All global drills
Soft Catch Behind the Net to Attack
Skills & Skating
Puck Protection & Wall Play
Ice Hockey Systems
Global
The Soft Catch Behind the Net to Attack from the Academy of Hockey is a drill from the Soft Catch Skills Practice to help practice wall play, passing, routes and timing. Coaches can add light pressure to the drill so players need to keep their head up and pass around the coach. The drill highlights the "soft catch skill" where players catch the puck across their body in stride.
- The primary benefit of a soft catch across your body is that it allows you to maintain your skating momentum and instantly load your weight to seamlessly transition into a shot, pass, or deke without missing a stride. The soft catch also allows you to protect the puck while along the boards.
Setup
- One net
- Two lines along each side of the boards.
- On the whistle, one side rims the puck (yellow player 1) along the boards while the player from the other side soft catches the puck (blue player 1), curls and finds the player who rimmed the puck in the slot for a quick shot.
- The drill is continuous and after a rep is completed, the next player in the other line rims the puck (blue player 2).
Variations
- Coaches can add light pressure to the drill so the players must keep their head up and pass around.
- Can add a live defender so the drill becomes a live 2 v 1.
- Can set this up in different areas of the ice so the rim and puck collection happen at a different spot other than behind the net.
Coaching points
- Start with slower speed the first couple of reps so players can get timing down. Increase speed as time goes on.
- Player getting the rimmed puck: Should have their body off of the wall so they can turn towards the wall or away from the wall. If they are right up against the wall they only have one way to go. Should let the puck go across their body before they catch it so the can maintain their skating momentum and instantly load your weight to seamlessly transition into a shot, pass, or deke coming out of the turn.
- Should have their body off of the wall so they can turn towards the wall or away from the wall. If they are right up against the wall they only have one way to go.
- Should let the puck go across their body before they catch it so the can maintain their skating momentum and instantly load your weight to seamlessly transition into a shot, pass, or deke coming out of the turn.
- Player without the puck: Timing their approach to the slot should communicate when they are open and work to get a quick shot on net. Do not be too early or too late. Should communicate and keep their stick on the ice to present a target.
- Timing their approach to the slot should communicate when they are open and work to get a quick shot on net. Do not be too early or too late.
- Should communicate and keep their stick on the ice to present a target.
- Players should take reps on both sides so they can practice their forehand and backhand passes.