Description
The Gate Game from Kendall Coyne Schofield is a great small area game that requires players to move to open spaces and communicate with their teammates.
Set Up
- Set up 4 or 5 gates in one of the zones using cones or tires
- Make the gates as wide or narrow as you want, depending on skill level
- Have players who are not in the game stand on the blue line to keep the puck in
- Coach at blue line with a pile of pucks
- The game can be played 2 v 2 or 3 v3
Game
The objective of this game is to pass to your teammate through a gate to receive a point. Play a game to certain number, team "X" vs team "O"
- Coach dumps in 1 puck and 2 players from each team enter the playing area to get possession
- The goal is to gain possession of the puck and pass it through one of the gates to your teammate
- If your team does not have possession of the puck, you are defending and trying to pursue the puck to gain possession
- Each tape to tape pass through a gate (to your teammate) is 1 point
- You can pass through either side of the gate
- You cannot pass through the same gate twice in a row
- Coach can keep play going at their discretion (don't need to end the rep after 1 point)
- On the whistle the players leave the puck, exit the zone and the next 2 players from each team start their rep
- This game can be played 2 v 2 or 3 v 3
Variations
- You can add more than one puck to the game
- You can make a few of the gates smaller and worth more points
- You can make a rule where you can only pass through the outside of the gate towards the middle of the ice (this will result in more wall battles)
- For higher level players, you can place a stick in the middle of the gate so that passes have to be sauced over it
- If you have a goalie, require 2 or more passes through the gates before players are allowed to take a shot on net
Coaching Points
- Encourage players to always move to open space on the ice. Do not allow them to stand still and pass the puck back and forth.
- Encourage players to find "passing lanes" to allow good passes.
- This skill is extremely valuable for youth players to work on. Finding passing lanes when you have the puck and jumping to open space when you don't have the puck so your teammate can pass to you is extremely beneficial during games.
- Encourage verbal communication - players should be talking through the entire game
- Encourage non-verbal communication - good eye contact, making your stick available, stick taps
