Scoring in Ice Hockey requires split-second timing and pinpoint accuracy. Shooting drills are a great way to get reps in this important skill.
Here are a few effective shooting drills for youth ice hockey:
- Finding the lane
To run this drill, set up two nets so that they’re facing each other inside the blue line. Place pucks on the face-off dots. The drill involves players keeping their heads up as they find a shooting lane.
The objective is to take accurate and hard shots on the net and avoid the barriers that create the lane to the net.
- 5-shot
This drill helps develop shooting ability with a quick release. Players have to form a line in the offensive zone corner and face the circle on their side of the ice. The coach can stand next to the players and act as the passer, allowing one player to participate at a time.
The first player skates around the outer part of the faceoff circle. The player receives five pucks and must shoot rapidly into the net.
- Give and go
Players can form a line and have the coach stand near the offensive zone corner, across from the players. A turned over net can be placed in the center of the faceoff circle. The coach passes to an oncoming player, who receives the pass and moves around the net to shoot.
With these drills, any youth team can improve their shooting accuracy and get more comfortable with offensive plays.