Triangle Shot Block

Blocking shots is an important skill that can really help your team. This drill will allow players to practice blocking shots under game conditions.

Explanation of the Drill

There are four offensive players set up in the offensive zone, forming a box: two in point positions, and two on opposite sides of the “house” or slot area. All four offensive players are potential shooters. The defensive or blocking team is comprised of three players set up inside the box in a triangle.

The positioning of the shooters will progress from being closer together to being farther apart as the blockers get better. Cones are placed on the blueline to position the point shooters. The side shooters are also positioned by cones. Depending on the age of the group, the side shooters can start at the face off dots and then progress to the hash marks by the boards.

They can be moved up and down the side from the bottom to the top of the circles. The triangle can take on various positions from two players up top to two below to a rotating triangle depending on what the offensive team is doing. The shooters use orange ball hockey balls. The coach should have 5 of these balls and be in a position to pass the ball to a shooter to bring it into play.

There is no goalie in the net. The offensive team tries to score. The defensive team tries to block the shots. The rules which govern this drill will vary depending on the age and ability of the player. When working with a particular group, the rules progress so that the defensive team gains confidence blocking shots and then it becomes more and more challenging for the defensive team to block the shots.

Here are the rules:

1. The coach starts with the ball and moves it to one of the offensive players to start the drill. This player can either shoot or pass.

2. Start with the offensive team being allowed to make one pass before they shoot. This can progress to two passes, to three passes etc.

3. All shooters must take a full slap shot.

4. To start, there are no one timers. Players who receive the pass must stop the ball and must take a full slap shot. As the blockers get more proficient, this can progress to the shooters being allowed to use snap shots or wrist shots and then to one timers being allowed.

5. Initially, there are no fake shots. Once the shooter starts to shoot, they must follow through and shoot.

6. Again, as the blockers get more proficient, this can progress so that the offensive players are faking shots and then moving to shoot or passing off the fake.

7. Blocking players cannot check the shooters. There is no stick on stick defensive coverage. The purpose of the drill is to work on the skill of blocking. To get used to this, blockers start without their sticks.

This drill creates a fun competition between the offensive players and defensive shot blockers. Player can learn different techniques of blocking including the upright block, the slide block and the “Volchenkov” (one knee down sideways) block named after Anton Volchenkov who used this blocking technique. Your players will love to compete at this drill. Put one unit against another unit and keep track of the score! Switch the shooters and the blockers!

Options

A great lead up drill, which will help the players learn the proper technique for all three blocks, involves placing a shooter on the blueline, near the boards, facing into the rink, with the blade of the stick on the blueline. There is a line of shot blockers just off the blueline in the middle of the ice. Using orange ball hockey balls, the coach passes to the shooter.

The shooter stops the pass and takes a full slap shot, directing the shot along the blue line towards the far boards. When the ball is passed to the shooter, the first blocker in line advances towards the shooter and tries to block the shot. The shooting lane is marked by the blue line. The players can practice getting into the shooting lane as quickly as possible. They can work on the upright block, the slide block and the Volchenkov block.

When executing the slide block in this lead up drill, the player slides aiming the shin pads at the “shot point”-where the shot will leave the player’s stick-or blade of the shooter so that the lower body is in the shooting lane and the upper body is not. The player makes sure that, as they slide towards the shooter, the upper body never crosses the blue line. Practice at this lead up drill will help the player gain control in sliding.

Once the players gain confidence in blocking shots under these controlled conditions, you are ready to move to the triangle shot block drill. Move through the progressions of the rules in the drill to ensure that the players continue to gain confidence and the drill becomes more and more challenging for the blockers. For more advanced players, add a rotation of the three defensive players, just as they would if they were killing a penalty.

Finally add a fifth offensive player in front of the net and have one of the defensive players practice “fronting” this player (moving between this fifth player and the shooter at the point) to execute an upright block in front of this offensive player in front of the net.

Coach's Tips

Timing and anticipation on the part of the blocker is crucial. Players must learn how best to move from their position into a shot blocking position. They must pick a route which allows them to get into the shooting lane as quickly as possible but on an angle that allows them to put the most possible pressure on the shooter. The type of block selected by the player is important. This may depend on the type of shot that is anticipated and the position of the player relative to the shooter.

Players learn proper positioning on the upright block, making themselves compact but big, turning their gloves to direct the back of the glove towards the shooter. It is a huge advantage for a player to stay on their feet when blocking a shot, particularly when killing penalties.

If the player can continue to move their feet towards the shooter as the shot is being taken, this will really put pressure on the shooter. A blocked shot and a good bounce can put this player in an offensive position! Going down to block a shot can be very effective since a player can cover so much space. Knowing how and when to go down is so important. Players need to go down quickly, hopefully without a lot of notice to the shooter and as the shooter is committing to the shot. On the slide block, players are taught to take the shot on their shin pads and not on the upper body by aiming the shin pads towards the “shot point”.

When the player slides on their side, it is important to avoid rotation of the body so that the front of the shin pads and pants are directed into the anticipated path of the puck. This is a risky block, since players are often shooting with their head up and might fake the shot if the player goes down too early.

The “Volchenkov” one knee down block is very effective when the blocker is set up close to and square to the shooter and it is anticipated that the shooter will be using a wrist or snap shot. It is a very effective way for penalty killers to block shots from the half board areas by shooters on the bottom corners of the high triangle on the power play. In the triangle shot block drill, encourage your players to use the upright and the slide block on shots from the point, and to try the Volchenkov when blocking players shooting from the side.

Make the drill a competition between the offensive and defensive team and then switch! Your players will enjoy keeping score!

Tips for Players

The key when blocking upright is to move into the shooting lane as quickly as possible and then to move quickly towards the “shot point” (where the shot will leave the stick blade) to put pressure on the shooter. As in all blocking, the closer you are to the shooter when the shot is made, the better. Stay square to the shooter. Keep the back of your gloves directed at the shooter. Make yourself big but compact.

When executing the slide block, it is important to be under control so that you are sliding square to the shooter. As you slide, your shin pads are directed square to the shot point and your upper body is not in the shooting lane. If you are sliding across on the shooter, your timing must be such that the shot is blocked by your lower body. Avoid rotating your body when you are sliding. The hand closest to the ice is in a position to push off quickly to assist you to get to your feet quickly. The other hand is on top of your top leg (increasing the height of the block) with the back of the glove towards the shot point. Watch the shooter closely as you go down and as you slide so that you can react quickly to a fake shot or a pass.

When executing the “Volchenkov”, your upper body is square to the shooter. The lower body is turned sideways with one knee down and the lower part of that same leg and the skate flush on the ice. The other leg is bent with the skate flat on the ice and tight to the knee that is down. Your arms are to your side with the back of the gloves towards the shooter. Make yourself big but compact. Keep your chin tucked into your upper chest

You can go down into this position quickly and return to both feet quickly to move for a loose puck. This is a great way to cover the low area in front of the shooter. Some of the blocks will be with the leg flush on the ice so some extra padding behind the shin pad on your calf area will help! The triangle shot block drill will give you a chance to practice these shot blocking techniques and to gain confidence with this skill!

Latest Drills