Small Games Adding Fun to Practice

1. Small GamesAdding Fun to Practice Presented by Tom Peart Minnesota Hockey Girls’ Associate Coach-in-Chief

2. Adding small games to your practice What Are Small-Area Games? • Game-like, competitive drills where the size of the playing surface has been reduced • Number of participants is lowered • Special rules and conditions often are applied • Games are designed to focus on multiple skills and situations, increasing puck touches and situational repetition 4 Corners Keep-Away (warm-up drill)

3. Why Use Small-Area Games? • Games promote creativity/experimentation • Create a competitive practice environment • Eliminate need for “conditioning” drills • Develop and improve individual and team skills • Players learn to excel in tight situations • Keep more players moving and duplicate “real game” situations • Players of all ability levels will improve • Players will have a greater enthusiasm for practice • FUN!!! “The average person says, “That’s the way it’s always been done here.” The visionary person says, “There ought to be a better way to do it.” - Anonymous

4. Skills Developed Using Small Games • Skating • Shooting • Puck Handling • Passing • Body Control • Team Concepts • HOCKEY SENSE! • “I skate to where the puck is going to be…not where it’s been! • -Wayne Gretzky

5. Hockey Sense – A player’s ability to think the game and execute in a timely • manner. • Can you train hockey sense? • Can you train players to recognize situations and execute faster? • Can you train players to make the correct decision? • Decision Training • Decision Training – Training a player’s ability to think the game • Helps develop in a player: • - A mindset of taking advantage of opportunities… • - An understanding of the game’s finer points… • - The ability to anticipate plays… • - The ability to improve problem solving… • - An increased awareness on the ice… • Better creativity in their play… • “Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things in a different • way. “ -Edward de Bono

6. Conditions and Rules of Small-Area Games • Placement/number of nets • Increase/decrease area of play • Add support players • Increase/decrease number of participants • Confine players to specific areas • Require number of passes/puck touches • The only limit on the number or type of games is the coach’s creativity

7. Small-Area Games • Four Corner Keep Away • Safe Zone 3 on 3 • Backdoor 3 on 3 • 3 on 3 Score Anywhere • Triple Threat 1 on 1 • Progressive 4 on 4 • Survivor • Goalie Small-Area Games • Sharks • 1 Goalie/2 Nets

8. Four Corner Keep Away Setup of Four Corner Keep Away ♦ No nets are used in this game. ♦ Teams are aligned at center ice. ♦ Four players occupy the four corners of the zone as passing stations. These players are not allowed to move – they must stay in their corner of the ice. ♦ The coach dumps the puck in one end to begin play. ♦ Three players for each team enter play. ♦ Play may not come outside of the blue line. ♦ Coach dumps in a new puck if the play comes outside the blue line. Four Corner Keep Away Rules of Play ♦ The team in possession of the puck may use their teammates and all four corner passing stations to pass the puck to. ♦ The four corner passing stations are always part of the team in possession of the puck. ♦ Players are not required to move the puck to a passing station – teammates may pass the puck solely to other teammates moving about the ice. ♦ Players may not carry the puck for more than three to four strides before making a pass. Teaching Points for Four Corner Keep Away ♦ Players should work to face to puck (chest on the puck) and move toward the pass. ♦ Constant communication. All players, including the passing stations, should be talking. ♦ Players must be aware of their teammates’ location on the ice. With only three or four strides to make a pass, players must read the situation and react quickly. ♦ Defenders must stick with their opponent, working to take away passing lanes and looking to create the turnover in order to become the offensive team.

9. Safe Zone 3 on 3 Setup of Safe Zone 3 on 3 ♦ Two nets are placed on outsides of the circles with a goaltender is in each net. ♦ Teams are aligned at center ice. ♦ The coach dumps the puck in one end to begin play. ♦ The first player from each team enters the “Safe Zone” in the corner opposite their net. ♦ The next two players from each team enter play. ♦ Play may not come outside of the blue line. ♦ Coach dumps in a new puck if a goal is scored or if the puck is put out of play or comes over the blue line. Safe Zone 3 on 3 Rules of Play ♦ Players attempt to score on the net opposite their line. ♦ The “Safe Zone” player cannot be pressured by the opposing team and may not leave the corner area. ♦ Prior to attempting a shot on net, players must make a pass to their “Safe Zone” and have the “Safe Zone player make a return pass to a teammate. ♦ On a turnover, the new offensive team must make a pass to their “Safe Zone” and receive a return pass. ♦ After a save, the offensive team must make a pass to the “Safe Zone” if the initial rebound attempt fails. Teaching Points for Safe Zone 3 on 3 ♦ Players must work to keep their feet moving and find open space on the ice. ♦ Encourage players to use the area behind the net as well as other open areas of the ice. ♦ Puck support is a key element of this game. Players must support the puck carrier as well as the “Safe Zone” player, putting them in position to receive a pass and create scoring opportunities. ♦ Players should hustle to take advantage of potential breakaway and odd-man rush situations.

10. Backdoor 3 on 3 Setup of Backdoor 3 on 3 ♦ Two nets are placed back-to-back between the face-off circles. ♦ Teams are aligned at center ice. ♦ One goaltender covers both nets. ♦ The coach dumps the puck in one end to begin play. ♦ Three players for each team enter play. ♦ Play may not come outside of the blue line. ♦ Coach dumps in a new puck if a goal is scored or if the puck is put out of play or comes over the blue line. Backdoor 3 on 3 Rules of Play ♦ Players attempt to score on the net opposite their line. ♦ When possible, goaltenders are alternated every other shift to avoid exhaustion and a negative impact on goaltending technique. ♦ “Cherry-picking” is not allowed. Players must play both the offensive and defensive sides of the ice and may not camp in front of the opposition goal while play is in their end of the ice. ♦ Puck is live until frozen. Coach dumps in a new puck if the goaltender freezes the puck. Teaching Points for Backdoor 3 on 3 ♦ Encourage players to spread the ice and take advantage of the full ice surface. ♦ Communication is a key component to this game. Players should be encouraged to talk and move the puck to open teammates. ♦ Focus on goaltender movement and technique. Goaltender quickness and positioning will be challenged throughout the game. ♦ Players should be encouraged to shoot the puck quickly and accurately to take advantage of a net that may be partially or completely open.

11. 3 on 3 Score Anywhere Setup of 3 on 3 Score Anywhere ♦ Two nets are placed on the outsides of the circles with a goaltender in each net. ♦ Teams are aligned at center ice. ♦ The coach dumps the puck in one end to begin play. ♦ Three players for each team enter play. ♦ Play may not come outside of the blue line. ♦ Coach dumps in a new puck if a goal is scored or if the puck is put out of play or comes over the blue line. 3 on 3 Score Anywhere Rules of Play ♦ Players are allowed to attack and score on either net. They may continue to score on either net throughout their shift. ♦ All rebounds are live. Goalie courtesy must be practiced – the puck is dead when the goaltender covers it. Coach should restart play with a new puck. ♦ Play should frequently change directions, with players looking to create odd-man rushes and potential breakaway situations. ♦ Coaches must encourage creativity. Teaching Points for 3 on 3 Score Anywhere ♦ All players will need to transition from offense to defense very quickly on a turnover, as they may be forced to defend the same net they were attacking. ♦ Communication between teammates is a must. Constant change of direction will force players to talk. ♦ Players will learn to think more creatively and get to open areas of the ice that will allow them to create scoring opportunities. ♦ Defensive players will have to frequently switch coverage responsibilities – all players must be aware where everyone is on the ice.

12. Triple Threat 1 on 1 Setup of Triple Threat 1 on 1 ♦ Two nets are placed on the outside of the circles with a goaltender in each net. ♦ Teams are aligned at center ice. ♦ The coach dumps three pucks in one end to begin. ♦ Three players for each team enter play to compete in three separate 1 on 1 games. ♦ Play may not come outside of the blue line. ♦ Coach dumps in a new puck if the puck is put out of play or comes over the blue line. Triple Threat 1 on 1 Rules of Play ♦ Players attempt to score on the net opposite their line at center ice. ♦ Goaltender respect – players may not shoot when the goaltender is focused on another player shooting. ♦ After the first goal is scored, players that were involved in that 1 on 1 choose a different puck to attack – this will either create a 2 on 2 (plus the remaining 1 on 1) or two separate 2 on 1 situations. ♦ After the second goal is scored, all players attack the remaining puck to create a 3 on 3. Teaching Points for Triple Threat 1 on 1 ♦ Defensive players will need angling and gap control skills as well as skating and transitioning ability. ♦ Puck protection and 1 on 1 skills are key for the offensive players – create a quality scoring chance. ♦ Players must be aware of their surroundings and account for other players to avoid collisions. ♦ Communication between players is crucial – especially after the first goal is scored and players must determine which teammate to support.

13. Progressive 4 on 4 Setup of Progressive 4 on 4 ♦ Two lines of players are on each side of a coach just outside the blue line. One line is designated the offensive team and one the defensive team. ♦ The coach dumps a puck in to begin the game. ♦ One player from each team starts. The coach then slap her/his stick to add a player (first slap-offensive, second slap-defensive.) ♦ Players may be added up to 4 on 4. ♦ The offensive team gets one point for each goal and the defensive team gets one point for each time they successfully carry the puck out of the zone. Progressive 4 on 4 Rules of Play ♦ Offensive player attempt to score on goal. ♦ Defensive players must carry the puck out of the zone and can not ice the puck. ♦ Players on both teams must know the score of their teams at all times and if they don’t lose a point if the coach asks them what their score is if they don’t know their score. Teaching Points for Progressive 4 on 4 ♦ Defensive players will need angling and gap control skills as well as skating and transitioning ability. ♦ Puck protection and 1 on 1 skills are key for the offensive players – create a quality scoring chance. ♦ Players must be aware of their surroundings and account for other players to avoid collisions. ♦ Communication between players is crucial – especially after more players are added and players must determine which teammates to support.

14. Survivor Setup of Survivor ♦ Teams are aligned at center ice on each side of the coach along the boards. ♦ The coach dumps the puck and starts 3 - 1 on 1’s ♦ There should be three 1 on 1’s going on at all times. ♦ Play continues full ice until one player scores. Coach then starts a new pair. Four Corner Keep Away Rules of Play ♦ Players must play by the rules of the game. ♦ Players should keep their heads up and not shoot at the goaltenders heads especially if the goaltender is playing a shot from another player. Teaching Points for Four Corner Keep Away ♦ This is a conditioning and puck protection skill game. ♦ Players must use puck protection skills, as well as shear will to “survive” in Survivor! Note: A variation is to play down to a single winner.

15. Goaltender Small Games Sharks Setup of Sharks ♦ One net is used in this game ♦ This is a great game for the goaltenders for the day before a game. ♦ All the goaltenders on the team are involved in this game unless one is needed in the other end. ♦ A coach or shooter shoots a puck from mid-slot. Two or three goalies tip/screen and rebound. ♦ The goaltender in the net tries to cover the puck or clear it out past the tops of the circles. Sharks Rules of Play ♦ The goaltender in the net has to catch/cover or clear the puck. ♦ The other goaltenders and the coach/shooter are attempting to score. ♦ Play carries on until a goal is scored or the goaltender catches/covers or clears the puck. ♦ The goaltender in the net gets a point for every puck they cover or clear. ♦ The screeners/tippers get a point for every goal scored. Play to five and then switch goaltenders. Teaching Points for Four Corner Keep Away ♦ The goaltender should work on playing the first shot and then concentrate on the second shot/rebound. ♦ The screen/tippers must work hard so the goaltender in the nets does not have an easy time of his/her play in the nets. ♦ Recover to the basic stance and reaction to the puck are key for the goaltender in the nets.

16. 1 Goalie/2 Nets Setup of 1 Goalie/2 Nets ♦ Two nets are used in this game. The nets are side by side. ♦ The team is lined up at the blue lines at the boards. ♦ The goaltender is in the nets. ♦ The players skate to the middle and shoot at the nets when they reach the middle of the rink. The goaltender has to cover both nets. 1 Goalie/2 Nets Rules of Play ♦ The goaltender cannot come out more than s/he would if there was only one net. ♦ Players can not shoot before the middle of the rink. ♦ The goaltender gets a point for every shot they stop. The players get a point for every goal they score. Teaching Points for Four Corner Keep Away ♦ Goaltenders should work on lateral movement and quickness. ♦ Shooters should work on a variety of shots. ♦ Players can learn to shoot for corners in this game as there is more “net” to shoot at.