1 v 1 Circle (Stick vs. No Stick)

Drill Setup:

2 players go into the circle. One player has a stick and puck.
The other player does not have a stick.
When coach says go it is keep away / 1v1. The player with the stick and puck is trying to control the puck, while the player without the puck is trying to knock the other player off the puck.
If the player without the puck knocks the player off the puck it is a new puck to the player with the stick. Player without a stick is also not allowed to kick the puck.
By taking the stick away from one of the players you are forcing them to have to play the body. If both players have their sticks they tend to use little to no body contact.
Play until coach says switch.

The purpose of this drill is it a very basic semi uncontrolled way to practice the two purposes of checking. These are if you do not have the puck to seperate the opposing player from the puck. If you do have the puck use checking to protect the puck and yourself. For the player without a stick you can start to talk about using angling and pushing the player with the puck 1 direction to allow you to skate along side of them and use your body to hit them. Can also talk about trying to read the offensive player body language for what they might do. You have to be ready for them to change directions!
For the player with the puck/stick you can talk about a variety of skills.
- One, using a bump & go. This is the player with the puck draws the player without the puck close to them. As they get close the player with the puck throws an offensive hit to try and"stun"the defending player. After this hit the offensive player now uses an escape turn to accelerate away.
- Two, offensive player can start to use fake/deceptive turns to try and throw off the defenders angle.
- Three, talk about using changes of speed to throw off the defender.

Once the players start to show some proficiency and willingness in using their body you can give the defender a stick turned upside down.
The defender still isn't worried about the puck but now you can start introducing concepts of using your stick to steer the offensive player as well as using your stick and body together to separate the offensive player from the puck (stick on stick, body on body).
Once the players show proficiency in that version of the drill then it can become 1 v 1keep in the circle. Both players have sticks.
Can make it a competition in a few different ways. Every steal by the defender is worth 1 point. If the player uses good form and body contact to create the steal that is worth 2 points. This point system encourages contact and encourages the player to nd a way to steal the puck.
It also encourages the offensive player not to lose the puck or else that is a point against them.
Always make sure to have something on the line that the players are playing for! That always brings more intensity and effort to a drill!

This drill is where you can see alot of bad habit mistakes such as:

Looking down at the puck and not taking the body
Stopping facing or turning into the defender exposing the puck and/or your chest to a hit.
Turning and exposing your back to a defender coming to hit you (big no-no, leaves you open to hit from behind).