Great drills for defensemen to meet forwards at blue line, pivot to backwards and then determine whether to:
a. force forward to boards
b. poke/sweep check puck away
c. perform a "C" cut backwards to 'hip' check
d. gain control of puck to create 'break out'
e. maintain 'GAP' control
Line team up equally between the two-face-off circles, at the hash marks as shown, facing center ice. Call out a player's name. Player skates to center ice and curls and skates to and between line of waiting defensemen. Coach calls out a players name to become the defender. Defender skates to blue line, pivots backward and must do one of the above. The defender becomes the 'forward'. Perform drill a couple of times without pucks. Then, switch to carrying the puck.
Thanks to Drew Cammorata
for his drill submissions.
Drew Cammorata
PeeWee 'C' coach