Why Dumping the Puck is SO Important

If you've ever watched Hockey at any level, you will see players get to the center rink, dump the puck to the corner and chase it down.  Did you ever ask yourself, 'Why?'

Or more importantly, 'Did I ever teach my players why?'

If you haven't, you really should think about it.  It's one of the most important plays in hockey. If you don't teach your players how to do it properly, it WILL cost you goals and possibly the game.  Think about it.  When do you dump the puck?

1. When you want a line change - If you don't get the puck deep enough, there is a charge of the opposition as your players are coming on/off the bench.
2. When you can't beat the other team through the neutral zone - If you don't have a play, dump it.  If you don't and you lose it (because you just tried to go around/thru 3 players) suddenly, your team is heading North and the puck and opposition is going South.

Both scenarios will cost you goals and/or a really irritated Goalie. Smart play will win you hockey games and teaching your players to play smart will only make them better players.

2 Drills I've found to help with this are:

Dump and Chase: http://www.inlinehockeydrills.com/2010/10/dump-and-chase.html
Using the Wall: http://www.inlinehockeydrills.com/2010/10/using-wall.html

Both of these drills are better when you have a full rink but can be worked from center red in, if you only have half a rink.

Read More

Dump and Chase

Drill:
1. Coach stands in front of player with the puck
2. Have 3 lines of Players. 2 O and 1 D
3. Player with puck needs to decide what corner to get the puck to based on where the coach is standing
4. All players must then chase the puck and get into position

Focus:
1. Player with the puck needs to skate with head up and make good decisions as to where to go with the puck
2. Other players must decide to either chase the puck or get into correct position
3. Once the puck is secured, work the puck around into position and take a shot, with guy in front of the net looking for a deflection or rebound

Notes:
Use an additional coach in the D zone so they have to make good decisions where to dump
You can add players in to play defense, but I see the problem with them is they chase the puck and get it out and don’t allow the O to set up the play

Related Drills:
4 on 2 Forecheck
1 on 1 Corner Dump

Read More

Using the Wall

Drill:
1. Player 1 skates toward Defender (Coach (C)) on the blue line
2. Player 2 in the middle skates toward the middle
3. Player 1 passes the puck off the wall and steps around the coach
4. After getting control of the puck, Player 1 looks for Player 2 heading down the middle

Focus:
1. Getting around defenders
2. Using the boards/glass to make a play
3. Getting control of the puck and looking for the player breaking down the middle

Notes:
You could add 2 trailing players. 1st would establish position in front of the net while 2nd would float top of the circles. This would give Player with the puck another option.

Read More