Fun Hockey Drills

I found this great list of the top 10 fun hockey drills. I thought I would share it on our blog for any coach that is looking for some fun hockey drills.
A lot of hockey coaches want nothing more for their kids to win the championships, but a lot of hockey players want nothing more than to have fun. In most cases winning the championship is the most fun they will ever have, but it doesn’t hurt to have some fun along the way. Here is something that every coach should consider, if your players don’t show up to practice, they won’t learn much!
I know there are different rules at different levels of hockey, but I think that players will learn A LOT more if they enjoy practice, want to come, and want to learn. One of the best way’s to help players have fun at practice, and develop their skills is with fun hockey drills. That is why I have posted this article with the top fun hockey drills (according to the OMHA)

1. 1. SCRIMMAGE
      Scrimmaging is a great way to develop teamwork. These scrimmages can take place with any number of players on each side. (3 on 3, 5 on 5 etc) To further develop skills like passing, speed and teamwork, try playing cross ice 3 on 3.
   2. SHOOTOUT
      • Option 1:
        • Your standard player going in on his/her own against the goalie. The shootout helps to develop breakaway skills along with stick handling, puck control and shooting. This drill is also designed to help goalies challenge players approaching, square up to the shooter and build confidence. The player would come down on the goalie from centre ice. It is important to encourage creativity and more importantly, FUN!
      • Option 2: Relay – Passing / Scoring Skills
        • Divide players into 2 groups
        • On whistle first player in each line goes in for shot on net,
          keep shooting until goal is scored.
        • After goal, player skates outside blue line, picks up another
          puck and goes in with 2nd player in line for a 2 on 0.
        • Continue 3 on 0, 4 on 0 until all players in line have gone.
        • Relay is won by first team who slides over blue line after last goal is scored.
        • Each player must touch puck before shot on net follow
   3. TWO ON ONE
      • This drill is designed for both forwards and defence. Its purpose is to develop defensive skills along with offensive skills. There are many variations of this drill. Ex. Have a defenseman breakout from behind the net and pass to a winger on the boards at the hash marks. The winger then makes an outlet pass to the centre who is skating up the middle. They both clear the zone and turn around to produce a 2 on 1 on the defenseman who started the play. Depending on skill level, a coach could dump the puck in and have the goalie stop it behind the net for the defenseman, then continue as stated above.
   4. ONE PUCK HORSESHOE
      • Using one offensive zone only, split the team into two lines and have them line up in the corner. The coach will set up one puck centred midway between the top of the circle and the blue line. On the coach’s whistle, the first player from each line skates out of the corner, around the neutral zone dot and competes for the one puck. This now becomes a one-on-one drill. Play until a goal is scored or until the goalie controls the puck. Designed to develop both offensive and defensive skating and turning. This also develops the goalies ability and confidence on one-on-ones.
   5. PASSING HORSESHOE
      • Players line up in both corners in one zone. The first player from one line will skate out and around the neutral zone dot, and receive a pass from the first player in the opposing line. The
        player who just made the pass will skate out and receive a pass from the opposite corner. Repeat. This is common for pre-game warm-ups. This drill gets the legs moving and allows all players to control and pass the puck.
   6. RELAY RACES
      • Create 2-4 groups. Each group competes against one another. The relay race can consist of anything from turns, jumping over sticks, sliding under objects or scoring goals. The idea is to create a fun way for players to skate as fast as they can while performing other tasks (i.e. stick handling, turning etc).
        This will create better balance and agility. Competing against team mates will push them to try harder and will create friendly competition.
   7. BRITISH BULL DOG
      • Designed to be a fun way to develop agility and lateral movement. The object is to have one player, “The Bull Dog” catch/touch the other players. Once a player has been caught by the “Bull Dog”, they become a Bull-Dog. Have all players put their sticks behind the goalie line. Select a Bull Dog, who will line up at centre ice. The rest of the players start on the goal line and their objective is to make it to the opposite goal line without being caught by the bull dog. The game begins each time the coach yells, “British Bull Dog” This process is repeated at each end until there is one player remaining. This person shall be crowned the winner.
   8. SHOOTING
      • A wide variety of options. A player favourite is the “Clover Drill”.
        This drill is a combination of pass receiving and quick releases. Pylons are set up on four “corners” of the offensive circle with a net directly in front of the circle. Players will start from the circles centre dot and move around a pylon and return to the centre point to receive a pass for a quick shot. The player must
        always face the passer/net. Players will go around all four pylons for four shots. Then the next player in line takes the starting position.
   9. PASSING
      • Encourage players to try forehand, backhand and saucer passes. Have them pass over, under and around obstacles. A fun game could be monkey in the middle. Here is a great passing & receiving circuit:
        • Montreal Drill
          04 passes to 01, 01 – 02, 02 – 03, 03 back to 04 in the slot (rotate)
        • Pass with Accuracy
          Move laterally giving and receiving passes on the outside of the cones
        • “Pig in the Middle”
          One checker between 3 players, with players continuously passing the puck until the checker intercepts. Checker then trades places and becomes a passer
        • Figure 8 Passing
          One player passes to partner who performs figure-8 pattern around pylons. Pass receiver must maintain eye contact with the passer at all times. One touch passes or puck control around pylons before return pass is made.

1. PULL DRILL
   • A great drill to develop leg strength and skating power. Have two players stand one in front of the other facing the same direction. Each player will hold their stick in one hand and hold onto the other players stick in the opposite hand. The player in the back can go down to their knees and hold the sticks. The player in front will pull the other player the length of the ice. Then the players will switch. Players in the back can also lie on their stomachs.

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