Down and Back Drill

Purpose
Players practice passing and skating.

Setup
Players form two lines in front of the net on one end of the ice.

How It Works

1. A coach blows the whistle or says “Go” to start.
2. Two players pass the puck back and forth as they skate down the middle of the ice.
3. At the faceoff circles, players turn and go back along the boards, making long passes across the ice to each other.
4. When the first two players reach the goal line, the next two players go.
5. Finished players go to the back of the opposite line.
6. Run the drill for 10-15 minutes.

Coaching Tips

• To add difficulty and further challenge players, have them skate backward down the middle of the ice while passing to each other before turning outward at the faceoff circles and transitioning to forward skating along the boards.

Tips for Younger Athletes:

• Focus on keeping passes short and controlled to ensure accuracy while moving.
• Encourage players to maintain proper hand positioning on the stick to improve passing consistency.
• Teach young skaters to keep their knees bent and maintain a low center of gravity for better balance while passing and skating.

Tips for Older Athletes:

• Emphasize quick puck movement—players should make sharp, crisp passes without slowing down their skating.
• Challenge players to use communication, such as calling for the puck or using eye contact, to enhance teamwork.
• Reinforce the importance of transitioning smoothly from forward to backward skating (if incorporating the backward passing variation).