Defensive Zone Coverage

Oreo 3 V 3 Game from Jason Lammers is a continuous game that is competitive in nature as it forces the defense to work to pass the puck to the next players in line, while the offensive team is trying to score.

Setup

• In this example, 3 players line up on the blue line. The players behind them are on the opposite team.
• On the whistle, coach dumps a puck into the zone to begin a 3 on 3.
• The offensive team is trying to score, while the defensive team is trying to pass the puck to the next players in line.
• When the defensive team passes the puck to the next players in line, the team that was previously playing offense, is now on defense, and the players who just got the puck are now on offense.
• The game is continuous, keep score!

Coaching Points

• Offense - support your teammates and be an outlet when you do not have the puck
• Defense - keep sticks on the ice to block passing lanes and angle the offensive team to the outside of the ice
• Everyone - communicate with your teammates

Variations

• Can set this up in different areas of the ice and make it 1/2, 1/3 ice, or 1/4 ice
• Can have this be 1v1, 2v2, 3v3, 4v4, or 5v5
• Can require the defensive team to make a pass to a teammate before they are able to pass to the next players in line

The 4 v 2 down low game from Kendall Coyne Schofield works on players create opportunities without the puck by using their positioning and getting to open ice in scoring areas

Set Up

• Net with goalie in the normal crease
• 2 stationary forwards flanked to the side of the net, but behind the goal line 
• 2 forwards and 2 defensemen in the playing area 
• Playing area is from the tops of the circles down
• Coach with pucks standing slightly behind the center of the tops of the circles
• 1 puck at a time in the playing area

Game

The objective is for the forwards to score and the defensemen to clear the puck.  Point(s) can be awarded for goals and/or clears.

• Coach starts the game by passing the puck to one of the stationary players behind the goal line
• The stationary players can't go above the goal line, but can pass into the playing area or to the other stationary player behind the net
• The F's and D in the playing ares battle for open space with the forwards trying to support the puck and score and the defensemen trying to defend and clear the puck
• When a puck is cleared, the coach can pass another puck to the stationary players behind the goal line
• Coach can let the game play our as long as he or she sees fit or until a goal is scored
• Keep Score!

Variations

•  You can replace or add two stationary players up high at the top of the circle for high passes
  • This allows for high tips, screens, deflections and finding different ways to get open and support the puck
  • You can have stationary players only up top or add them in along with the stationary players below the goal line
• You can make the defensemen skate or pass the puck through a gate to score a point instead of just clearing the puck

Coaching Points

1. Create opportunities without the puck - the forwards can work on losing their defensemen by jumping to open areas of the ice when the environment allows for it.  
2. Scan the Ice - all players in this game are required to scan the ice and process the information being provided to them to make the necessary decisions when trying to score or defend
3. Body Position - defensemen need to keep proper body position on the forwards and make sure they don't allow them into high danger scoring areas

The Wing Quadrant Play by Jeff Meredith was developed to practice winger concepts in the defensive zone. This drill is essentially a 3 vs 3, but the main focus is d-zone coverage and that the winger does not let the puck carrier skate through their "quadrant" of the zone.

Setup

• Setup a 3 on 3 in one side of the zone (as pictured in the diagram).
• On the whistle, an offensive puck carrier starts in the corner with a defenseman.
• The puck carrier is working to carry the puck through the quadrant, or pass the puck to one of their point players before they attack the net.
• The winger (shown as RW in the diagram) works to not let the puck carrier skate the puck through the quadrant and to kill the play before they are able to attack the net.
• Coaches can blow down the drill after a goal, the defensive team gets the puck out of the zone, or when there is a coaching opportunity.
• Get reps on both sides of the ice.

Coaching Points

• Winger:
  • Do not let the puck carrier skate though the quadrant.
  • Keep your stick on the ice to block passing lanes and angle the puck carriers to the outside.
  • If the puck is passed to one of the point players, work quickly to get out and block their passing & shooting lanes.
  • If puck goes outside of your area, communicate with your defenseman and other winger to take coverage.
• Offensive Team:
  • Support each other and work to be outlets for the puck carrier.
  • Point players - if you get the puck, move the puck quickly or work on fakes to open up passing & shooting lanes.

The 3 Puck 3 on 3 Drill from Ryan Donald is an excellent drill that helps players and teams work on defensive zone concepts like down low coverage and point coverage. In this drill, there are 3 whistles and 3 pucks that help create 3 unique in-zone situations. The details of the drill is listed below.

Setup:

• The players are set up in one-half of a zone as shown. There will be 2 forwards and one defenceman on the offensive team (red in the diagram above) and 2 defencemen and 1 forward on the defense (blue in the diagram above).
• A handful of pucks are in the corner close to the boards.
• Whistle # 1: on the first whistle, a 2 on 2 starts out of the corners. The players battle for 8 - 10 seconds as the forwards try to score a goal.
• Whistle # 2: on the second whistle, the forwards grab a new puck out of the corner and the defenceman at the point becomes active and so does the strong side winger that is covering the point. The defenseman at the point can move around but they must remain at the blueline. The players battle for another 8 - 10 seconds before the last whistle is blown.
• Whistle # 3: on the third whistle, the forwards retrieve a new puck out of the corner and the drill becomes a full on 3 on 3 because the defenseman at the point can now go anywhere they want to on the ice. The play can continue an additional 10-15 seconds until the forwards score, the defense breaks the puck out or the coach blows a whistle.
• Variations: You can allow the 3 on 3 to be played in the full zone, or you can wall off or cone off 1/3 of the zone (as pictured in the diagram) to force the players to only use one side of the ice.

Coaching Points:

• Defense: 
  • Defensemen: keep sticks on the ice and work to keep forwards contained in the corners.
  • Strong Side Forward: keep stick on the ice to negate passes to the point. Scan the ice to see where the puck is and the point man is at all times. 
• Forwards: 
  • Protect the puck and work to create time and space.
  • Use the boards to bank a pass if no direct pass is available. 

The D-Zone Coverage Tire Drill from Tyler Bielby is a great 5 v 5 drill to practice your defensive zone coverage. The 2 parts of the drill allow teams to practice a full 5 on 5 defensive zone setup, and then practice getting back into coverage after the forwards are forced to go out to the neutral zone. 

Setup

• Setup the drill to be 5 v 5 in one zone. Place 3 tires of objects in the neutral zone that the forwards must skate around.
  • Part 1: On the whistle, play all out 5 v 5. Offense is trying to score, while defense is trying to defend and get the puck out of the zone.
  • Part 2: On the second whistle, the 3 defending forwards skate out to the neutral zone, pick a tire to skate around, and then fly back into the zone to resume d-zone coverage.
  • While the forwards are skating to the neutral zone, the offensive team can move the puck around in the zone. 
  • On the third whistle, the 5 v 5 resumes. Coach can blow the third whistle whenever they want to give the offense more of an advantage or disadvantage. 

Coaching Points

• Defensive team should keep sticks on the ice to block passing lanes, keep the puck to the outside, and communicate with their teammates to sort out coverage.
• Offensive team should support each other by moving to open space and being passing outlets for their teammates.

Variations

• Can make this a half ice drill (as discussed above) or full ice to allow the defense the opportunity to skate down to the other end to try to score.
• Can have 3, 4, or 5 defenders. 5 on 5 will be more game like, but 5v3 or 5v4 will allow your offense to practice moving the puck before you progress to full 5v5.
• Can move the tires far apart so the defending forwards will be more spread out when coming back into the zone.