The Offensive Zone 4 Shot Drill from Tom Upton is a high tempo individual skill drill that helps players work on habits while taking 4 different shots from around the zone. This can be practiced with or without a goalie and can be set up for a small group or individual skill sessions.
Setup
- On the whistle, a player takes a puck out of the corner, they fake out the cone, and drive the net around the stick and aim to shoot the puck up high Shot # 1.
- After Shot # 1, the player skates to the corner and picks up a new puck. The player skates towards the net and cuts back quickly and skates between the net and the cone to take Shot # 2 in the slot.
- After Shot # 2, the player skates back to the corner that they started from and picks up a puck that the coach chips into the corner. The player skates up ice around the net and quickly fires Shot # 3 in the slot.
- After Shot # 3, the player stays in the slot and receives a pass in the slot from the coach and they can take a one timer or quick release shot depending on their age & skill level.
Coaching Points
- Keep head up while stickhandling so you can avoid the obstacles
- Keep feet moving as you skate out of the corners and out of your tight turn
- Work on quick release shots
Variations
- Can do this drill with or without a goalie.
- Can require a one-timer shot or quick-release shot at the end.
- Can put players that move their sticks one way or another in place of the cones so the players with the puck need to keep their head up to make a decision on which way to skate to.
- Can have a player pass the puck out of the corner instead of the coach.
