A Drill To Help Hockey Players Be Aggressive

Ironically, a request just came-in from Europe for some advice on helping hockey players be more aggressive.  I say ironically, because it’s a question that I’ve received numerous times over the years, and one that I’d planned on addressing here sometime soon.

Most parents are concerned that their child isn’t battling enough for loose pucks.  So, since helping one boy usually also helps everyone else in our game, I created the following — very simple drill — to accomplish just that.

Well, I said the drill was simple.  So…

All I do is form two lines of players out near a blueline, with the first player in each line (#2 and #7) laying prone (just to make it a fair start between competitors).

I then call, “Go!” and send a puck towards a corner, at which time two players race towards the puck.

The objective is for the two players to do a little battle, with the winner eventually gaining possession of the puck and firing a nice pass to my stick.

The drill only lasts a few seconds.  And, with two coaches and lines working on opposite sides of the ice, a lot of players can be involved in a fairly short period of time.

Anyway, take a look at the play in action just below…

I did make a few adjustments after running this drill once or twice…

I’m not crazy about the dangers of having two players going full-tilt towards the boards, so I eventually slid the loose pucks so they sat a ways away from the boards.

I also started changing my position on the ice — I mean, after I dumped the puck I’d relocate myself just so the kids had to find me with their passes, and not just blindly throw pucks in a general direction.

Oh, and one final thing… As I’ve pointed out in numerous other dills with young ones, I and my coaches always made a big deal out of the kid who won the given event. So, I’d call out something like “Winner!” and point to the player who fed me a good pass. Hey, you want to encourage the kids to be hungry for the puck? Making a big deal out of the consequences of such competitions is the only way I know to do it.

2 Comments

  1. Corey Moyer on January 14, 2021 at 9:27 pm

    A good get there first then battle. Then understanding they won the race/battle they still have work to do which is then give a good pass. I have used this drill and move to various locations so the need to look where to pass it. Not difficult but a good drill for all age levels.

    • CoachChic on January 14, 2021 at 11:30 pm

      I think you’re right on a number of levels, Corey. And, while I initially developed the drill to make my Mite AAA team a little hungrier for the puck, I can easily see using something like that with older players.

      Thanks a bunch!

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