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Chalk Talk | The All Purpose Drill (Peewee to Midget)

By Ontario Minor Hockey Association, 01/20/17, 2:00PM EST

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Age-appropriate skills, drills and progressions

In this edition of Chalk-Talk, we introduce layered or combination drills for Peewee to Midget-aged players where they utilize multiple skills in game-like situations.

These drills provide an opportunity for players to understand and reinforce when and where to use the technical and tactical skills taught in practice.

One of the biggest challenges for coaches is not only to provide a solid foundation of technical skills in practice and repetition but at the same time provide game-like drills and situations. Too often, the answer is to go straight to full ice scrimmage or games. Before going this route, try to introduce layered or combination drills where the players execute more than one skill during drills—this provided an opportunity for players to understand when and where to use the technical skills taught. 

This drill can be used as a dynamic warm-up drill or as a team tactic progression and includes all the following elements: Neutral zone regroup, quick puck movement, encouraging players to skate across the ice to support the puck, offensive zone entry, stopping at the net, puck retrieval in the corner, defencemen supporting the rush and generating offence from the point. Goaltenders must track entry into the zone, track puck movement from below the goal line to the blueline, face multiple shots, layered screens, tips and rebound recovery.

All this in one drill – it could only have one name …the All Purpose Drill!

Drill Description:

  1. Opposite sides go together on the whistle.
  2. D1 gaps up to blueline, pivots to backwards and receives pass from F1 at the red line. D1 stretches with speed to the top of the face-off circle, steps out and passes to F2.  
  3. F1 times his skating to receive a return pass from F2 in the middle of the ice, then gets outside the dots. F1 immediately head mans the puck to F3 for a quick give and go, then shoots on net.
  4. After the first shot on goal, F1 retrieves a second puck in the corner and passes to D1 who has followed up the play. D1 quickly moves to the middle and shoots with F1 looking to screen or tip on the play.

Key Execution Points (KEP):

  • Players should under handle the puck, eliminating the extra stickhandling prior to passing.
  • Movement should be timed but with great speed.
  • Passes to the point should be done immediately low to high. The D should begin wide and move explosively towards the middle to improve shooting angle.

Progression:

  • F2 makes his pass to F1 and moves to the middle and provides back pressure on F1. When F1 retrieves puck from corner and passes to F1, F2 attempts to box out F1 from screening or tipping puck.

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