Drop Down 4 on 2

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Objective

To develop players' comfort and skill in interchangeable roles during line rushes, focusing on neutral zone attacks and offensive zone entries. This drill emphasizes a fast, flexible playing style for teams who want to play with pace and be more adaptable on their rushes.  

Setup

  • Forwards: Positioned along the walls at center ice on both sides.
  • Defensemen: One blue defense in their d-zone with 2 red defensive players ready to accept the line rush at center ice
  • Coaches: Positioned with pucks near the boards at the hash marks in each zone

Execution

  1. A blue defenseman starts with the puck, and three blue forwards drop down to connect with the defenseman.
  2. Forwards vary their routes to simulate different neutral zone scenarios:
    • One or two forwards stretch long to push back defenders.
    • Others stay low or cut through the middle to create diverse rush patterns.
  3. As the group moves up the ice, players organize into entry roles:
    • Kick-out option: Wide player for puck support.
    • Wide option: Player driving the boards.
    • Four-hole option: Player attacking the middle as a trailer or driving the net.
  4. Two defenders set up to defend the rush, and the attacking group finishes with a scoring attempt.
  5. On the whistle, one of the red defenders retrieves a puck from the coach and initiates a counter-rush.
  6. Three red forwards drop into position to connect with the defenseman, executing their 4-on-2 attack in the opposite direction, with two new defenders stepping in.
  7. The drill continues back and forth, providing multiple opportunities to work on line rushes and positional interchangeability.

Coaching Points

  • Neutral Zone Attack:
    • Encourage creativity in how forwards drop into the play. Mix low support, long stretches, and middle cuts.
    • Focus on timing and spacing to ensure dynamic entries.
  • Offensive Zone Entry:
    • Ensure players fill the kick-out, wide, and four-hole roles effectively.
    • Defensemen should be comfortable driving the rush and going to the net.
    • Forwards should be comfortable filling traditional defenseman roles, like the four-hole.
  • Interchangeability:
    • All players must adapt to different roles during the rush.
    • Emphasize the importance of maintaining speed and decision-making during position swaps.
  • Game-Like Scenarios:
    • Stress the variability in rush patterns to replicate realistic game situations.
    • Ensure players read and react to each other's positioning to create effective rushes.

 

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