Quick Pass Off Side Shooting

This is a great shooting drill for players and a great drill for the goalie to work on lateral movement and positioning. In this drill, the goalie has to stay square to the puck and move laterally quickly and fill space to stop a shot that has been released quickly from the "off side."

Explanation of the Drill

There are two lines of players about six metres apart in the high slot facing the goal. With the older players, the players all start on their proper side. With younger players, the players start on their off side.

With the older players, the puck starts with the player at the front of one line. He or she passes to the player at the front of the other line and then slides across diagonally into a shooting position on his or her off side to a point in front of the other line.

The pass receiver moves the puck quickly to the second person in the line in which the puck started, (this player is now at the front of the line) and the pass receiver passes the puck to the player who started with the puck who is now in an off side shooting position for a quick shot.

The goalie must always stay square to the puck carrier so he is moving across the net three times and then receiving a quick shot. The drill continues with the puck starting in the other line so that the shot comes from the other side. This way the goalie is working on lateral movement and filling holes in both directions.

Options

For more skilled or older players, the first pass is made to the second person in the other line and the first player in each line slides across into off side shooting positions. The pass receiver has the option of passing to the second person in the other line and then that person passes to the off side shooter who was in their line, as described above, or passing to the first person in their line who is now in an off side shooting position.

With this variation, the drill is not predictable for the goalie. The goalie has to be ready to react to a quick shot from either side.

With younger players, the puck starts in one line and is passed to the first player in the other line who has moved closer to the net in an off-side shooting position. The puck then starts in the other line. The goalie has to square up to the passer and then move laterally once to cover the shot.

The drill can progress to the puck starting in one line and being passed to the first person in the other line and then back to the original puck carrier who has moved closer to the net for an off side shot. This means the goalie has to square up and move laterally twice for every shot.

Once the players have tried the drill shooting on their off side, try it with the players shooting a quick release shot from their proper side, which is a much more challenging drill.

Coach's Tips

Make sure the players sweep or slide the puck for accuracy instead of snapping it. Emphasize getting into a good position to shoot the puck and a quick release on the pass and shot.

The goalies stay square to the puck at all times, even though, in most cases, they know where the pass is going and the shot is coming from.

Tips for Goalies

The key for the goalies is to use the drill to learn the proper technique to move laterally, either standing up or in a butterfly, to stay square to the shooter and to use proper leg, stick, arm and hand position to fill the holes as they move laterally.

It is a real challenge to drive off with power and stay square to the shooter at all times. It is also challenging to fill the holes while they move laterally in transition between set positions. Emphasize a still head and torso, and the proper use of the hands and stick to lead through the transition.

The stick is always on the ice and in position square to the shooter. Drive off the inside edge with the back leg and recover quickly with the back leg to fill the five hole and to bring the back leg under the body for a proper stance or butterfly or to be ready for another lateral movement.

Tips for Players

For accuracy, pass the puck by sliding or sweeping it and pass the puck flat. Do not snap it. Keep the top hand away from the body when passing for accuracy and rotate the torso to be able to pass quickly on a diagonal. Players shooting should try to square their shoulders towards the net to be in position to release the puck quickly at the net after receiving the pass.

Release the puck off your off foot when on your off side and on your same foot when on your proper side. The passer should pass the puck so that the shooter can shoot the puck quickly. Pass to the player’s stick when the shooter is on their proper side and in between the player’s skates (into the “wheel house!”) when the player is on their off side. When two players are options to shoot, the player who does not get the pass should go to the net for the rebound. All shooters should also try to move to the net after the shot, ready for a rebound.

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