A great skill to help you increase your chances of scoring a goal is to learn how to quickly shoot off a pass! In video above, we show you a simple exercise to practice this skill by jumping to open space and getting off a quick shot. You can also set this drill up from the point.

Why is this skill beneficial? Alone, a quick-release shot can surprise the goaltender. However, if a quick-release shot comes off of a pass, it is even harder for a goalie to stop because they will be moving from wherever the pass came from.

The goal of this is concept is to get a goalie moving (from a pass) and getting a shot off quickly so the goalie does not have time to set up. On the flip side, if a player receives a pass, takes 2-4 seconds to settle the puck, the goalie has a better chance to get set up to make a save.

Setup:

• Players and pucks are lined up at the half-wall.
• A "Passer" is set up next to the net, by the near post.
• The "Passer" jumps to open space in the corner, which begins the exercise. 
• Player # 1 passes the puck to the "Passer" in the corner.
• Player # 1 jumps to space heading to the net and receives a pass back. Player # 1 should work shoot quickly. Work on One Timers, or One Touch Shots to quickly get the puck off of your stick and to the net. Accuracy is not the key here, the goal is quick release. As time goes on, accuracy will come.
• The passer should be looking for rebounds after they pass the puck.
• After Player # 1 gets a shot off, they become the next passer.
• The Passer goes to the end of the line.

Coaching Points:

• Players should work on verbal (calling for the puck) & non-verbal communication (showing a target for the pass).
• Both Player # 1 and the Passer should work on quickly jumping to open space.
• Players should work on getting off a quick shot. They can also work on the following shots:
  • Catch & Release Shot
  • One Timer
  • Strong Side One Timer

Goalie Notes:

• The goalie should not cheat and only line up for the shot. This is a great opportunity for the goalie to track the puck from the half wall, to the corner, to the slot.

Variations:

• Coaches can add various objects that the "Passer" must pass over or though. Make it more complex for higher skilled players.
• The coach can set up Player # 1 and the Passer to be in different areas of the ice to work on shooting off of a pass. For more skilled players you can work on greater passing distances and angles.
• You can Practice Shooting Off The Pass From The Point.

Yellow Attack Timing - V1 from Rob Sedia of NewEdge Hockey helps players work on retrievals, passing, timing, communication, and quick release shots. The reason "Yellow Attack" is in the name of the drill, is to reinforce the concept that players should attack the puck along the yellow bumper of the boards. 

Setup

• Place a net (or a stationary defender) just below the hashmarks in front of the net.
• Set up one player next to the net, as pictured in the diagram.
• Players line up at the hashmarks against the boards.
• On the whistle, Player 1, chips the puck into the corner for Player 2 to retrieve. 
• Player 2 shoulder checks, gathers the puck, and looks to pass the puck to Player 1.
• Player 1 times the play, and can jump in front of the net, or behind the net to get a quick shot on goal.
• Player 1 now goes behind the net to get ready for the next rep. Player 2 goes to the back of the line.
• Note: adding the additional pad on the far side of the net (that is pictured in the diagram) makes the player practice passing & receiving passes in a tighter space. Coaches can use any object, or can exchange any object for a static player or coach.

Coaching Points

• The player retrieving the puck should shoulder check, and come out of the corner with their head up. 
• The player jumping to the slot for a shot, should time the play and communicate.
• Both players can practice deception, to create additional time and space for themselves.

Variations

• Can exchange the net in the slot for a static defender that can only move their stick. If the static defender is stopping the puck too often you can have them flip their stick.
• Can add light pressure to the player that is retrieving the puck. 
• Can add a goalie.
• Can set up in other areas of the ice. View Yellow Attack V2 to see this setup where players retrieve the puck along the boards on the half wall.

The Evasive Pass Drill from Dwyane Blais of NSDA is a simple, yet effective drill for players to practice their evasive / deceptive passing techniques, while the other forward can practice one-time shots.

Setup

• Set up two lines of players (as shown in the diagram)
• You can use obstacles (cones, players, pads etc that players need to pass around)
• Player with the puck (F1) skates down and fully sells the shot (by looking at the goalie, being square to the goalie) and then at the last second they pass to the steaking forward (F2) who one times the shot.
• Alternate sides so players get reps at both passing and shooting.

Coaching Points

• Passer:
  • Practice being evasive / deceptive. Use your whole body to make the goalie think you are going to shoot. Use your eyes, head, hands and body to make it look like you are shooting.
  • Use your referral vision to locate your teammate breaking down to the net.
• Shooter:
  • Keep stick on the ice to let your teammate know where you want the pass.
  • Make sure your bottom hand is strong so you are able to generate force and one time the puck to the back of the net. If you are light on your bottom hand, you will not be able to generate power and accuracy with your shot.

The Sticks In Lanes Game from Topher Scott of The Hockey Think Tank is a great small area game to help the offense practice passing in the offensive zone while the defense works to block passing lanes by keeping their sticks on the ice. This is also a great drill for practicing your Power Play & Penalty Kill. This game is a 6 vs. 2 but can be set up to be more challenging for the offense by making it 4 vs. 2, or 6 vs. 3.

Setup

• KEEP SCORE (as you can see from the video, this can become a very fun and competitive drill).
• The playing area is highlighted in yellow in the diagram above.
• Have 6 offensive players set up as shown in the diagram. They can move slightly but can not skate around and must stay in their designated area.
• 2 Defenders will defend the middle of the ice.
• On the whistle, the offensive team is trying to score. They must pass the puck through the middle of the ice 2 or more times before they can shoot.
• The defenders work to break up the play.
• Switch teams after each rep and let forwards play defense and defense play offense. 

Coaching Points

Offensive Team:

• Use deception (look or fake passing one way and pass the other way) to create openings.
• Think about where you pass before the puck comes to you.
• Shoot quickly if you have an opening!

Defensive Team:

• Keep sticks on the ice at all times! This will allow you to block passing lanes or intercept passes.
• Use quick starts and stops to cover ground.

Variations

• Can make this drill harder for the offense by making it a 4 vs. 2 (view example) or a 6 vs. 3 (view example).
• Can make the playing space larger or smaller (the smaller it is, the harder it is).
• Can require 3 (or more) passes through the royal road before a shot is allowed.
• Use different point-scoring to make sure the game is exciting and competitive for the team. For example (2 points for a goal, 1 point for 2 consecutive defensive takeaways).

The 3 vs. 3 Corner Drill is a fun game from Topher Scott that helps players develop a scoring mentality. This 3 vs. 3 game has one major constraint: each team is allowed one player that can play inside of the circle. The other teammates must play on the outside of the circle. Communication, quick passing and quick shots will help teams be successful in this game.

Setup:

• It is a 3 vs. 3 game that is played around a circle. 
• Two nets are set up on opposite ends of the circle.
• Each team is allowed 1 player inside the circle and their other 2 teammates stay on the outside of the circle. 
• The game starts when a coach chips the puck in the circle for a 1v1 battle or the coach can pass to one of the players to start the game.
• The game can be stopped or a new puck can be added when a goal is scored, the puck goes out of play, or the coach blows the whistle.
• Keep score!

Coaching Points:

• Quick shots and quick passes!
• Players without the puck should work to be an outlet for their teammates (get open, call for the puck and present your stick as a target).
• Defensive players should keep their sticks on the ice to block passing lanes.

Double Goals Game - Royal Road is a fun and competitive 3 vs. 3 small area game that allows players to score goals by passing through the gates, or scoring on a goalie. The gates in this version are set up in the "Royal Road," the area in the middle of the ice in front of the net. This setup allows for players to shoot quickly after a pass and go for 2 point plays!

Setup

• Set up two nets in a zone (as pictured in the diagram). 
• Set up two "gates" in the royal road (the middle of the ice as pictured in the diagram) with cones or tires.
• Split up the teams and play 3 vs. 3 with 2 goalies. The game can be modified to be 2v2, 3v3, or 4v4.
• Keep score! Teams can score 1 point if they pass through a gate, and 1 point if they score a goal.
• Encourage 2 point plays, which would be a pass through the gate, followed by a quick shot on net.
• Cheer! Players at the blueline should cheer on their teammates and help keep score.

Coaching Points

• Keep Your Head Up: This game is all about awareness. The offense should look to score in different ways and the defense needs to be aware of the gates in the royal road.
• Don't Cheat: Defense should not stand right in the middle of the gate, and goalies should not only look for the pass to come. If the defense or goalies are cheating to block a pass, the player with the puck should fire a shot on net!
• Be Deceptive: Players with the puck on a rush should use deception to keep the defense and goalies guessing if they will pass or shoot. 
• Communicate With Your Teammates: This is a fast-paced game and important for teammates to communicate with each other.
• Jump To Space: Offensive players need to work on jumping to open ice to be a passing or shooting option for their teammates.
• Keep Stick On Ice: Defense can block passes and angle with their stick on the ice, while offensive players can give teammates a target to pass to. 

Variations

• Game can be setup to be 2v2, 3v3, 4v4 for cross-ice. Can also modify this to be a full 5 v 5 ice game. 
• Can give different values for the goals (passing through a gate, skating through a gate, and scoring a goal are all ways to score points). For example you could give 1 point for a pass through a gate and 2 points for a goal.
• Can make the gates larger for beginner players and smaller for higher skilled players.
• Can use washable markers as gate markers on the ice if you do not want the tires or cones getting in the way.
• Can place the gates in different areas of the zone. View Double Goals Game with the gates in the middle of the zone.

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