1. Forward Split Drills: “Creating Habits & Identity”
BEMIDJI STATE HOCKEY
Forward Split Drills: “Creating Habits & Identity”
By: Ted Belisle

2. Creating Habits and Identity
FORWARD SPLIT DRILLS
Creating Habits and Identity
Creating Habits:
Puck Protection
Cutbacks
One-timers & Quick release Shots
Puck support
Defensive stick position
Defensive body position
First on Pucks
Read & React (Instinctual)
Creating Identity: “Pack of Wolves”
Relentlessness
Physically Determined
Puck hunger: Puck pursuit / Puck recovery
Intensity Based
Speed
Toughness

3. CUTBACK DRILL SET-UP: EXECUTION:
Coach in middle of O-Zone stick length away from top of circles with pucks. Forwards single file in line with dot line stick length away from top of circle. Goalie in net. Players rotate continuously into the drill. Coach can switch sides when everyone has completed the one side.
EXECUTION:
Coach dumps a puck into the corner for the O1 (Offensive Player 1) to retrieve. (Coach can also make a direct play to O1). The DF (Defensive Forward) closes space on the O1 and allows O1 to pick up the puck and head up the wall. The O2 (Offensive player 2) sets up in the “Sweet Spot” area of the circle presenting himself for a pass and quick shot. The DF has to prevent O1 from attacking the net and middle of the ice using good defensive habits. O1 cannot go behind the net or above the top of the circle forcing O1 to utilize cutbacks to navigate along the wall and make a play to O2 in the Sweet Spot. Once O1 makes the play to O2; O2 shoots the puck with a 1-timer or quick release. O1 then attacks the net looking for any rebound. After the shot attempt and looking for the rebound O1 is now done the drill. The coach sends a new puck into the corner and the drill continues with the DF now becoming O1 and O2 now becoming DF and a new player becoming O2. Force players to make play on their forehands to the Sweet Spot. This allows for 2 cutbacks if you are on your off hand.
VARIATIONS:
Habit forming: Token pressure by defensive player
Competative: Allow Defensive forward to try and put Offensive player into wall
Creative: Allow for players to be creative with offense and read plays available.

4. CUTBACK DRILL DIAGRAM P P O2 O1

5. CUTBACK DRILL VIDEO

6. WOLFPACK DRILL
SET-UP: Coach in the middle of zone between the top of the circles with pucks. Forwards line up in 4 single file lines. 1) A line of forwards (Green) stick length away from dot line towards the boards. 2) A second line of Forwards (Black) stick length away from dot line towards the middle of the ice. 3) A third line (Green) stick length away from other dot line towards the middle. 4) A fourth line (Black) A stick length away from other dot line towards boards. Drill starts and stops with whistle. Players with numerical advantage can’t score and must keep puck possession. Players with numerical disadvantage are allowed to score.
EXECUTION: Coach dumps the puck into a corner on the whistle signaling a race for the loose puck for each team. Which corner the coach dumps towards; signifies the color team that will have the numerical advantage. If dumped to Green’s Corner; 1 Green player from line 1 and one Green player from line 3 will activate. Also 1 Black player from line 2 will activate and will try to score. **If it is 3v2 the activation will be the same except for an additional Green Player From line 1 and an additional Black Player from line 4. Players cannot go above the top of the circles for the drill. Players working for puck possession must all be on same half of ice as puck. Keep shifts short (15 to 20 seconds max) and allow some time for rest between whistles. Rotate start of drill from right corner to left corner.
VARIATIONS:
1v2
2v3
Finished Checks
Non finished checks.

7. Wolfpack Drill Diagram 1v2

8. Wolfpack Drill Diagram 2v3

9. Wolfpack Drill Video

10. NOTES, ETC. Cutback drill video online: Wolfpack drill video online:
Wolfpack drill video online: