There is no skill in hockey more important while being under-utilized than passing. From a young age the primary skills we teach to hockey players are skating, stickhandling, and shooting. These are fun skills for youngsters, it makes sense, but we're building a barrier between individual skill and teamwork. Hockey is a team game, and it's a major challenge to coach a skilled teenager who likes having the puck on their stick but is either unwilling or unable to involve their teammates. 

Move It, Move It

For Sean Goldsworthy, there are important techniques necessary to make efficient passes. It's crucial that the puck stops in front of the puck receiver. The game is out in front of the players, so the puck had to be in front, the eyes have to be up, and the puck has to get snapped flat to a teammate. This is where the communication comes in. Players who are told by their parents from a young age that they're the best player on their team are often reluctant to move the puck, and the communication is non-existent. Communication is an under-utilized tool - imagine receiving a pass, checking your blade quickly with your eyes to make sure it's there, and then picking up your eyes and deciding who to pass the puck to. 

That moment of indecision is the difference between the NHL and the AHL, or junior hockey and minor hockey, or the first line and the third line. 

Goldsworthy has a fun progression of passing you can use with any team at any level. 

1. Stationary Passing
2. Follow Your Pass
3. Monkey In The Middle
4. Stationary With Two Pucks
5. 3on2 Keepaway With Movement
6. Beyond The Circle Forehand Pass
7. 1 Passes to 2 Passes to 3 ...

For Goldsworthy, chaos is the key. Increase the difficulty and encourage problem solving. The brains of the players are overloaded once they're moving and passing two pucks, so going back to stationary one puck passing is easy. That's the game, that's hockey - add pressure, remove it, repeat. Players who improve their passing execution under duress build trust in their coaches, which builds confidence and leads to more responsibility, more ice time, and eventually higher level teams. Get out of your comfort zone consistently and your comfort zone will consistently grow.

And eventually that comfort zone can lead to contracts. Every hockey players exists relative to their age group or their level, even professional hockey. A stay at home defenceman can make millions of dollars by being safe in their own zone, provided they can pass the puck efficiently. 

Noteworthy Timestamps:

• 0:10 Improving communication
• 2:00 5 Player Circle Passing drill
• 5:30 Progression: Follow your pass
• 7:50 Progression: Keep away
• 11:00 Two puck circle passing drill
• 14:50 Progression: Follow your pass
• 15:50 Progression 2 player keep away
• 18:10 4,5,6 Player Zone Passing drill
• 22:30 Progression: Two pucks
• 24:20 Progression: Drop passes only
• 26:00 Progression: Three pucks