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)