Lightning passing drill

Lightning passing drill

Purpose: Warm up drill for quick passing, heads up play and shooting.

Players line up in four lines on the bluelines
x1 handles the puck while skating backwards and makes a quick pass back to the next player in his/her line - x2 in the diagram above
x2 makes a quick pass back to x1
x1 is still skating backwards when he/she receives the pass back from x2, and once x1 has controlled the puck, he/she pivots to a forward position
x1 skates across the ice and makes a pass to x3, who gives x1 a quick pass back
x1 carries the puck and makes a pass to x4, gets a quick pass back, skates across to x5, fires a pass, turns up ice and gets the pass back from x5
x1 goes in for a shot
Run this drill out of opposite corners (ie, above, x1 and x4 would leave at the same time)
Ensure passers keep their heads up
Alternate corners (x1 and x4 would leave at the same time, then x3 and x5, etc.)
Ensure players are taking and making passes while skating backwards to start the drill and are using both their forehand and backhand to take and receive passes
Add another pass as players get the hang of the drill before a player takes a shot, ie, above, x1 would pass back to x2 and get a quick pass back before taking a shot on net.

Our Game got this drill from a Tampa Bay Lightning practice.