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Quick & Close Support

By Ontario Minor Hockey Association, 04/02/14, 9:45AM EDT

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Getting Open is Crucial to Quality Passing

When we think of great passing plays, our focus is almost always on the passer – but the player without the puck needs to be more than simply a willing target. The ability of the pass receiver to get to open space, provide a target and create options for the passer is crucial. Young players tend to always skate away from the passer to ‘open ice’ but often they leave the passer isolated. The following drills emphasize providing ‘quick & close support’ where the player ‘checks-in’ to provide a passing option and then ‘checks-out’ to open space.

Quick Hit Warm Up

The Quick Hit Warm-Up can be run as full or half-ice drill; the drill includes a support pass followed by a stretch pass.

  1. Player 1 pivots backwards and receives a pass from the next player in line and immediately touch-passes puck back to passer
  2. Player 1 pivots to forward and receives 2nd puck from Player 2 on opposite side and drives into zone wide for shot on goal.
  3. As soon as Player 2 makes pass, he then pivots to backwards and repeats the drill from the opposite side.

7-Pass Warm Up

A progression of this drill is the 7-Pass Warm-Up which includes – you guessed it – 7 passes in total before a shot on goal!

  1. Player 1 pivots backwards and receives a pass from Player 2 and immediately touch-passes puck back to passer
  2. Player 1 pivots to forward and receives 2nd puck from Player 3 and touch-passes back to passer
  3. Using powerful crossovers, Player 1 skate back across ice to receive original puck form Player 2 and immediately passes to Player 4.
  4. Player 1 drives net and receive touch-pass back from Player 4 and takes shout on net
  5. After shot, Player 1 takes spot on circle ready for pass from Player 3 who has started the drill from the opposite side

Key Execution Points (KEP):

•    Both drills can be run in one or both ends
•    Flat, crisp passes
•    Receiver puck provide target, eye contact with passer and ask for the puck
•    Perform drills at game speed!
•    Players must be active and aware in line

 

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