Ice Hockey Drills Now over 280 animated hockey drills!

There are lots of good hocky drills that start with the four lines at the blue lines.  They are nice because you can go from one drill to the next without much down time in between drills.  Here is another good hockey drill that uses the four lines. Two players from the diagonal corners will go at the same time.  The first player will carry the puck across the ice as though they are skating around the neutral zone face off dot.  The second player in line will skate straight ahead and open up to receive a pass from the other line's first player.

This ice hockey drill focuses on supporting the puck in the neutral zone, creating a good passing angle, and an offensive zone play.  If you have enough players it can be run on both sides of the ice.  Pucks should be set up in opposite corners and at center ice.  The defense line up at opposite blue lines along the boards and the forwards form two lines at center ice facing opposite directions.  On the whistle the defense skate up to the bottom of the center ice circle and transition backwards to receive a pass from the forward.

This hockey drill allows defense to work on their transition puck handling, passing, and skating skills.  It utilizes 6 players or 4 players and 2 coaches.  Two of the players are along the boards at center ice at opposite sides and one of these players will start with the puck.  In our diagram D6 is starting with the puck. The other 4 players are just inside the dots at the top and bottom of the circle.  To start, D1 and D2 will start skating backwards.  D1 will receive a pass from D6 while skating backwards.

This variation of the hockey drill requires even quicker passes.  Everything is set up the same way as the previous sequences but now after player receives the pass in transition they have to make a pass to a coach (or player) at center ice and receive it back before they get to the blue line.  Again, you can have the drill set up so players have to cut inside to the middle of the ice for a good scoring chance or take a long shot for from the outside.  One idea is to have the cones set up one side so as players alternate lines they work on both types of attack.

The second sequence of this ice hockey drill encorporates one more pass.  The drill operates the same way but now the passes need to be made slightly quicker.  The first player will pass the puck to the first player in the other line receive the puck right back and then make another pass before transitioning to the boards.  Everything else in the drill is the same as in sequence #1.

This drill is an extension of the previous drill, Neutral Zone Warm Up.  The drill is set up the same way but now two lines of forwards are placed on the top of the offensive zone face off circle (as shown).  After the defense makes a give & go with the passer along the boards they control the puck and make a pass to the next forward in line.  The forward receives the puck and then attacks that Defense one on one back the other way.  Defense are at a disadvantage and will often get beat to the outside.

This purpose of this drill is to help players understand timing and support in the neutral zone. Forwards should line up just above the hash marks along the boards in one end.  The defense are lined up at the opposite blue line on the same side of the ice.  To start the drill one forward need to start on the opposite side of the ice at the bleu line and two defense start at the blue line.  To start, F2 carries the puck a few strides and passes to D1.  D1 starts the drill by skating up ice, transitioning backwards and receiving a pass from F2.

This is a good flow drill that requires timing. Set up four lines on each blue line with pucks as shown in the diagram.  On the whistle P1 skates along the boards to the opposite blue line and receives a pass from P4.  P1 receives the pass and then turns up ice to make a pass to P2.  P2 needs to wait until P1 passes their line and then starts.  This will make sure that P2 does not get too far ahead of the play and in a bad position for the pass. It will be the tendency for younger players to make that mistake.

This seems like a simple drill but it is tougher than it looks.  It is an overspeed drill so players have to move their feet the entire time.  P1 and P2 start at the same time.  P1 carries the puck along the blue line and around the far neutral zone face off dot.  P2 skates up along the boards and through center ice along the red line and then turns up ice to take up the far lane.  P1 makes the pass to P2 just as they turn up ice.  The timing should work out so that P2 is receiving the pass just as they cross the blue line.

It is very important for forwards to have good timing in this drill.  Timing is very important in the neutral zone and so many young players get too far ahead of the play, making the defense's job much tougher.  In this drill both forwards present themselves as outlets for the defense and they are in a position where the defense can give them a horizantal pass.

This drill is good to help defense work on their puck control in neutral zone situations.  Players need to work on moving their feet, keeping thier head up, and making accurate passes. As players get better you can add passes so that they are required to make twice as many passes.  It is also fun to start timing players and compete for the fastest time. 

This is the first drill in a series of drills designed to work on creating some offense out of a neutral zone transition. The drill starts with the coach at center ice and two defense several feet off the red line.  On the whistle, the coach plays a puck softly to the blue line along the boards. The defense come up to the red line and pivot backwards.