U16 - Creating Space & Scoring Chances

The major concept of the Gates of Buffalo Small Area Hockey Game is to practice moving to open space, communicating verbally and non-verbally with teammates, so they can score Goals by passing through Gates. 

This game framework will help players learn to play with their head up, communicate with teammates and move to open space. 

As a coach, If you commit to working on activities like this instead of memorization drills for a portion of each practice, you will marvel at how your team begins to work together. It will look extremely messy at first, but players will get better with each repetition. Moving to open space, and moving the puck will eventually become second nature to the team.

GAME OBJECTIVE

• Score as many goals as possible by passing through the "Gates."
• You can not pass through the same gate twice in a row!

SETUP & ACTIVITY VARIABLES

• Players: great for 3, 4 or 5 players at a time.
• Time: You can rotate through groups of players in 30, 45 or 60 second shifts and count how many goals are scored.
  • Or you can set a number of goals (let's use 5 for example) and stop the watch after 5 goals are completed.
  • 5 players can be participating in the activity, while another 5 rest. Blow the whistle and the next 5 jump in. It gets fun when the teams compete against each other!
• Space: can be set up to be within a zone, or half of a zone (station) or a smaller area. The smaller the space, the more challenging it will be for the players as they are forced to make quicker decisions.
• Added Challenge: add obstacles within the space to challenge the players further.
  • Tires, cones, sticks, defenceman, etc placed in the space will make it harder to pass and skate around. As time goes on the added obstacles will help improve their reaction & decision making.
• Group Competition: After the group gets comfortable with the exercises, you can add a natural element of competition between the groups by counting the number of successful goals made in the specified amount of time.
  • Or you can time each group and see how fast they can complete 5 (or any other number) goals. You will marvel at how the natural element of competition between groups will make the game more intense, competitive and fun!
• With a Goalie: You can require the players to make 2 (or more) passes through a gate before they can shoot on net. After they shoot on net, they need to make the required number of passes through the gates again. 
• Pucks: You can add in 2 or more pucks at a time to make players pay more attention to the game and their surroundings.
• Gates: You can add 3 or more gates. They can be made of tires, cones, pucks and other materials. Change up the sizes of the gates for an extra challenge. The smaller the gate, the more challenging the game is!
• 3 vs 3 Game: You can setup gates and make the game 3 v 3, 3 vs 2, or 3 vs 1 so there is another team working to prevent scoring on the gates. Adding additional players for the team to play against will give the game a whole new spin. View a video demo of the 3 vs 3 game setup.

Setup Suggestions for Elite Players

• Make the gates much smaller.
• You can add a hockey stick at the bottom of each gate so players must "sauce" through a gate and over the stick for the point.
• Add various obstacles on the ice such as sticks that players must be aware of and pass around or sauce over.
• For extra fun, add a defenceman. Or play 3 vs 2 or 3 vs 3.  
• If you have a goalie, require 2 or more passes through the gates before players are allowed to take a shot on net.  

COACHING POINTS 

• Encourage players to always move to open space on the ice. Do not allow them to stand still and pass the puck back and forth.
• Encourage players to find "passing lanes" to allow good passes. 
  • This skill is extremely valuable for youth players to work on. Finding passing lanes when you have the puck and jumping to open space when you don't have the puck so your teammate can pass to you is extremely beneficial during games. 
• Encourage verbal communication (calling teammate by name, saying you are open, etc).
• Encourage non-verbal communication (good eye contact, showing a passing target, tapping a stick, etc).
• Allow players to make mistakes. It will take time to get comfortable with these activities. But as time goes on you will see them picking their head up to make a decision, which is the goal of this small area game.

Why do we call this small area game "Gates of Buffalo?" The game has been called "gates" in the world of soccer and we decided to add Buffalo to it for two fun reasons: First, IHS has strong ties to Buffalo, NY. Secondly, the imagery of a Buffalo can help drive home to your youth players why you are practicing this game. If you do not pick your head up and use your teammates while playing the game of hockey, you run the risk of getting trampled by the other team. This can feel like getting run over by a Buffalo (physically or on the scoreboard). This game helps prevent both of those situations by forcing players to keep their head up while communicating and working with teammates to score goals. 

The Point to Half Wall is an excellent small area game that helps players practice a 2 vs 1 in a small space along the boards. The game also reinforces important skills like keeping your head up, moving to open spaces, protecting the puck and communication. 

The goal of the game is for the offense is to connect on 4 consecutive passes in a row. If they do so, they win and are allowed to shoot on net. If the defense takes the puck away, or the puck goes out of bounds 2 times during the game the defense wins and is awarded a shot on net.

Setup

• Playing Area: Use 4 cones or tires that create a triangle from the half wall to the middle of the blue line.
• Goalie Setup: This can be set up as a station with a goalie, or without. If you use a goalie it can be placed in the crease or the net can be moved so the drill is a station. 
• Players: Alternate players. It is beneficial for players to get reps on both offense and defense sides. 
• Passes: You can require 4 (or a different amount) of consecutive passes to win.
• Defense: If the defense is taking the puck away too much, you can tell the defense to flip their stick over.
• Winner: The winning side gets a shot on net. Other winning options are: 
  • If the offense wins:
    • The last person with the puck gets a shot on net.
    • Both players are given a puck and can shoot on different goalies.
    • The game moves to a 2 vs 1 in front of the net and offense is allowed one shot if they can get it off.
  • If the defense wins:
    • They get a shot on net.
    • The game moves to a 1 on 1 in front of the net and the defense is allowed one shot if they can get it off. The losing offense team needs to communicate with each other as to who is going to go after the defense.

Coaching Points

• Use the boards! They are your friend!
  • If used properly, the boards can be used as an extra player out there and are helpful for bank passes and puck protection.
• Offensive players need to protect the puck until they can make a play and then expose the puck to make a pass.
• Offensive players have to move without the puck. Think "Give & Go!"
• Defensive players are most successful with active sticks and stop and starts. There are no short cuts!

Progressions

• Have one of the offensive players be a "Point Player" who has to stay up around the blueline.
  • This progression can be great for defenceman working on their puckhandling at the point & forwards becoming outlet passes.
• Create a smaller "playing area" to make it tougher on the offense.
• Play the Corner to Half Wall 2 vs 1. 

The Paint Scoring Drill is one where players will see how fast they can score three pucks. Players will be able to work on finishing using backhands, one timers, and wrist/snap shots. To set up the drill place a couple barriers stacked on top of each other in front of the net. Another net placed face down (or another type of object that you can use to bounce pucks off of) at about the hash marks directly in front of the net. The first player starts about a sticl length away from the face down net and the drill operates as follows:

• Next player passes a puck off the face down net from behind player 1.
• Player 1 reacts to the puck, gathers it to their backhand as they move around the face down net and shoot a backhand shot.
• They immediately open up to face player 2 who gives them a pass and they receive and shoot again trying to elevate the puck over the two barriers.
• Player 2 passes another puck off of the face down net
• Player 1 stops after their 2nd shot and retrieves this third puck on their forehand.
• Player 1 takes another shot as they move around the face down net on their forehand.

This drill is a shooting drill primarily for defensive players that you can work on when working with just the defense in one end of the ice. The coach will set up with pucks in one corner. The line of players will line up at the blue line with pucks as well. The drill starts by the coach passing a puck to the first player in line. They will control the puck along the blue line and shoot from just inside the dots, the plyaer will then look to get a second pass from the next player in line and either receive and shoot or take a one-timer (depending on if they are right or left handed). After the second shot they will go towards the net and get a thrid pass from the coach out of the corner.

Set-Up:

• The game is played on a 200 foot by 42.5 ft playing space. The ice is cut in half length wise.
• Move both nets in line with the dots while keeping them on the goal line.
• Pucks are placed at both ends in the slot (outside the playing area).
• .The defending team (red) players line up on the blue line.
  • One group is along with boards and the other line is on the imaginary mid-line.
• The attacking team (Black) players are lined up in the same formation on the opposite blue line.

Game:

• It is a 2v2 continuous scoring game
• The rotation is Offense — to Defense — Rest
• The game begins with a 2v2 in one zone (White on Offense & Red on Defense in the video)
• The Offensive team tries to score a goal & will receive another puck from the Coach IF:
  • A goal is scored
  • OR a shot hits the net and goes out of the boundary
• The Defensive team attempts to steal the puck and pass it up to their line of teammates waiting on the near Blue Line.
• The Defensive Team receives a puck from Coach IF:
  • The Offensive Team misses the net with a shot & it goes out of play
  • OR if the offensive team gets their puck knocked outside the field of play
• Once the Defensive Team (Red) passes the puck up to their teammates:
  • The Defensive Players are done
  • The (former) Offensive Players (Black) now must backcheck into their own end & play Defense
  • The New Offensive Players who just received the puck (new Red) skate to the opposite end where 1 player has a breakaway attempt (NO 2 vs.0 opportunities)
• Now it becomes a 2v2 at the opposite end with Red on Offense & Black on Defense

The Game is Player for a Set number of minutes or to a certain score. (if the game becomes slow/sloppy, take a halftime & then come back when they are fresh).

Principles:

For the Defensive Team:

• How to handle a 2v2 (while tired)
  • Communicating between partner
  • Keeping body between the Offensive Player & your Goalie
  • Stick position, angling and reacting to loose pucks
• Making a big defensive play (to end the shift, advance the puck, live to fight another day)

For the Offensive Team:

• Chance to score on a Breakaway initially (score with back pressure)
• Teach to isolate a (tired) defender & create a 2v1
• Shots on net (scoring chances) earn you more offense (another puck from Coach)
• Holding on the puck (puck protection) tires out an already tired defense
• Finishing offensive plays in small areas

The Neutral Zone 3 vs. 3 Game is a great small area game that creates a lot of turnovers and transitions, which is common for the neutral zone. To be successful, teams will need to play with their head up, keep their sticks on the ice and communicate with their teammates.

Game Setup

• Teams line up in opposite corners of the neutral zone (as pictured in the video and diagram).
• Each team has a coach (or player) that is on their team and is lined up on the same blue line as them.
  • Each coach (or player) needs to be aware of the game and they are required to pass their team the puck if the puck goes out of play, a goal is scored, a goalie makes a save, or the puck goes past the blue line on their end. Players can intentionally pass the puck out of their end to create a "breakout" situation where the coach will pass their team a new puck (you can see this example in the video if you watch closely).
• If the puck goes past the blue line it is out of play.
• Each team battles to score.
• The shift length should be anywhere from 15 - 45 seconds long.

Coaching Points

• Head up: Everyone with and without the puck needs to keep their head up and on a swivel. It is important to know where the puck is, where your teammates are and where the opposition is.
• Stick on the ice: This is important for the forwards (because it shows your teammate where you want the puck) and for the defense (it allows you to angle and cut off passing lanes).
• Communicate: There will be lots of new pucks and transitions so it is important to communicate with your teammates and coaches (or players) who are passing the new pucks.
• Move to space: Forwards should jump to open space and become an outlet for their teammate if they do not have the puck. 

Variations:

• You can play this game in a 2v2 or 3v3 setup.
• You can allow players to pass the puck to their coach. This variation was not shown in the video.