The Rondo Circle Passing to 2 on 1 from Coach Alyssa Gagliardi is a competitive activity that can be used to practice passing, overall awareness, and 2 on 1's. This game can also be modified to be set up in zone, if you only have access to half-ice (example at bottom of this page).

Rondos are popular activities in soccer and are similar to keep away, where a group of players work to keep possession of the puck / ball. To view an 8 part rondo passing warm-up, view Rondo Circle Passing Progression.

Setup

• Players work together to pass the puck and play keep away from the two defenders in the middle.
• When the defenders steal the puck, it initiates a 2 on 1, where the 2 defenders now go on the offense and the player that created the turnover (either by a bad pass or fumbling a pass) becomes the defender on the 2 on 1. Quick thinking and reactions will help players be successful.

Coaching Points

• Passing Team
  • Plan ahead! Look at where the defenders are and where the open space is even when you do not have the puck!
  • Players without the puck should keep their stick on the ice and give their teammates a target to pass to.
  • When playing keep away, the players that are passing should work on deception by using their body language (hands, eyes, and body) to trick the defender and make them think they will be passing somewhere else.
• Defending Team
  • Keep your stick on the ice to take away passing lanes.

VARIATIONS

• Coaches can set this up in different areas of the ice.
• Coaches can set this up with different numbers of players. For example, instead of six players passing (like the video), you can go down to 5, 4, or 3. You can also have 1 defender instead of 2.
• If the forwards are struggling to complete passes, you can require one or both defenders flip their sticks over.
• Can set this up as an in-zone game instead of center ice (view diagram below). You can set up 2 in-zone games and require players to pay attention to the other game if there are two simultaneous 2 on 1's.

Winning loose puck battles can be a major deciding factor in the outcome of a game. This battle drill challenges players to compete for a loose puck after a rebound. After the loose puck battle is won, the player with the puck must pass it back to the point, which will begin a 2 vs 1. 

Setup:

• A coach or player dumps the puck on net and the goalie plays it to either corner.
• 2 players are spread out and charge into the corner to compete for the puck. Whoever comes out with the puck must pass it to the point player to begin a 2 vs 1.
• The drill is stopped after a goal, the goalie freezes it, or the puck is moved out of the zone.

Offensive Coaching Points:

• Players who arrive at the puck first should work on deceptive fakes with their body to escape from the corner. Fakes with your hips are extremely effective in this situation.
• Once you have the puck, protect it, get your head up and make a pass to the point.
• The point should be active calling for the puck and moving to space.

Defending Coaching Points:

• The defender should work on playing the body in the corner.
• When 2 vs. 1 begins, the defender should hold the middle and try to force a bad angle shot.
• Have good stick position. Do not swing your stick as it will open up passing lanes and make you off balance.

Variations

• You can add a second point player to make this battle a 2 vs 2. Watch a video demo here.

The Double Gates Activation Game from Coach Alyssa Gagliardi is a competitive small area game that starts out as a 1 on 1 and becomes a 2 on 1 after a player skates through one of the gates. This can also be modified to be a 2 on 2 that becomes a 3 on 2.

Setup

• Place a gate (gates can be made by tires, cones, etc) on each side of the net. This will create two gates and two options for the offensive player to skate though. 
• Place one forward and one defender in one of the corners or circles.
• Place an additional player at the high slot or point.
• To start: a coach chips a puck in the corner to begin a 1 on 1 battle. 
  • The forward is trying to first skate through a gate. Once the forward skates through the gate, they are able to pass it to the open player at the point to begin a 2 on 1. The offensive team is trying to score a goal.
  • The defender is trying to strip the puck during the 1 on 1 and/or the 2 on 1 and skate out of the zone.
• The coach can stop the play when there is a goal, the defender skates the puck out of the zone, the goalie freezes the puck or enough time has passed (15 - 30 seconds).

Coaching Points

• Offensive player:
  • Look over your shoulder to see where the pressure is coming from.
  • Do not expose the puck until you are ready to make a play. Use the net and the boards to protect the puck!
  • Keep head up to be aware of where the gates are and the extra player is.
• Defending player:
  •  Work on taking a good angle.
  • Keep your stick on the ice to go after the puck and to block passing lanes.

Game Variations

• Can allow the forward to immediately try to score a goal, or you can require them to first go through the gate before they can score. Either way, if they go through the gate the other forward is activated.
• Can set up gates in different areas of the ice.
• Can add gates at the blueline that the defense needs to skate through instead of skating over the blueline. 
• Can start the game in different areas of the zone.
• Can setup the game in smaller areas of the ice (example - 1/4 ice instead of 1/2 ice.)
• Can be modified to be a 2 on 2 that becomes a 3 on 2 (diagram displayed below)

This situational 2 on 1 drill practices attacking and defending 2 on 1's off of a turnover. This particular situation comes up frequently after a turnover occurs in the offensive zone and the loose puck is obtained by the attacking team. It is important for the forwards to transition quickly to the net while the defense holds their ground and works to force a bad angle shot.

Setup:

A coach or player passes to one of the two forwards to start the drill. The two forwards cross each other and attack the net as quick as possible. The coach or player that is passing the pucks should alternate what side they are passing to so all players remain alert.  

This can be set up as a half ice drill or as a 1/4 ice station drill. The 1/4 ice set up is great for younger players, limited ice space or if you want to reduce the amount of time and space available to make decisions.

Forward Coaching Points:

Forwards starting with the puck should attack quickly and consider a few options to create space from the defender so they can get off a shot or slide a pass to the other forward. A few options consider:

• Drive wide
• Drop pass
• Fake shots and passes to freeze goalie and the defender (use deception with eyes, head, body, and stick)
• The forward without the puck should be reading the play, communicating and jumping to space to give your teammate an outlet. 

Defending Coaching Points:

• Hold the middle and try to force a bad angle shot. 
• Have good stick position with the blade of the stick flat on the ice. 
• Do not swing and sweep your stick. Swinging your stick opens up passing lanes and gets you off balance.
• Use peripheral vision to watch both players.

This drill from Alyssa Gagliardi is designed to develop Neutral Zone Angling skills with the focus on sealing off the puck carrier and transitioning the puck to a teammate for a quick 2v1. 

Setup

On the whistle, the offensive player takes off across the zone and receives a pass from the coach. At the same time, a defending player starting in the far side of the NZ takes off. The defending player is focused on their timing, stick positioning and body positioning to read the puck carrier's speed and take away the middle to limit their space.

In order to activate their teammate and get the advantage on the 2v1:

• The puck carrier must either skate the puck to the center ice red line and then pass to their teammate on the far side OR skate the puck over the far side blue line themselves which allows their teammate to activate.
• The defending player must win the puck anywhere before the far blue line in order to activate their player for the 2v1. 

Whichever player does not accomplish the objective has to transition to defensive play. 

Coaching Points

• Angling Player:
  • Stick on the ice (to help you angle, intercept a pass, or go stick on stick to take the puck away).
  • Match the speed of the player you are chasing.
  • Take a proper angle so the player can not easily cut back to middle of ice.
• Player With Puck:
  • Protect the puck with your body or stickhandling the puck away from the defender.
  • Cut back to middle of the ice if the defender leaves the middle open. 

The Use The Net 2 vs. 1 Drill is an excellent drill from Topher Scott that allows players to work on puck retrievals, angling, breakouts and 2 on 1 rushes.

Setup:

• A coach chips a puck into the offensive zone and a forward and defenceman start to chase after the puck.
• The defenseman collects the puck and looks over their shoulder to determine where the forechecking pressure is coming from.
• The defenseman uses the net to take a tight turn and protect the puck around the net, or uses the net to cut back up ice.
• After the defenseman uses the net, they make a breakout pass to one of the two wingers, who are reading the play. 
• The wingers curl and begin a 2 vs 1 against the original defenseman, while the forechecker skates off back into the line.
• This can be half-ice or used on both ends of the ice to be a full ice drill.

Coaching Points:

• Defenseman:
  • Use the net!
  • Look over your shoulder to understand where the pressure is coming from.
  • Practice deceptive breakout passes (look one way and pass another way). Watch a video of Cale Makar practicing breakouts and using deception. 
  •  
• Forwards:
  • Keep your stick on the ice to use your stick to angle and disrupt on the forecheck.

Description

The 2 v 1 Quick Strike from Kendall Coyne Schofield is a great small area game for practicing quick developing 2 on 1's for both offense and defense. The game should have a lot of scoring and pace to it.  

Set Up

• Set up 2 nets on the half wall in an offensive zone
• Draw a line (or place a few cones/tires) in the middle of the zone going from the blue line to the end boards (through the crease)
• Each side has 2 forwards, 1 defenseman and a goalie
• Players who are not in the 2 v 1 should keep the puck in along the blue line

Game

The objective of the game is to play up to a certain number, team "X" vs team "O"

• Coach passes a puck in or chips it in for a battle
• Forwards are trying to score
• Defense is trying to get the puck to their forwards on the other side of the ice to activate the 2 on 1
• As soon as the puck crosses over to the other side, the 2 forwards and defensemen clear out and 3 new players come in
• Players can go anywhere on their half of the ice
• If a goal is scored, the coach should reward the scoring team with another puck
• This game should be continuous, but the coach can dump in another puck if one clears the zone or the goalie freezes it
• Keep Score!

Variation

• After the defenseman transitions the puck to his or her forwards, they are allowed to activate and cross to the other side
• If this happens, then one of the forwards (from zone that was just cleared) can also activate, making it a 3 v 2
• This version is a little more skating and has more decisions involve

Coaching Points

1. Quick shots and quick passes
2. Players on the side without the puck should work to be an outlet for their teammate (get open, call for the puck and present your stick as a target).
3. Defensive players need to keep their heads up and make quick decisions to transition the puck to their teammates