1 v 1 @ the Point

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This drill was created using HockeyShare.com's Online Drill Drawing & Practice Planning Platform.

Description

3-7 players per side with pucks in middle neutral zone.

Defense starts in position 1. Forward starts in middle neutral zone with puck and skates hard around the near dot and into the zone to beat or force back the defender for a shot on goal. Defense should skate towards the blue line to attack the forward and use body + stick positioning with proper pivoting to close the gap and force the forward to the outside towards the boards.

Play ends when forward gets a shot/rebound or defense gets the puck into the neutral zone. Players return (hustle) to their same line after the play but alternate positions; switch sides halfway through the drill. Coach resets a defenseman and starts the next play (don't wait on the other side, keep drill moving).

Goalie note: 1v1s are occurring simultaneously, so goalie must track play on each side. Freeze the puck whenever possible, otherwise get rebounds towards the corner not the slot. Drill can be modified to two goalies/nets or no goalies (offenseman puck control across goal line wins).

Coaches: ideally we have 3-4 coaches for the drill (but can be performed with 1 coach per side). Neutral zone coaches reset defense positions, provide feedback with players in line, corral pucks for forwards, and give the go-ahead for the next play to start. Goalie coach provides feedback to goaltender between plays and returns pucks to neutral zone as needed.

Notes: This is a 1 v 1 on each side of the ice to work on defense/forward decision-making entering the zone. Defensive positioning techniques shown here: https://youtu.be/ZlsKp56fEgs

INITIAL POINTS: aggressive defense positioning to close the gap and push the play to the outside boards then out of the zone; forwards enter the zone with speed and find a way to shoot on net.

ADVANCED TECHNIQUES: Changeup defense start positions (1, 2, or 3) and practice proper poke checks, pinning forwards to the boards, and chipping the puck to the neutral zone; forwards should read the defender's position and adjust approach inside, outside, or for a quick screened shot while practicing stickhandling and deception.

END-OF-SEASON GOALS: all 12U players should be able to control the play entering the Point as defense or offense.