Gain Inside Position Progression

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The Gain Inside Position Progression from Wes Wolfe is designed to improve players' ability to win inside body position during puck battles, a critical skill for effective puck retrievals on the power play. It emphasizes execution, competition, and decision-making under pressure, building through three progressive steps.

Progression 1: Basic Inside Body Position

Setup:
- Position two players on opposite sides of the hash marks.
- A coach stands in the middle with pucks.
- Both players face the wall.
Execution:
1. The coach spots a puck toward the boards.
2. Players race to the puck, aiming to establish inside body position using their stick and body to gain control.
3. The player who wins the puck drives to the net for a shot.
4. The losing player returns to the line.
Key Points:
- Emphasize quickness, body positioning, and puck protection.
- Teach players to use their stick and body effectively to gain an advantage.

Progression 2: Adding a Bumper Player

Setup: Same setup as Progression 1, with an additional third player in the middle of the hash marks.
Execution:
1. The coach spots the puck, and two players race to establish inside body position.
2. The player who gains possession protects the puck and makes a pass to the third player (acting as the bumper).
3. The bumper takes a quick shot on goal.
Key Points:
- Reinforce quick puck protection and accurate passing.
- Emphasize communication and the bumper role in creating scoring opportunities.

Progression 3: Battling Through Contact

Setup:
- Two players on the hash marks face the coach.
- Two additional players stand between them and the boards, acting as obstacles.
Execution:
1. The coach spots the puck, and the two hash mark players race to retrieve it.
2. The board-side players act as blockers, using their bodies (without raising sticks) to slow down the racers.
3. The player who wins possession drives to the net for a shot.
Key Points:
- Teach players to battle through interference while maintaining control.
- Reinforce body positioning and puck retrieval under pressure.