Set Up
Put an offensive player and defensive player open the crease, and add an offensive and defensive player at the top of the box. Coach will have ball up near the top players, and the drill is triggered with coach rolling a ground ball in play. The 2 players on crease will fight for the ground ball, while top defenseman much sprint to the crease, and get back to approach his opponent up top. The offensive player on the crease, want to win the ground ball and move the ball quickly to their teammate, to increase the advantage to the dodger! As the ball is in the air, the defense must approach the offensive player and take a good angle to keep them away from the middle of the field. The offense must catch the ball, and make 1 quick move to get their hands free for a shot. Try to limit the play to 5 seconds
Coaching Points and Principles
Defense
- Focus on your angle of approach, we want to take away the middle of the field, where a shooting angle is higher
- get your inside foot, top side to help with that approach and take short choppy steps so you stay balanced, trying not to lunge forward
- Lead with your stick and get to the players hands, hole the topside as best you can’t and drive through shoulders during the dodge to prevent shots
Offense
- Ground Balls – get your head up and move the ball quick after possession!
- One quick move and go, we want to use deception to get our hands free. If you get your hands free, get loaded and shoot, don’t let the defended recover.
- Use split dodges and jab steps to freeze the defense
- Try to take high quality shots, changing planes and shooting away from the goalies stick
Progressions
- Use tennis balls if you want to keep it lighter for your goalies
