30Oct 2010 by Jeremy Weiss No Comments
The Star Drill

The Star Drill

Goalie, Hockey Drills, Individual Skill Drills
The star drill is a great drill to teach young goalies the art of moving around the crease! If done correctly, this drill will generate create good habits moving around the crease, and the goalies will become more "Crease Aware" (knowing where they are in their crease). Here's the diagram, as well as a variation to take the concept to the next level: The Star Drill Goalie starts at the post, then skates the following sequence (see our post on the 11 Visual Targets for Hockey Goalies) 1. Position 11 2. Position 6 3. Position 9 4. Position 1 5. Position 6 6. Position 3 7. Back to Position 11 8. Repeat the opposite way Variation Goalie performs start drill, reacting to the passes of the three forwards 1. Forward…
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23Oct 2010 by Jeremy Weiss 1 Comment
Shuffle T-Pass

Shuffle T-Pass

Goalie, Half Ice Drills, Hockey Drills, Individual Skill Drills
The Shuffle T-Pass is a great drill to work on multiple parts of the goaltender's game. This drill works on positioning, proper rotation when moving around your crease, proper recovery from a butterfly, playing the puck, and crease awareness. Make sure your goalies don’t cheat in this drill. They should be squaring up to the puck, hugging posts, and get back to their proper post every time on the puck handling portion. Here are the diagrams: Shuffle T-Pass: Sequence 1 1. Shuffle from one side of the net to the other, stopping square to each puck, dropping to a reactionary butterfly at each puck 2. After arriving at the far post, come back the other way Note: Make sure to recover with the proper leg; right leg when going from…
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16Sep 2010 by Jeremy Weiss No Comments
One-Touch Timing

One-Touch Timing

Hockey Drills, Individual Skill Drills, Passing & Timing
One-Touch Timing is a great precursor to the 3-Zone Timing Drill If you've followed me at all over the past few years, you know I love to use progressions to develop new skills. This is a great example of a simple drill that can be progressed into a more complex version, the 3-Zone Timing Drill. As you begin introducing timing concepts to your players, remember to stress that it is better to be late and accelerating into the pass, than to be early and slowing down. Here's the diagram: One Touch Timing Drill: Designate a Passer (P) for the first time, just to start the drill. 1. first player from each line at one side of the ice leave together 2. low man swings to receive the pass, then one-touch…
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13Sep 2010 by Jeremy Weiss No Comments
Slovakian Agility Race

Slovakian Agility Race

Half Ice Drills, Hockey Drills, Individual Skill Drills, Misc. Drills, Skating & Agility
  Slovakian Agility Race Drill Since I started this blog back in 2008, I have met a lot of really cool hockey folks. Believe it or not, it has made me a better coach! I have had the opportunity to exchange drills from coaches all over the world. I make a point to work my way through most of these drills, and pass the best ones on to my "readers" here on the blog. I usually try to credit the drill to the person who sent it to me. However, many times the drills that come in are in other languages... as is the case with this one from my good buddy Ján Bednár. Ján has sent me A LOT of drills over the past year or so! Since he…
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22Apr 2010 by Jeremy Weiss No Comments

Motivate Players with Hockey Shooting Drills

Coaches' Corner, Philosophy
During the course of a practice, it is not uncommon for players to get uninterested and become detached, especially at younger ages while working on boring skills like technical skating. Adding Hockey Shooting Drills into the mix is a wonderful way to liven up your practice and keep your players motivated and up beat. High tempo shooting drills can also help spark some competition and mentally rejuvenate your players during longer practices. When working with Hockey Shooting Drills, I try to implement a few key points that help my players to get the most benefit possible: 1. Make sure your players keep their feet in motion while shooting, this is called shooting in stride. Many players slow down and glide just before shooting, not only does this affirm to the…
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