Keep away games are a microcosm of the game of hockey. Teams with the puck want to keep possession, and teams without the puck want to gain possession.
Coaches should be utilizing keep away games in their practices to help players be creative while practicing fundamentals in a fun and engaging manner. Make sure to keep score in every game, the players will love it!
Coaches can easily modify games for their team based on their skill level to make the games easier or harder. For example a 3v2 keep away game is harder than a 3v1 keep away game. Or, if defenders are getting the puck to easily, coaches can have the defenders flip over their sticks.
Below we dive into 10 keep away games that will practice fundamental concepts and naturally bring out the competitive spirit in your players. We start with basic keep away games and progress with different situations, and then add more players and goalies. Use the games below to practice key concepts, and modify them to help your players thrive.
Keep away coaching points for forwards:
- Scan the ice to be aware of your surroundings
- Puck carriers should practice puck protection concepts
- Players without the puck should support the puck carrier by jumping to be an outlet with stick on the ice
- Utilize give & go's
- Practice deceptive passing
- Communicate with your teammates
Keep away coaching points for defenseman:
- Scan the ice to be aware of your surroundings
- Keep stick on the ice to block passing lanes and angle players
- Communicate with your teammates
Below we dive into 10 Keep Away Games That Develop Players
Games 1 - 6 have no goalies, and games 7 - 10 have goalies.
1. 3 v 1 Keep Away
Let's start with basic keep away! 3 v 1 Keep Away shows 4 players playing keep away in a small space. As you can see from this simple setup, players are moving, calling for the puck, keeping their head up to see where their teammates are. This game can be modified in a variety of ways, and set up in all areas of the ice.
Scoring option: A point for each completed pass. 3 points if a defender intercepts a pass and gains possession.
Modifications: Can be 2v1, 2v2, 3v2, 3v3, 4v1, 4v2, 4v3, 4v4, 5v2, 5v3, 5v4, 5v5 and set up in all areas of the ice.
2. Point to Half Wall 2 v 1
Point to Half Wall 2 v 1 is an example of a normal keep away game that uses the blue line and boards as constraints that the players need to be aware of. This is a great setup for defenders to practice moving along the blue line, and forwards to practice switches and getting open for their teammate.
Scoring option: Offensive team tries to complete 4 passes in a row. Defenders try to block 2 passes. Winner is awarded a shot on net.
Modifications: Can make the area larger and extend to have more blue line space so you can play 3v2 or 3v1. Can set up this up in all areas of the ice.
3. Corner to Half Wall 2 v 1
Corner to Half Wall 2 v 1 shows another creative way to set up a normal keep away game. This game is played along the boards and gives forwards practice with bank passes and wall play.
Scoring option: Offensive team tries to complete 4 passes in a row. Defenders try to block 2 passes. Winner is awarded a shot on net.
Modifications: Can make the area larger and extend to have more down low space so you can play 3v2 or 3v1. Can even extend playing area so the goal is in play.
4. Rondo Circle Keep Away
Rondo Keep Away from Alyssa Gagliardi is a great way to warm-up players awareness & decision making in practice. Rondo's are extremely popular in the game of soccer and can be modified in a variety of ways.
Scoring options: Point for each completed pass. 3 points for a "nutmeg" a term used in soccer when the ball (puck) is passed through the legs of a defender. Defenders go to the circle if they intercept a pass. The player that got their pass intercepted then becomes a defender.
Modifications: Can setup to be 3v1, 3v2, 4v1, 4v2, 4v3. Can have defenders not have sticks, or flip over their sticks to make it easier for the passers. Can require one touch passing from the players to force quick decision making. View more rondo modifications.
5. Pass Through The Circle Game
Pass Through The Circle Game from Alyssa Gagliardi is a similar concept to the rondo game above, except the players are not static on the circle. This game allows the players to move around, but they try to score points by passing through the circle.
Scoring: Forwards get a point for each time they pass through the circle. Defenders get 2 points for intercepting the puck.
Modifications: Can be set up in the zones, does not need to be played at center ice. Can play 3v2, 4v2, 4v3.
6. 3 vs 3 Keep Away With Team Bumpers
3 v 3 Keep Away With Team Bumpers is a fun keep away game that allows a lot of players to get involved at once. It's a fun way to start practice to warm up skating, hands and awareness, or to use as an activity to push tempo.
Teams are divided in half, and the keep away game takes place in the middle playing area. Teams can use their bumper players on the blue line as outlets. The players on the blue line can move a few feet along the blue line to give their team better passing options. On the whistle, the players on the blue line rotate in, and the players playing keep away rotate to the blue line.
Scoring options: Each pass is a point.
Variations: Can be 4v4, 3v3, or 2v2. Can be set up in the neutral zone, in a zone, or in a 1/4 ice. Below are diagrams of a half ice set up and a station setup.
7. Swiss 4 v 2 Scoring Game
The Swiss 4 v 2 Scoring Game is our fist example of a keep away game that adds a goalie. As you can see from the video, 4 players work to keep the puck away from the 2 defenders in the middle.
Scoring options: Each goal is a point. If defenders deflect or block the puck you can rotate players.
Variations: Can be set up in 1/4 ice or half ice as shown. Similar options can be set up to be 6v3 Alley Game, or 6v2 Sticks in Lanes game. Can also be modified to be 4v2, 3v1, or 3v2.
8. 4 on 2 Power Play Game
The 4 on 2 Power Play Game from Kendall Coyne expands on the Swiss 4 v 2 and is essentially 2 side by side 4 v 2 games that has 2 goalies and an invisible barrier down the middle of the zone. The team with the offensive advantage works to score a goal, while the defenders work to get the puck to their teammates on the other side of the ice.
Scoring: Goals count as 1 point
Variations: Can be 4v2, 3v2, or 3v1. Can play game as is or add other constraints like, the offensive team must complete 3 passes before they can shoot on net.
9. 4 v 2 Two Touch
The 4 v 2 Two Touch Game from TJ Manastersky builds off of the 4 v 2 Power Play Game above, but has a major constraint. Players can only utilize a two touch pass to move the puck. This places more pressure on each player to think ahead and be fully aware of their surroundings and options.
Scoring: Goals count as 1 point
Variations: Can set nets up on the goal line like the 4 v 2 Power Play Game.
10. Triangle Scoring Game
The Triangle Scoring Game from Kendall Coyne encourages quick decisions, quick passes, and quick shots.
Scoring: A goal is a point. Which ever side scores first, wins!
Variations: Can let forwards move around the outside of the triangle, or require them to be static like Kendall explained. Can have 2 games going on at once (like shown in the video) or scale it down to be a station and only have 1 game playing at once. Can use the face-off circles as boundaries instead of making a triangle. Below are examples of using face-off circles as boundaries. The face off boundary is called the Circle Scoring Game.
Draw Your Own Keep Away Game
Bonus Keep Away Games:
- Hit The Tire Passing Game
- 6 v 3 Alley Game
- 6 v 2 Sticks in Lanes game
- 4 v 2 Down Low Game
- 3 v 3 Corner Game
- 7 Pass 2 v 1
- Give & Go Rover
- 6 on 3 Monkey In The Middle
Are your players struggling with keep away games?
If your players are struggling with keep away games you can try to make them a bit easier. A few ways to do this would be:
- Have defenders start with no sticks, then progress to having defenders flip their stick upside down, then eventually have defenders sticks be right side up
- Only start with one defender, then you can progress to more as your players get better
- Make the playing area larger
If your players need more of a challenge, you can make the playing area smaller, and add more defenders. Make sure to keep score and have fun!