U16 Gaining and Maintaining Possession

This is a fun dynamic warm-up that helps coaches jump-start practice with a competitive puck protection exercise, followed by a competitive team puck possession exercise. Depending on the age and skill level of your players, coaches can modify this drill to make it easier by adding more pucks, or reducing the number of players involved. Scroll to the bottom of this description and you can view examples of how to make these exercises a game (which makes it very fun for younger players).

Setup

Part # 1: Individual Puck Protection

• Split up your team into two groups. If you have full ice, each group can play in their own offensive zone. If you have half ice, one larger group can play in the zone, and the second group can play in the neutral zone.
• On the whistle, a coach chips in a limited number of pucks for players to battle over. In the video, there were 3 pucks used for 10 players. Coaches can add more pucks to make it easier for the players or for younger age groups. Play this out for a minute or so before you switch to a second group or move to Part # 2 of the drill.

Part # 2: Team Keep Away

• The coach combines the groups so there are now two teams playing inside one zone.
• On the whistle, the coach chips in a limited number of pucks for players to battle over. In the video, there were 2 pucks used for the two teams. 

Variations

• Make it easier: add more pucks or reduce the number of players.
• Ice space: Can set this up in different areas of the ice.
• Players: Can use your whole team at once or split up into groups so players get a rest.
• Gamify: Can make drill into a very fun competitive game by playing Finders Keepers (players are knocked out of each round if they do not have a puck when time is called) and Finders Keepers With Teams (the team with the most pucks at the end when time is called wins).

Coaching Points

• Part #1:
  • If you have the puck, work to protect it with your body and by keeping your head up so you can skate to space, or cut back to create space.
  • If you do not have the puck, keep your stick on the ice and compete to get the puck back.
• Part # 2: 
  • If your team has the puck, keep your head up so you can utilize give & gos!
  • If your team does not have the puck, keep your stick on the ice to take away passing lanes and compete to get the puck back. 

This drill provided by NextGeneration HKY provides a progression that allows players to work on puck protection skills. As you watch the video pay attention to the hand position of the players. Whether they are on their forehand or backhand their hand position is making it possible to close the blade as the make the control turns so they can maintain control of the puck, otherwise the puck tends to slide off the end of the blade. It is also important to not the position of the feet as they do their control turns. The inside leg is out in front so it helps protect the puck.

Progression #1: No Pucks - focus on hand and feet position.

Progression #2: With Pucks.

Progression #3: With pucks and passive pressure from coach.

The drill starts out with three 1v1s happening at the same time in the neutral zone. Players are encouraged to practice different puck protection skills, with the main focus on being "cutting the hands" of the defender.  Cut the hands is a puck protection move where you skate into a defender's extended stick position to protect the puck and limit their ability to take the puck, while also allowing you to see options on the ice.

Players play out their respective 1v1s for 15-20 seconds. On the whistle, coach throws a new puck in a different area of the ice and players must assess the situation and play 3v3 full-ice. Play it out for 20-30 seconds. 

Modifications:

• This drill can be set up in any zone or limited space to establish different spatial awareness, transition patterns, and communication. 
• Half-Ice: For half-ice practices, start the drill with 3 x 1v1s in a small area in one zone. Have one outlet player for each team located just outside of the blue line. On the whistle, the coach throws in a new puck and teams must first pass to their outlet player to change position and try to score. 

X1 protects puck in between the blue lines and along the wall while X2 adds pressure
On whistle X1 skates in zone one touches to coach and gets quick shot off, then curls up ice and defends 2-1
X2 curls below face off dot and receives puck from X3 who jumps in and attacks X1 for 2-1 
**After the 2-1's, each 2-1 group join together and play full ice 3-3, coach spots puck to one of the groups, play it out for 10-15 seconds**

Drill starts as a 1v2 (1 X vs 2 O's) and plays out for for 8-10 seconds. On whistle, second X jumps in to make it a 2v2 scenario. Play it out for 8-10 seconds. Next whistle activates another O to make it a 2v3 and fourth whistle activates a third X to make it 3v3. Shift length is about 45-50 seconds in total. Goal is to get players to recognize the changing scenario quickly and identify the time and space to make a quick play or transition. If puck is scored at any point, coach throws a new puck in. Keep score for goals for and goals against. 

Once rep ends, start with 2 X's vs  1 O and follow the same progression.