Off Ice Hockey Drills Defenseman

Here are some drills i like to use to improve my defensemen s footwork.

Off ice hockey drills defenseman. The mental game when playing defense is very important so if you can play a good positional game you will be leaps and bounds ahead of other defensemen. Players should keep their knees bent and chest up. The key to being a good defensemen is playing smart hockey. 1 backward snake bites players skate backwards around each cone in the pattern.

Below you ll find off ice hockey drills that will help fine tune and strengthen skills one needs to grow as a hockey player. This drill emphasizes surrounding puck and opening up to gather the puck on the forehand under handling the puck and shoulder check what s happening behind the defenseman while retrieving the puck. These small area activities not only work on a player s skills but also on team concepts and hockey sense awareness. This drill helps defensive players work on their ability to move and pass the puck quickly while also working on their ability to defend opposing players in one on one situations as they skate backwards toward their own net.

10 off ice hockey drills basic stickhandling. Putting players in scenarios during practice that replicate game situations is hugely beneficial for a player s development. After the breakout pass is made the winger turns back around for a high tempo 1 on 1. Agility skating is the ability to move the body quickly in multiple directions.

This is a simple station that helps defenseman practice retrieving the puck make a breakout pass while the winger can work on looking up ice getting to the boards then getting up the ice and off the boards. In order to challenge the forwards and defend their net defencemen must be agile skaters and keep their feet moving at all times. Breakout pass 1 on 1. You should always be thinking of where the play is moving to what the forwards are going to do and where you should be on the ice.

Keep your feet moving. Forwards are told to keep moving in the offensive zone and on the rush. Take a look at this youtube video to check out some basic stickhandling skills that you and the kiddos can work on when you re off the ice. 2 d turn step outs players perform quick start backward and pivot out to the wall and stop.