The Bruins Neutral Zone Drill shared by Steve Wiedler allows teams and players to warm-up and practice their neutral zone habits.
Setup
- Coaches are set up inside opposite blue lines.
- 4 lines of forwards and and defenseman.
- On the whistle, each side is going at the same time.
- Part 1: For this explanation the diagram and description below will only follow one side.
- F1 passes the puck back to the defenseman. The defenseman go D to D.
- F2 jumps out to support the puck, and for this explanation F2 posts up at the far blue line for a bump pass to F1.
- F1 takes the bump pass, enters the zone, and takes a shot on net.
- Part 2: F2 continues to receive a chip off the wall from the coach. F2 passes the puck to their original defenseman. They go D to D.
- As this is going on F1 jumps inside the blueline after taking a shot on net.
- The defenders pass the puck to F1, who bumps the puck to F2, who takes a shot on net.
- Optional Part 3: As a 3rd shooting option, the coach can pass the puck to the defenseman just inside the blueline and they can fire a shot on net with both F1 and F2 screening & tipping the puck.
Coaching Points
- There will be lots of moving players so everyone needs to keep their head up and scan the ice.
- Communicate when you want the puck.
- Keep your sticks on the ice so your teammates know where you want the puck.
Variations
- Coaches can utilize different support options. You do not have to use the "post and bump" support option as shown in the video.
- Coaches can modifity the 3rd part of the drill where the defenseman take a shot on net. Here you can have the defenders work on walking the line, or hitting one of the forwards for a pass instead of a tip.
