Develop a defenseman's skating, gap control, and confidence by reinforcing efficient footwork and maintaining a tight gap in open-ice situations.
Description
- This 1 on 1 drill provides defensemen with opportunities to develop confidence in their skating and gap control. Defensemen work on quickly transitioning from a backward skate to forward skating, maintaining a tight gap, and using efficient footwork to eliminate time and space as the attacker advances.
Setup & Execution
- The forward begins with the puck and attacks straight down the ice.
- The defenseman starts by backpedaling to the red line.
- Once the defenseman reaches the red line, they pivot, match the attacker's speed, and close the gap.
- The play continues as a live 1 on 1 to the net.
- As a progression, the defenseman can quickly recover into a second rush to reinforce repeated gap control and skating habits.
Coach's Note
- Doug emphasizes that this drill is designed to build confidence in a defenseman's skating. The more comfortable a defenseman is with their footwork, the more confident they'll be maintaining tight gaps and holding the blue line in game situations.
Coaching points
- Get back to the red line as quickly as possible before pivoting.
- Build confidence in your feet through efficient skating mechanics.
- Maintain a tight gap and stay up on the attacker.
- Get into your skating stride quickly after your pivot.
- Good feet lead to good gaps.