Drill Setup:

• Puck in each corner.
• 1 offensive player on each dot (X). One defender on each hash mark (O).
• To start defenders should play without a stick or stick turned over.
• Coach designates which side starts as 1 v 1. When coach says offensive player retrieves puck from corner (simulating lose puck in corner).
• Defender now angles and plays out the1 v 1 versus offensive player. After the1 v 1, coach says 2 v 2. The2 other players who are waiting now start on their side. The 2 1 v 1 players join in to make it into 2 v 2.

Purpose:

• The idea of this drill is to focus on defending from a defensive zone situation and stressing defenders ability to angle offensive players. It is suggested to have defenders perform drill without a stick to start to really highlight having good footwork, angles and body contact skills. 90%of defense is are those skills.
• As players get better introduce a stick to the defender. Can have them use their stick turned over to start. This allows them to start using it as a tool but they still aren't able to fully use it and bring bad habits into drill (looking at the puck).
• Once proficient then have defenders use stick as normal.

Common Mistakes:

• All the same mistakes made in the defend the bucket drill are made here as well. Starting without a stick will highlight bad footwork and angle habits.
• Note it can be common for a player to be better without a stick then with a stick because once they get their stick back they forget what made them successful (good footwork, angles, being physical) and go back to bad habits or looking at the puck.

This drill is part of the Body Contact & Checking Course from Mark Zarbo Hockey.