The Cloverleaf Drill shared by TJ Manastersky, Head Coach of Brock University, allows players to work on their puck protection and tight turn skills in a simple setup around a circle. In this particular variation of the Cloverleaf, there will be a defender following the puck carrier and presenting passive stick pressure. At the bottom, we will link to more variations.
Setup
- Setup 4 pucks around the face-off circle with one puck in the face-off dot that players will use to skate around. Can also use tires, cones, or nothing at all.
- On the whistle, a player with the puck will skate around the "cloverleaf." The puck carrier will go around the center face-off circle and then around each of the other pucks.
- After the puck carrier goes around a puck on the outside of the face-off circle, they must return and go around the puck in the face-off dot.
- A defender follows the puck carrier and presents passive stick pressure that the puck carrier can use to practice "cutting hands" puck protection techniques.
Coaching Points
- The puck carrier should cut the defenders hands to take their stick out of the play.
- The puck carrier should use a low stance and use their body to further create space and separation from the defender.
Variations
- Coaches can allow puck carriers some reps without a defender to dial in the movement if they are unsure of the drill and skill.
- Can use a defender (like shown above) or the defender can be in the middle of the circle as shown on this variation by NextGeneration HKY.
