It is always a problem to practice team play with only three lines. Most minor hockey is in this situation. This is an option the coach can use as a Transition Game or as a Controlled Scrimmage situation. With less than 3 sets of D there would have to be a pause to wait for the D to get to the other end.
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T2-4 – D100 – 3 Team PP-PK Scrimmage – U18F
Key Points:
Create team play situations where the offense moves through all 3 zones vs passive or active defensive pressure.
Description:
1. Group one attack vs Group two.
2. Group three wait at the other end or skate saving ice in the neutral zone.
3. Shoot the puck down on a clear – goal – frozen puck.
4. Group three now attack vs Group one while Group two saves in neutral zone.
5. Defending team leaves one player in Nzone to kill 4-5 or two if 2 short. Join next attack.
*The coach may want to use this as a controlled scrimmage situation and stop the play etc.
*Rotate the players killing the penalties.
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I had only one goalie last night and this attack-defend-rest rotation worked very well. We had three sets of 5 in different colours (the green and white reversibles and I had 5 red pinnies) After the puck was cleared down the ice the attacking team skated into the neutral zone ready to defend.
The key points I gave for the pplay were; 'either you or the puck moves and I want a pass or shot every 2". We start our pp by attacking the seam at the hash marks between the F and D. they have three options.
1. Skate between them and shoot or pass to the F on that side or the D coming back door.
2. If the D pressures pass low and head to the net. the low player can score or pass to any of the other 4 players or if those options aren't there then cycle through the seam again.
3. If the F pressures then pass to the point and the D can shoot, go to the middle and set up a high triangle, or pass right back if the pk f denies these options.
I have never done this as a full ice game before and it was very effective for getting everyone to practice the team play situation – especially with only one goalie.
'The Game is the Greatest Coach'
'Enjoy the Game'