I started developing various “small area games” back in the 1970s (wow, 40 years ago) because I wanted players to learn on their own more – and really be forced into competing better. Small area (usually blue line-in) games allow just that and also allow the coaches to teach in a quasi-game situation. I have presented small area games in this column several times before, starting about 20 years ago. 

Following are my favorite games/drills, but I very much encourage coaches to make up their own. As long as they create competition and fast pace, and are somewhat game situational, I love it! They are controlled “shinny.”

1. 3-on-3 Tag Up – In Zone
This is one of my two favorite games. It teaches both defense and offense as well as transition – and makes goaltenders work very hard. It is, in my opinion, the most valuable overall drill – partially because players like it, so practices are fun.

It is simply playing 3-on-3 in one end. When the puck changes hands, the team that gets the puck must “tag up” (pass the puck to the defenseman at the blue line), then they become the offense.

Variation A (basic)
• There are three on each team, plus two D at the blue line. Everybody else is lined up along the blue line.

• The puck is dumped into the corner to start the drill; whoever gets it is on offense immediately. Once the puck changes hands, the other team must pass the puck to a “tag up” defenseman at the blue line before attacking the net. 

• The tag up defenseman is exactly that, a defenseman who will pass the puck to any player on the new possession team.

• The players on the blue line keep the puck “bumped” into the zone. If the puck leaves the zone, a coach dumps another into the corner. It is a free puck (no need to tag up no matter who gets it).

• The game goes on for 30-60 seconds. The coaches can add encouragement for pace and puck movement, and might counsel the players on strategy (cycling, staying spread out, etc.) when they are resting. 

• All defensive coverage is man-on-man. This is a critical learning tool. 

• This drill teaches stickhandling skills, playmaking skills (especially 2-on-1), defensive zone coverage skills, scoring skills, pace – and is an excellent game situation goaltender training activity.

Variation B 
• The tag up now goes back to the blue line and all the other rules apply EXCEPT the tag up defenseman now shoots on the net every time the puck is tagged up. They can also x-pass to each other before shooting.

• This now becomes very much a tipping and rebounding drill, as well as intense positioning and coverage at the net. 

• It is great for defensemen to learn how to properly shoot. Defensemen get game situation shooting practice over and over again.

Variation C
• Two defensemen are at the blue line.

• The tag up D can shoot, X pass to the other D or pass.

• Many variations can be set by the coach.

It is really intense for the goaltenders who will get the best workouts of all. The goaltenders will learn to find the puck through legs and bodies and will also figure out how to minimize rebounds. This is probably the most fun drill for the players and may well teach more things than any other drill. It is also what I used as the basis for the team power play. As a team, we want to move up the ice, shoot from the outside, and go to the net as many times as possible. Once in the zone, the team just plays 3-on-3 tag up (Variation C). To make any of these tag up games more competitive, make them “challenge” games. That means, once a threesome scores, they stay and a new threesome comes to challenge. The defenders can stay as long as they aren’t scored upon. No scoring at the end of 30-60 seconds is a loss for the challengers. These challenge games can get pretty intense. Line and defensemen pride also creates  good competition. Competition is a real key to good intensity. The D can also form up 3’s and compete as forwards for variety. This can be a primary drill for two teams sharing ice.

2. Points
This is the other of my two favorite drills – and is really fun for players. It is a pure 5-on-5 in-zone shinny game with faceoffs.

• This drill is basically a 5-on-5 scrimmage in one end zone. Players not involved practice skill improvement at the other end or in the neutral zone. 

• Pucks are placed on the top of the boards adjacent to the faceoff dots on each side. With each group, three pucks are faced off on each side. The offensive team gets one point for each shot on net and five points for each goal scored. 

• The defensive team gets one point every time they clear the puck out of the zone and three points each time they move the puck out of the zone under control. 

• Lines rotate around so each gets a chance to be offense and defense; defensemen rotate and alternate as offense and defense. 

• The points’ aspect of the drill gives each team a chance to strategize; to maximize shots (on offense) and to move or clear the puck on defense, depending upon score. 

• The centers get many faceoffs and the faceoff coverages and strategies can be developed. The coaches can counsel with three-person teams and defense between rotations to help them improve, but basically they spend most of the time dropping pucks and keeping score. 

With a four-line team, there will be two groups to compete. Another coach could also do 3-on-3 tag up or 3-on-2 in-zone (see next game) in the other end – and all players will be busy.

3. 7-27; 3-on-2
The 7-27 drill is simply three forwards and two D in-zone. The forwards are always on offense; D’s are always defending. The drill should last around 60-70 seconds. 

• The coach passes the puck in to one of the (moving) three forwards.

• In the first segment, the coach yells “7 seconds” and the three forwards have 7-10 seconds to move the puck (at least once) and get a shot on net.

• The coach keeps feeding in pucks when a goal is scored or the D clears the zone; then says, “Go to 27.”

• The players immediately spread out with forwards moving, the coach passes the puck to a forward and yells 27 seconds. The three forwards have 25-30 seconds to move the puck and set up for a good shot on net.

• Then a new set of three forwards and two D’s moves in immediately and 7-27 goes again.

• Defensemen cannot totally dump the puck out; they must work it up to at least the top of circle.

It teaches forwards offensive zone play in a crunch – and when they have time to move the puck more and set up. It is critical that the forwards keep moving into good open areas to get a pass. It is critical that the defensemen learn what is most important in defending when they are outnumbered. (The game is actually 3-on-3, since the goaltenders are with the D’s).

Well, there are three great in-zone games that players will love and will learn from – and give the coach a chance to teach as the games progress. They can spice up practices.

I hope you all will try them so players can learn while having fun. They can be run at all youth levels, from Squirts on up – and are especially good at the high school level. Players will beg for more!

 

Order John Russo’s new chapterized book, “The Best of 26 Years of John Russo’s Coaches Corner”. It has been described as a “must read” for all youth coaches. Go to Russocoachescorner.com for information and ordering.

John Russo, Ph.D., is founder and now mentor to the Upper Midwest High School Elite League. He was a captain at the University of Wisconsin and recipient of prestigious hockey awards at the state (Peterson award) and national levels (Snooks Kelly). His Coaches Corner columns have appeared in Let’s Play Hockey each year since 1986.