Pop, Pop, Pop

Explanation of the Drill

This is a great drill to work on the stretch pass which can be so effective, especially on a quick counter attack! It is also a fun warm up drill for your team involving quick passes and acceleration to the net with a shot.

The team is split into four even groups. Each group is on the boards at the “four corners”- where the bluelines meet the boards.

On the whistle, two players in opposite corners diagonally (on different blue lines) leave without a puck and skate towards the group opposite them on the same blue line.

These two players take a pass from the first player in the group opposite them, turn “up” the ice towards the far blue line and then relay the puck with a quick pass to the first player in the group that was diagonally opposite to them before they left their group.

After passing the puck, they turn and skate towards the group on the same blue line on the opposite side to the player they just passed the puck to, and they receive a pass from a player in their original group who has received the puck from the other player on the drill.

After receiving this stretch pass, hopefully “on side”, they continue up the ice and attack the net for a shot. On the next whistle the next two players leave from the other two corners and the drill repeats and continues.

Options

Have a coach put pressure on the player attacking the net, as if being angled by a defender. Next, have the player who just shot, swing back in front of the net looking for a rebound from the next shooter. Next, have the player who shoots come out and defend the next shooter one on one.

Coach's Tips

Once your players know the drill, to get more reps, you can blow the whistle to start the next two shooters before the last shooters have shot.

Have a coach around each blue line with some extra pucks as some of the stretch passes will go off target and the coach can quickly feed the player with another puck so the chance on the net isn’t missed.

Encourage the players to sweep the pass, not slap it, and to pass the puck hard and flat. You can add saucer passes with advanced players once they are passing accurately hard and flat!

Emphasize the importance of timing for the receiving player!

Tips for Players

Always move your feet before you pass.

More advanced players should try moving laterally before they pass to change the passing lanes. Sweep the pass instead of slapping it. Pass the puck hard and flat unless the coach adds the saucer pass.

Follow through on the long pass for accuracy. Keep your feet moving through and after the pass. The pass receiver should try to accelerate through the pass and then keep their feet moving as they attack the net.

Stay onside!

Be in a good position to take the pass with your stick on the ice as a target and up the ice. The pass receiver should be on an angle so that he or she can see the passer and still see up the ice.

Taking a hard pass on your backhand is a tough skill to acquire. Rotate your top hand to cup the blade of your stick to take the pass on your backhand and your forehand.

Always communicate - let the passer know where you are!

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