2 on 2 Down Low Rim by Marty Wilford is a drill designed to help teams practice rim plays and down-low offensive and defensive battles. This drill reinforces clean puck movement along the boards and effective defensive coverage.
Setup
- Two defenders start in front of the net.
- Extra players line up along both sides of the half-wall.
- On the whistle, a player from one of the boards rims the puck along the wall to their teammate.
- Once the receiving player gains possession, they attack the net.
- At the start of the drill, the two defenders skate up, pivot around the cones, and begin defending.
- The 2-on-2 plays out until one of the following occurs:
- A goal is scored.
- The coach blows the whistle.
- The defending team passes the puck to their next players in line.
- After the play ends, the offensive players transition to defense and must pivot around the cones as the next rim sequence begins.
Coaching Points
- Offensive players should focus on making clean, controlled rims so their teammate can retrieve the puck smoothly.
- The player receiving the rim should be strong on their stick and, if the puck is bouncing, use their skate or body to gain control.
- Defending players should:
- Keep their sticks on the ice to block passing lanes.
- Angle the forwards to the outside to prevent high-danger scoring chances.
Variations
- Forwards can line up at the half-wall (as shown in the diagram) or at the blue line to practice larger rims and extended skating routes.
- This drill can be run as a 2-on-2 (as shown in the video) or adapted to include additional players, making it a 3-on-2 or 3-on-3.
