2 on 2 Box Out

By: Marty Wilford

2 on 2 Box Out from Marty Wilford is a two-part drill designed to help defenders and forwards develop their net-front battle skills. The drill concludes with a 2-on-2 rush to reinforce defensive positioning and offensive attack strategies.

Setup

• Forwards are positioned in all four corners with pucks.
• Two defensemen start in front of the net, while two additional defensemen are positioned at the point.

Part 1 – First Whistle:

• On the first whistle, F2 passes the puck to the point.
• Both F1 and F2 work to establish net-front position while the defensemen at the point go D-to-D before taking a shot on net.
• The forwards attempt to score, while the defensemen work to box them out and eliminate sticks.

Part 2 – Second Whistle:

• On the second whistle, F1 and F2 break up the ice and receive a pass from one of the second forwards in line (F3 in this diagram).
• F1 and F2 then go down the ice 2-on-2 against the two defensemen who were previously at the point.

Variation – Third Whistle:

• For an additional variation, coaches can blow a third whistle, signaling F1 and F2 to turn back and regroup with one of the original net-front defensemen before continuing their 2-on-2 rush down the ice.

Coaching Points

• Defenders:
  • Focus on boxing out forwards and eliminating their sticks in front of the net.
  • Maintain a good defensive position and clear rebounds efficiently.
• Forwards:
  • Work together to establish a net-front position and find soft areas of the ice for tips and one-timers.
• On the rush:
  • Forwards should avoid skating directly at the defenders. Instead, they should pass, change speeds, and skate at angles to create offensive opportunities.
  • Defensemen should maintain a tight gap, keep their sticks on the ice to block passing lanes and angle the forwards to the outside.