Gretzky Deke On The Move Drill

Purpose:

Attackers build skating skills, passing and receiving skills, and a complicated way to fake out a goalie. Goalies learn to avoid falling for certain fakes and to tell when an attacker is considering a fake.

Setup:

This drill uses two attackers and a goalie.

How It Works:

Attacker 1 starts at the dot in the left circle near the net. Attacker 2 starts at the top of that same circle. Attacker 1 starts skating toward the net with the puck. When Attacker 1 reaches the bottom of the circle, Attacker 2 starts skating behind him.
Attacker 1 heads behind the net to make the goalie think that he will be looping around the net and making a shot from the goalie’s left. In reality, Attacker 1 will make a backhand pass behind him to Attacker 2. The pass should happen just as Attacker 1 gets behind the net.
Attacker 2 must be close enough that he can receive the pass cleanly and cut in to take a shot. Attacker 1 continues to skate around the goal in order to keep the charade going. This will confuse the goalie into thinking that Attacker 1 still has the puck and will be taking a shot soon.
When Attackers 1 and 2 have played their respective positions five times through, they should switch places and repeat the drill. This drill can be run on both ends of the ice, with a coach on either end to monitor

Coaching Tips:

This version of the Gretzky Deke is a bit more difficult because it requires Attacker 1 to be on the move before faking out the goalie. Attacker 2’s job is relatively similar, but they have more to pay attention to since Attacker 1 will not be passing from a stationary position.
Coaches should work with the attackers to build their confidence in each other and their timing. Attackers should practice playing both positions, and pairs should be rotated and split up so that all athletes get practice playing with all other skaters. This will help build team trust as well as team versatility.

Tips for Younger Athletes:

Before diving into the complexities of the Gretzky Deke On The Move Drill, ensure younger players have a solid grasp of basic skating, passing, and shooting techniques. Building on a firm foundation is crucial.
Teach younger players to recognize visual cues from their teammates. For example, Attacker 1 can use a head nod or a stick movement to signal when they’re about to pass, helping Attacker 2 anticipate the play.
Initially, consider using a simplified version of the drill, such as having Attacker 1 stationary or moving slower. This will allow younger players to familiarize themselves with the deke’s sequence without feeling overwhelmed.

Tips for Older Athletes:

Reinforce the importance of soft hands when executing the backhand pass behind them, ensuring the puck is delivered accurately to Attacker 2.
In order to truly fake out the goalie and opposing players, Attacker 1 should incorporate shoulder drops, head fakes, and other deceptive movements before passing.
For the goalie, emphasize the significance of tracking the puck at all times rather than focusing solely on the player. Developing an intuitive sense of when a player might pass versus shoot will enhance their ability to react to fakes.