipated, and the kids were gassed by the end of practice!

2 on 2 on 2

This is a fun game! It is best if you have access to three nets. Three teams of two play each other with one puck.  Each team has a net that they are defending, which means they can score on either of the other two nets.  If you have more than six players, then you can make it so that the team that gets scored on has to sit out until it is their turn again.

The goals of this drill are primarily creativity and awareness. 

Drill Length 8 Minutes

Corner Boards 1 V 1 Loose Puck Battle

Corner Boards 1 V 1 Loose Puck Battle allows players & coaches to work on a very common play during the game, a loose puck battle along the boards. This is a competitive drill that can also progress to 2 V 2. 

Setup

• On the whistle, 2 players battle in the corner for a loose puck.
• Whoever gets the puck off of the boards first is on offense and tries to score a goal while the other player defends.
• Defenders can knock the puck out of play or they can steal the puck, tag up at the goal line and then become an offensive player.

Variations

• Can make the battle 1 V 1 and progress to 2 V 2
• Can allow the defending team to tag up at the goal line to become offense.

Coaching Points 

• Defending players need to keep their sticks on the ice and play the body.
• Offensive players should work to protect the puck with their body and utilize their edges to be strong on the puck and create space with tight turns. 

Drill Length 7 Minutes

2 VS. 2 Corner Battle Tag Up

The 2 vs. 2 Corner Battle Tag up is a competitive game that requires to players protect the puck and utilize their teammates in a small area. This game has one major item to remember, during a change of possession, the team that got the puck must tag up at the goal line before they can try to score. Below we will discuss the setup, coaching points & variations.

Setup

• Place the net by the corner face-off dot and have it face the corner (as shown in the video & diagram).
• Start the game by having a coach chip the puck into the corner while 2 players from each line jump into the playing area.
• Both teams are trying to score a goal and if the defensive team gets the puck, they MUST tag up at the red line before they can shoot on net.
• Have players that are not participating be on the lookout for loose pucks (they can push pucks back into the playing area) and be aware of shots.
• Let players battle for 15 - 45 seconds before switching to next group.
• Keep score so teams are more competitive! 

Coaching Points

• Get low to be strong on your skates. 
• Protect the puck with your body.
• Communicate with your teammates.
• Defenders need to keep sticks on the ice at all time.
• Forwards without the puck need to jump to open space to be an outlet for their teammates.

Drill Length 7 minutes

Continues 1 vs. 1 Battle Game

A continuous 1 vs. 1 hockey game that puts the defenders at a disadvantage since they will be double shifting. The defense will be tired so it is extra important that they focus on good habits (keep stick on the ice). The game will reinforce puck protection and battling for loose pucks.

Keep Score: 3 points for a goal for the offensive team, 2 points for the defense skating the puck out of the zone through the gates, 1 point for the defense passing the puck out of the zone to the next forward, and 0 points if the coach blows the whistle and changes lines.

Setup:

• 1 defender starts at the blue line and 1 forwards starts with a puck around the face-off dot in the neutral zone.
• Game starts when the coach blows the whistle.
• The forward try to keep possession of the puck and score.
• The defender tries to defend and can end the game by skating the puck out of the zone through the gates passing the puck to the next forward in line (shown as F1 in this diagram).
• If a goal is scored, or the goalie freezes the puck, or the puck goes out of play, the coach has the option to chip another puck in the zone, or pass to the next forwards in line.
• When the shift ends (either with a goal, the defense getting the puck out of the zone, or a coach's whistle), the forward switches to defense and the new forward starts the 1 vs. 1.

Coaching Points:

• The defense will be tired since they will be "double shifting." Encourage stick on the ice and angling the forward to the outside of the playing space.
• Forwards, do not be afraid to hold on to the puck. Use your body to protect it until you can make a play.
• Compete to score points for your team! Celebrate points!

Drill Length 10 Minutes

1v1 To 2v2 

The Out of the Corner drill helps players practice collecting a puck along the boards, protecting it, and cutting the defenders hands while they attack the net.

• Drill Setup:

  • Puck in each corner.
  • 1 offensive player on each dot. One defender on each hash mark.
  • To start defenders should play without a stick or stick turned over.
  • Coach designates which side starts as 1 v 1. When coach says offensive player retrieves puck from corner (simulating lose puck in corner).
  • Defender now angles and plays out the1 v 1 versus offensive player. After the1 v 1, coach says 2 v 2. The2 other players who are waiting now start on their side. The 2 1 v 1 players join in to make it into 2 v 2.

  Purpose:

  • The idea of this drill is to focus on defending from a defensive zone situation and stressing defenders ability to angle offensive players. It is suggested to have defenders perform drill without a stick to start to really highlight having good footwork, angles and body contact skills. 90%of defense is are those skills.
  • As players get better introduce a stick to the defender. Can have them use their stick turned over to start. This allows them to start using it as a tool but they still aren't able to fully use it and bring bad habits into drill (looking at the puck).
  • Once proficient then have defenders use stick as normal.

  Common Mistakes:

  • All the same mistakes made in the defend the bucket drill are made here as well. Starting without a stick will highlight bad footwork and angle habits.
  • Note it can be common for a player to be better without a stick then with a stick because once they get their stick back they forget what made them successful (good footwork, angles, being physical) and go back to bad habits or looking at the puck.

Drill Length 10 Minutes

2 v 2 Rim Game

The 2 v 2 Rim Game is a competitive battle game that allows players to practice rimming the puck along the boards and picking up pucks from the boards.

Setup

• Start with 2 defenders at the bottom of each of the face-off dots.
• On the whistle, one player rims the puck around the boards to their teammate on the other side. The teammate collects the puck to begin a 2 v 2.
• The defenders must skate to the top of the face-off circle before they can start to defend.
• Offense is trying to score, while defense is trying to collect the puck and get it to their teammates in line. They can directly pass it to their teammtes, or they can rim the puck to them.
• Once the puck is to the next players in line, a new game begins. The players that were playing defense rotate out, the players playing offense rotate to defense, and the two players in line start by rimming and collecting the puck to begin the 2 on 2 game. The game is continuous. 

Coaching Points

• Defense: keep sticks on the ice to block passing lanes and angle players to the outside. Communicate with each other.
• Offense: be deliberate on your rims. Utilize the angle of the boards to work with you, not against you. Make sure the rim does not get past you. Stop the puck, collect it, and make a pass or a play to buy yourself more time.

Variations

• Can set this game up at the hashmarks (as shown in the diagram) or set it up at the blue line to practice longer rims.

Drill Length 10 Minutes

2 v 2 speed cross

• The coach stands in the middle of the ice with a puck.
• on the whistle F1 and F2 will crosse underneath the coach
• D1 and D2 start at the top of the circles and will gap up once the whistle blows
• The coach will kick out the puck to either side, and the D has to react to which side the puck is going
• Let the play continue 2on2 and then the coach will switch sides and start the drill going the opposite way

The coach stands in the middle of the ice with a puck.

The coach will start the drill on the whistle.

• F1 and F2 start by crossing underneath the coach.
• D1 and D2 start at the top of the circle and will quickly gap up on the whistle.
• The coach will spot the puck out on either side of him, the D won't know where the coach is playing the puck, and the forwards will have to read the play.
• The defense has to challenge the forwards at the blue line, or if the forwards have too much speed, they may have to back in. Try to teach your D to surf across and play the forwards while skating forwards.
• Allow the play to run out, and play 2on2 until the whistle, and then start the drill the other way.

Drill Length 10 Minutes