Lions Pass & Move
SKILLS
PURPOSE
This simple passing drill works on the mechanics of passing and moving to an open space. The second version sets up concepts related to reading a play and forcing a player to go to a certain space – hockey sense elements critical to forechecking and space containment.
HOW TO – V1
- Players in 4 lines – one on each axis of a circle, one puck in play.
- Starting with player 1, they will pass to one way (to the right #2 in this example) and skate to the line the other direction (#4).
- the passing will continue in this pattern, so now player 2 will pass to their right (#3) and skate to #1.
HOW TO – V2
- Set up like version A.
- This time, player 3 will pressure (80/20) forcing the passing player (#1) to make a decision on where to pass to. In this example, Player #3 is forcing them to pass to player #2. The pressuring player (#3) should also put their stick in the lane they are pressuring to and the passing player (#1) should pass the opposite way.
- #1 will still go to the line the other way from their pass (#4). The pressuring player (#3) will get in the line they were pressuring (#1).
- Pattern will continue with Player #4 pressuring Player #2, etc.
- To start, have players only pass and pressure to one side to get the concept. As the drill advances, players can then choose the side they want to pressure and the passing player (along with potential receivers) have to be heads up about their options.
FOCUS
- In both drills, crisp, tape-to-tape passes is a must. There is very little pressure so there shouldn’t be sailed passes
- Skate through the drill! Players will want to make their pass then lazily get to the next line. Reinforce that they have to get to where they’re going just like a game.
- For both drills, but more critically in V2, players need to know where they are going and what their role is. If they are pressuring, they need to know where to go afterwards. If they are passing, they need to read the pressure and know where to pass and where to skate without prompt.
VARIATIONS
- You can add in pass type requirements (saucer, backhands), or the pressure angle.
- You could also add in a second puck to create more chaos and require more heads up thinking.
- Change skating angles such as having players intentionally skate around the dot instead of just going at a 45 degree angle.
