×

Status message

  • Active context: drills_section
  • Active context: family_drills
  • Active context: header_logged_in_users
  • Active context: footer_global
  • Active context: header_anonymous
  • Active context: theme_anonymous

Neutral Zone Loose Puck into OZ Attack

Neutral Zone Loose Puck into OZ Attack
By: Dwayne Blais

F1 will retrieve a loose puck from far blue line with soft pressure from F3. As F1 is retrieving puck he will try to assess the pressure (how close, what direction are they coming from, what options are they taking away, etc.) F1 will also look for F2 in an effort to make a play to them. F1 must evaluate what options are available to them and try to get the puck to F2. While F2 is preparing to receive puck they must asses what F1 is doing. Do they need to speed up, slow down, support, open up, etc. while also keeping their eyes inside the blue line and looking for what type of pressure F4 is giving them. F2 must assess how much room they have, what route is F4 taking, what options are they taking away and start to prepare for what they will do once they receive the puck (should the chip the puck in the zone, cut inside, cut outside, etc.)

Reminders 

  • Awareness is the key. The more information you can take in before you retrieve the puck or receive the pass the better off you will be making your next decision
  • When turning from or into pressure it is important to either move the puck right away or move your feet right away (or both) as in game situations the pressure will be constant and reactive to where and what you do as a puck carrier
  • Turning into pressure is fine as long as you are aware of what needs to be done next to complete the play

Drill Progressions

  • As drill progresses you can have F3 and F4 add more pressure to make it more game like
  • Remind F3 and F4 to change their routes so F1 and F2 have to act accordingly each time
  • Coaches can spot the loose puck in different areas to start the drill so F1 has to react accordingly each time 
  • Coaches can also add an extra layer or pressure for F2 once they beat F4 or have F4 track them back to the net so they have to shoot under full pressure
  • F1 could follow the play into the zone after they make the pass for support or 2nd shot option
  • Remind players that these plays are hard to make (even in practice) and they become even tougher in real game situations so it is OK to make mistakes as long as we are learning from them