Awesome Hockey Forechecking Drill that Works on Multiple Game Situations
I’ve been using this Hockey Forechecking Drill in my practices, and it has worked really well for my team. The thing I really like about it, is that it allows you to work on a lot of different stuff at once. Obviously, the main focus is forechecking, but you’re also working on D-Zone Coverage, and Breakouts as well.
Here’s how the drill works:
5 forecheckers start at center ice
5 defenders at each end
Coach dumps puck in, defenders attempt to break out, or play d-zone coverage, depending on how quickly the forecheckers get in
Forecheckers execute whichever forechecking system the coach designates
Play continues until defending team breaks out, or until the forecheckers score
If defending team breaks out, forecheckers peel off as soon as puck crosses blue line. After breaking out, the defenders cross the red line, dump it in, and become the NEW forecheckers at the other end.
If the forechecking team scores, coach blows two quick whistles to kill the play, then dumps a new puck into the far end. Defending team hustles to the far end to become the NEW forecheckers.
Give this one a go – I think you’ll get some good usage out of it!
CLICK HERE for the Full Explanation of the Perpetual Forecheck Drill, including Printout and Importable Versions!
The X-Tiles Flooring System Allows you to Build a State of the Art Hockey Training Center, One Piece at a Time!
I was recently introduced to a new hockey dryland tile that I’m really excited about. It’s called the X-Tile, and it’s made by XHockeyProducts (yes, the same company that brought you the X-Passer, and the X-Deviator).
If you’re familiar with XHockeyProducts, you already know they are famous for designing heavy duty, smart, & functional hockey training equipment… and this product is no different!
The X-Tiles are not only an awesome flooring product to give you a slick surface for stickhandling, shooting, and passing, but they’re also a fully integrated, hockey training system that works in tandem with many other products! In this review I’ll be showing you how the X-Tiles work, and sharing my experiences with them.
Unboxing:
My first impression of the X-Tiles was that they are actually a really good weight. You don’t want a product like this to be too flimsy, but at the same time, you don’t want it to be too hard to move around. The X-Tiles are a durable, manageable weight.
Size:
The next thing you’ll notice about the X-Tiles is that they’re huge (2 feet by 2 feet!). I always say “the bigger, the better” when it comes to flooring tiles because you want to have the fewest seems possible.
Assembly:
The X-Tiles are REALLY easy to put together AND take a part. This is a big feature in my opinion because it allows for a degree of portability, and gives you the option to change configurations if you want (a feature I have made use of a few times myself).
The easiest way to put together your X-Tile set-up is to lay it out first to get an idea of where everything is going to sit, then tap it all together with a rubber mallet. In the video above, I put together a 15 tile set-up in about 11 minutes.
Add-ons:
One of the coolest features with the X-Tiles System is that you can add on various pieces of equipment to enhance your experience and work on different skills. Here’s a quick list of add-ons you’ll want to consider:
X-Deviator or X-Deviator Mini – hockey stickhandling aid that can be adjusted into multiple configurations
X-Tiles Passer – bungee rebounder that snaps into the X-Tiles
X-Saucer – awesome device used to work on saucer passes, also built to snap right into your X-Tile set-up
X-Tiles Pocket – a “pocket” piece that is designed to hold the X-Deviator in place. Again, built to snap into your X-Tiles set-up
Experience:
As you can see in the video, using the X-Tiles System is A LOT of fun! The tiles are very slick, the seams are very flat, and the pucks slide well on them. The add-ons work really well, and are fully integrated with the tile system. I like the fact that you can easily change configurations or add to your X-Tiles system over time.
The X-Tiles are also pretty “kid proof.” I’ve had my boys using these things every day, and they’ve held up just fine. My kids love it!
Conclusion:
This is definitely a product I stand behind. If you’ve got it in the budget, I’d pick up a few boxes of X-Tiles right up front, along with all the add-ons (check out the Weiss Tech Hockey Package XHockeyProducts has put together). It’s a fantastic training system that is unlike anything else out there. However, the beautiful thing is that you ARE working with a budget, you can just as easily start basic and then keep adding to it piece by piece as you have the funds.
Here’s a Fantastic Hockey Warm-up Drill with a Five-Phase Progression!
The 4 Blueline Warm-up is part of the Scott Fukami drill collections available through DrillDraw. If you already own DrillDraw, you should really take a look at these. They’re phenomenal. This drill has 5 phases, or sequences. Here’s what they look like:
PHASE 1:
**Drill starts on the whistle. Both ends at the same time.
On the whistle, (1) skates across the blueline and makes a pass to (2). Return pass to (1) for a shot on the (G).
Stretch Pass : see Seq. # 2.
PHASE 2:
**Drill starts on the whistle. Both ends at the same time.
Stretch Pass :
On the whistle, (1) skates across the blueline and makes a pass to (2). Return pass to (1). (1) makes a pass to (3) and continues to the blueline. (3) makes a stretch pass to (1) on the opposite blueline for a shot on the (G).
Full-circle Stretch Pass : see Seq. # 3.
PHASE 3:
**Drill starts on the whistle. Both ends at the same time.
Full-circle Stretch Pass : (only one side shown)
On the whistle, (1) skates across the blueline and makes a pass to (2). Return pass to (1). (1) makes a pass to (3) and continues full-circle to the opposite blueline. (3) makes a stretch pass to (1) on the opposite blueline for a shot on the (G).
Double Regroup Stretch Pass : see Seq. # 4.
PHASE 4:
**Drill starts on the whistle. Both ends at the same time.
Double Regroup Stretch Pass : (only one side shown)
On the whistle, (1) skates across the blueline and makes a pass to (2). Return pass to (1). (1) makes a pass to (3) and continues full-circle to the opposite blueline. (1) turns to the boards. (3) makes a stretch pass to (1) for a shot on the (G).
PHASE 5:
**Drill starts on the whistle. Both ends at the same time.
Mohawk Turn Stretch Pass : (only one side shown)
On the whistle, (1) skates across the blueline and makes a pass to (2). Return pass to (1). (1) makes a pass to (3) and makes a mohawk turn to the boards. (3) makes a cross-ice pass to (2). (2) makes a stretch pass to (1) on the opposite blueline for a shot on the (G).
Enjoy!!
CLICK HERE for a PDF of the 4 Blueline Warm-up Drill
Check out this Slide Board Designed Specifically for Goalies!
Every now and then I come across a hockey training product that just makes me go “wow!” That’s what happened when I first saw the X-Goalie Crease Slideboard from XHOCKEYPRODUCTS.
Now, I’m admittedly NOT a goalie guy. But it’s not hard to tell when something is going to be beneficial for an athlete. Watch the videos I’ve included in this post, and check out how closely this product allows the goalies to mimic their on-ice movements. Incredible!
Here are a few of the features you should know about:
Regulation-size Crease
The X-Goalie Crease Slideboard features an NHL regulation goalie crease that utilizes Fan-tastic Sports technology along with the “ProHybrid Visual Lead Position System.” This system allows a goalie to develop muscle memory using the same Squareness, Angle and Depth as he uses on the ice.
Customizable Movement Patterns
This crease uses adjustable stoppers to create customizable movement patterns. PowerStrides, Shuffles, Pushoffs, Recoveries, Slides and even paddle down wraps can be practiced on our board.
Two Challenging Training Levels
This crease has two challenging levels: Foundation and Elite. Young goalies will want to start by using the crease at the Foundation Level. This level will allow them to get a feel for the system, and begin to build their leg strength and coordination.
The Elite Level has stopper placements progressively further out as you approach the top angle. This level will challenge even the most established goaltenders due to the precision needed in angle adjustment, and the power it takes to carry the full distance outside the crease.
Stoppers, Pushers, and Recovery Bumper
All stoppers are located on the “Awareness to Squareness” lines. Each line gives the goalie/trainer immediate feedback as to whether or not Squareness has been achieved to a specific angle.
In addition to the stoppers, the X-Goalie Crease Slideboard is equipped with a Recovery Bumper. This semi circle railing mirrors the crease line. It is used to execute a recovery or pushoff from your butterfly. The bumper is strategically placed in an ideal position relative to the stoppers for maximum load and power out of your hybrid setup.
Moving in towards the posts you will find two blue net play stance stoppers. These stoppers are placed off of each post to ensure the goalies feet are 30 degrees off the goal line. This 30 degree angle gives the goalie a solid base while allowing him to see the strong side corner while keeping the weak side blue line angle in his or her peripheral vision. The goalie can lead the play with a quick shuffle, come back to the same post, lead again, then rotate and shuffle 30 degrees back to the opposite post.
Lastly, this crease has paddle down wrap recovery bumpers in place. These arched rails enable the goalie to recover out of a paddle down wrap as if a player makes a pass instead of executing a wrap around.
Conclusion
I don’t often wish I were a goalie… (No offense to any of you keepers who are reading this!) I love my position, and I play it well. However, this just looks like A LOT of fun to me, and I’m a little envious to tell you the truth! If you’re a goalie… you’ve gotta check this out.
WHERE TO GET IT: Currently the X-Goalie Crease Slideboard is only available at XHOCKEYPRODUCTS.COM… in fact, this product is so new, they’re still in “pre-order” mode right now. But you can sign up to get on the pre-order list here: CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER
The PowerSlide Hockey Slide Board Allows you to Imitate a Skating Motion while Developing Other Skills
A while back I was talking to one of my coaching buddies about some of the cool off-ice training equipment that is available these days. I mentioned something about combining a hockey slide board with a stickhandling skill pad, and how it would be cool to be sliding back and forth while stickhandling, passing, shooting, or anything else.
At the time I thought my idea was completely original… but, it turns out that innovative hockey coaches have had their players doing this for years!
What You Get, and Set-up:
So… here’s what I did. I picked up the PowerSlide slide board from HockeyShot. It’s a really high quality slide board that is portable, so you can take it places; adjustable, so you can use with athletes of various sizes and abilities; durable, so it’ll hold up to a lot of usage; and super grippy, so it won’t slide around on you.
The first thing I did was watch the free DVD that came with the PowerSlide. The DVD was very helpful for instructions on putting the PowerSlide together, but the exercise instructions and demos were a little weak to be totally honest. You’ll be better off just using your own creativity to develop your own set of exercises. Plus, as a hockey player or coach, I’m sure you’ve got no shortage of skating drills that can be transferred to the PowerSlide!
Set up was a breeze. I unrolled the PowerSlide, attached the adjustable end piece so that it was a good length for me, tightened it down, and I was all set.
The PowerSlide consists of two end-piece assemblies (where you’ll be pushing off from), and a flexible slide mat. There’s an interesting design feature that I quite like on the PowerSlide. The end piece assemblies aren’t just flat, like most other slide boards. They are made using solid rubber “ramps” that enhance the grip underneath the slide board, and improve the pushing angle of your stride. This feature allows you to stride really hard, but stay very stable in the process.
The PowerSlide also comes with a carrying bag, and a set of booties to wear over-top of your shoes.
My Experience:
I decided to use my PowerSlide on top of my Dryland Flooring Tiles, which gave me tons of room for stickhandling and passing. It worked REALLY well! The only thing that surprised me was that the PowerSlide was SO grippy that they were causing the Dryland Tiles to shift a little bit against the garage floor!
Once I slid the tile set-up into the corner, it anchored itself down a bit better, and I didn’t slide anymore.
Using the PowerSlide was amazing… not only was it a lot of fun, but it was a FANTASTIC workout! In fact, you can see a bit of sweat on my face at the end of my video review What’s even better though, is that it felt A LOT like the real thing. I was able to work on all sorts of skating, passing, and stickhandling combos, all in the “comfort” of my own garage!
Conclusion:
This was one of the funnest, most realistic set-ups I’ve had the chance to mess around with, and I definitely recommend adding this to your Home Hockey Training Center.
If you decide to pick up the PowerSlide, I would HIGHLY recommend grabbing a few other items while you’re at it… Here’s a quick list for you:
Sign up below to receive our FREE Drills of the Week!
Email:
Close
Sign up below to receive our FREE Drills of the Week!
Welcome to Weiss Tech Hockey!
We are committed to providing hockey coaches with solid, useful information. We do this by offering free instructional videos, hockey drills, and other great stuff that should be important to hockey coaches!
Join our mailing list and receive our free drills of the week! Simply enter your email address below:
Here’s how the drill works:
Unboxing:
What’s even better though, is that it felt A LOT like the real thing. I was able to work on all sorts of skating, passing, and stickhandling combos, all in the “comfort” of my own garage!
on 
