Defensive Zone Archives

Perpetual Breakout Drill



Perpetual Breakout Drill Mimics Passing Patterns Often Encountered in Games

The Perpetual Breakout is a great drill to develop hockey breakout abilities in a high-tempo, flow and timing setting. Here’s what the drill looks like:

Perpetual Breakout Explanation:

1. “Ghost man” passers start the drill by shooting then picking up a puck behind the net to initiate the breakout
2. Low forward simulates winger, and swings in to pick up board-side breakout pass
3. High forward swings through and acts as the centerman providing middle support
4. winger one-touches to center, who attacks and shoots, then initiates breakout in far zone
5. winger moves to middle line.

NOTE: winger can swing from top down, or from bottom up, depending on your team’s breakout set up.


USE THIS DRILL IN YOUR OWN PRACTICE PLAN:



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Perpetual Forecheck



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!

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Advanced Hockey Breakout Progression



This hockey breakout progression is recommended for advanced teams only

This is a highly effective breakout progression. There are endless ways to change it up to work on different game situations, and it involves many recurring passing patterns. Since there are many possible “points of failure” I only recommend this drill for older, or more advanced hockey teams.

Enjoy!!

CLICK HERE for a PDF of the Advanced Hockey Breakout Progression

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Tom Renney Warm-up



The Tom Renney Warm-up has a little something for every position!

This is a fantastic warm-up drill for more advanced teams. My old junior coach back in Toronto, Kevin Burkett, used to run this with us almost every practice. It’s great because it is high speed, mimics many different game situations, and involves every player on the ice.

Enjoy!

CLICK HERE for a PDF of the Tom Renney Warm-up

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Hockey Breakout Drill

Simple and effective hockey breakout drills use progressions to teach recurring breakout patterns.

Many hockey situations occur in patterns. This simple hockey breakout drill breaks down these patterns into their simplest form, then puts them back together in sequence to mimic a game situation. CLICK HERE for the printout.

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