Hockey Session (Transition Phase): Quatrain Shooting

Drill

Objective: Score goals while having to think about patterns and passing accuracy!

Set Up:

• Split your team into three groups
• Create three triangles within the 25-yard line, the top cone should be 7–10 yards from the bottom two cones
• Position a player on each of the cones and have extra players form lines behind player A
• Provide ball piles at each top cone

• The beginning passing pattern is A-B-A-C
• Have the farthest left triangle begin: player A passes to player B, player B passes to player A, player A passes to player C who dribbles into the circle and shoots
• After the first triangle completes the final pass to the shooter, the next triangle can begin their passing pattern
• After several rounds of the first passing pattern or a set amount of time, change the passing pattern to whatever you want (or ask a player to provide the pattern) — it should be at least two passes and each player should touch the ball once
• Ensure that each player is spending time in each triangle to practice shots from a variety of angles

• Quick passes which can be accomplished by passing and receiving the ball at the front foot with eyes up
• Positioning the ball and body to take shots as soon as the ball crosses the circle edge
• Know-your-exit — this drill can help players think a pass ahead, understanding where they want to go with the ball before they receive it
• First touch — putting the ball in a position from the reception to efficiently enter the circle at speed with minimal touches

• Add obstacles at the top of the circle to make shooting more of a challenge — the original challenge lies in going with speed into the circle, but feel free to add an extra dimension to the drill
• Be creative! After your players begin to understand the drill or after you've done it several times, add a required lead from the shooter or a lifted pass into space for the shooter to run onto
• Be cognizant of your goalkeeper! Make sure players are timing their passes and shots so that the goalkeeper is set and ready
• Turn it into a competition — require players to stay in their triangle for a set amount of time and count who scores the most goals