Practice Plan A
Jon Carpenter
Levels Game
Monkey in the Middle Monkey in the Middle
Forward / Backward Team Tag
Rise and Shine Passing Warmup
Monkey in the Middle
Guard the Gate
2v2 or 3v3 Designated Shooter Game
Crossfire 2v2 Box Game
Ten Puck Relay
Goalie Drills
Forward Tag
Backward Tag
Goalie Drills
Monkey in the Middle
Monkey in the Middle
Backward Tag Forward Tag
LEVELS
Each time a team gains possession, they must move the puck to one of
the coaches before they can attack either net. They cannot blindly throw
the puck to the side boards, they must make a direct pass to the coach.
The coaches might start the game in a stationary position but should
move up and down the wall to ensure the players have their eyes up to
make a direct pass. Players cannot defend the coach, defend away from
the puck. The game can be expanded - for example, add a third net and
expand the playing area to the far blue line. Or add additional conditions
- for example, green player gains possession, he must make a pass to a
teammate first before they can move the puck to a coach. This will
encourage even greater puck support, puck protection, delay & create
space, creativity, etc.
Forward/Backward Team Tag
Using one third of the ice, divide the area in two with an ice pen. On one side, players can
only skate forward while on the other side they must skate backward. One player is “it” and
begins the game by tagging the other players. If any player, including “it”, crosses the line to
the other side, they must skate forward or backward depending on which side they are on.
Once a player has been tagged, he/she must help tag everyone else.
Warmup: Rise and Shine Passing
Set up one team in each end zone with ½ the players on the goal
line and ½ the players on the blue line. Coach passes a puck to
any player. That player will carry the puck toward the opposite
line, call their name, pass the puck, and replace the player they
passed to. New player continues and makes pass to new player.
Coach continues to put several more pucks into play.
Progression options:
• Players pass to backhand of player in line, who one-touches
to forehand
• Players pass to two lines before going to line to replace
player
• Players pass to first line and open up to get puck back
before passing to line & replacing
Concepts: PUCK POSSESSION, underhandling, puck
movement, passing, edgework, speed
Monkey in the Middle
Categories – Passing & Receiving
Age Groups – 8U and above
Players spread out around the perimeter of the circle. One player starts in the middle. The perimeter
players make passes while the player in the middle uses an active stick to try and intercept. This can be
used as a warm-up and the coach can add multiple progressions; use 2 pucks, backhand passes, saucer
passes and more.
Guard the Gate
Categories – Body Contact, Team Concepts
Age Groups – 8U and above
Play 2 vs 2 or 3 vs 3. The game can begin without pucks and progress to using pucks. Each team guards
one “gate.” Players score a point by carrying the puck through the opposing gate.
2v2 or 3v3 with Designated Shooters
Coach passes puck to any of the 4 designated shooters to start
(or can spot puck in corner to create loose puck battle)
Designated shooter must pass to designated shooting partner to
continue play, partner can return pass, shoot or pass to open
teammate in pit. Puck must go back to designated shooter on
turnover to change possession. Players cannot attack shooters
30 second shifts/on whistle all 8 change…on next rotation players
play different positions.
Concepts: Net front coverage, transition, regroup, D-D support,
power play, penalty kill, passing, defensive positioning
POINTS: 1 point for shot on net, 2 points for one-timer on
net, 3 points for a goal.
Crossfire 2v2 Box Game
Coach draws a box on ice (or creates one with 4 tires. Players
compete 2v2 within the box and on the outside of the box, players
have teammates on opposite sides of the box. Xs can only pass
to X and Os can only pass to O. Teams transition from offense to
defense when puck is passed to player outside of box. Outside
players cannot shoot. Keep Score: 1 point for a goal, 2 points for
a one-timer, extra point if puck is carried or passed across the
Royal Road.
Progressions: Allow outside players to shoot; allow coach to
shoot.
Concepts: Passing, o/zone play, d/zone play, power play,
penalty kill, team play, royal road, net front coverage, quick
shots
Ten Puck Relay
Set up ten pucks on each blue line. Play 3-on-0 or 2-on-0
depending on how many players you have. After scoring the
next players in line can’t go until the first two players skate NOTES/COMMENTS
hard back and pass the blue line. The winning team is Fun way to end or bring
identified after they have shot the last puck in the net and competition to practice.
skated back crossing their blue line.
48 | USA Hockey Small Area Competitive Games
