Global drill library

Develop proper gap control by teaching defensemen to defend while skating forward, using good angles and an active stick to eliminate time and space. Description - This 1 on 1 drill teaches defensemen how to maintain a tight gap while defending with their feet moving forward. The defender starts by touching the blue line before closing space on the attacking forward, using proper angles, stick position, and body control to dictate the play. Setup & Execution - Coach spots a puck off the wall for the forward to retrieve. - The defender begins by touching the blue line before closing the gap. - The forward attacks the net while the defender skates forward to maintain a tight gap. - The defender uses proper angling and an active stick to take away time and space. - Transition and recover only when the attacker gains an advantage. - Play continues until the scoring chance is complete.

An old drill but a good one: four cones, angling opponents to the outside with a good stick and body position, using skating to stay in a good defensive spot.

The Angle Shooter drill from Jim Midgley focuses on developing angling habits and defensive pressure immediately after a player takes a shot. Players attack across the ice to take a shot on net, then quickly transition into a defensive role where they angle the next puck carrier to the outside. This drill reinforces strong skating habits, smart stick positioning, and controlling the opponent’s lane to reduce quality scoring chances. Setup - Divide players into two groups (two colors) on each side of the ice. - Run the drill simultaneously on both sides of the rink. - Use the offside dots as a skating guideline when players attack across the ice. - The drill is whistle-controlled by the coach. How It Works - On the whistle, the first player (#1 ) carries the puck across the ice using the offside dots as a guide and takes a shot on net. - After the shot, the coach blows the whistle again. - The shooter immediately stops, turns, and becomes the angler. - At the same time, a player from the opposite line (# 2) carries a puck across the ice toward the net to take a shot. - The original shooter angles the puck carrier, forcing them to the outside and disrupting the shot. Key Concepts - Angling fundamentals - Offense to defense transition - Stick positioning and puck pressure - Forcing attackers to low-percentage areas - Defensive skating habits

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.

This drill is a quick offensive drill for forwards to work on their stick lifts, timing, and attack. - SETUP: Setup - This is a neutral zone drill, there should be one net on the red line with its back towards the wall. One player on each side of the bottom of the circle ready to receive a pass. - Two lines of players in line with the posts with a pile of pucks nearby. There is only one player ready with a puck per rep. - HOW THE DRILL WORKS: Setup - To start the drill that player going first will make a pass vertically to the player across from them. They will then attack, stick lift, and take the puck and make a pass back to their own line. - After passing back to their own line, the player who received the pass will pass it laterally to the first player in the other line. While this is happening the player doing the drill swings and turns towards the middle to catch the puck from the player who has the puck. - After receiving the puck, the player then attacks the player vertically across from the line they started in and pulls the puck to the outside, making sure they are protecting it with their back and hips and then once they get around the player, they take the puck in and shoot. - COACHING POINTS: Setup - In this drill it is important that the players focus on showing good targets for all of their passes including some communication. They should also make sure that they are being strong and quick in their stick lifts.