3-Cone Warm-up

3-Cone Warm-up

Drill Description

The drill timing is controlled by the whistle.

On the whistle, Players 1, 2, & 3 in both corners leave with pucks.

Player 1’s perform a tight turn on the near cone, accelerate towards the net and take a shot from just over the blueline from the near lane. They continue on to the net looking for a rebound. They then face up ice and act as a screen for the next shot.

Player 2’s perform a tight turn around the centre cone, accelerate to the blueline and shoot from the centre lane. The shot should be low. Player 1’s are in front of the net screening and looking to tip. Player 2’s continue to the net looking for a rebound. Player 2’s now position themselves with Player 1’s in front of the goal.

Player 3’s perform a tight turn around the far cone and accelerate to the blueline before taking a shot on goal from the far lane. Again, this shot should be low. Player 3 can also try a slap-pass to one of the screening players who slide off to the side of the net. Player 3 continues to drive the net.

The whistle for the next round goes when the 3rd puck is cleared from the front of the net or ideally is in the back of the net.

Players 1 & 2 must keep their head up through the neutral zone.

This drill should be fast paced. Minimum 12 skaters needed, 18 ideal. As always, half-way through the drill switch corners so players practice turning both directions.

Teaching Points

  • Explosive acceleration on whistle.
  • Control and protect puck on turns.
  • Head up in the neutral zone.
  • Hit the net.
  • Low shot.
  • Vary shot type (wrist, slap, snap, backhand).
  • Proper screen positioning.

Variation

After Player 1 tips/screens Player 2’s shot, they become defensive player and tries to move or gain position on Player 2 when Player 3 is shooting (1-on1 battle in front of net).

Notes for the Coach

Players will tend to move into the centre lane to shoot. Stay on them to keep to their lane. In a game it’s not always possible to move to the centre to shoot and from the goalie’s perspective, they need to work on their lateral movement while being screened. Having shots from the three lanes encourages them to move to stay square to the shooter.

If you have any techniques, or tactics that you want to work on and need a drill, post in the comments and I’ll try and post a new drill each week that touches on those areas of the game.