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"The Mongols fought as if they were from a higher league" -Dan Carlin

TOTAL ESTIMATED TIME:

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Warm Up Drill #1: Running Around The Perimeter

*Variation #1C (5 min): "With Shots." Same as the variations above except players are now permitted to take shots on the goalie if they make eye contact with each other. Players gather loose balls and are also able (and encouraged) to pass amongst each other, and the coaches (in the middle), freely.
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Fundamental Skills Analysis

Dynamic Stretch
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5 pass 2-on-1

Have left handed and right handed players line up, as shown on the diagram. There will be a pile of balls with each line. Defensive players will line up near the mid-boards, (hanging out below the righties). The drill begins with a defender entering the middle-floor of the defensive end (on both ends), and an east-west pass from a Righty to a Lefty, or vice-versa (pass 1). The player who recieved the pass will then pass the ball back to the defensive player in their end (pass 2). This player will now head-man the ball to the player who initatied the drill (pass 3). Both "offensive" players will run up-floor. The ball carrier will pass to the defender in the other end (pass 4). This defender will head-man the ball to the opposite player (pass 5). Both "offensive" players will now attack the same end they came from, in a 2-on-1 scenario. After the play, the drill will restart from the other end of the floor, ending in a 2-on-1 in the other direction.
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Loose Ball Drill #12: Haser’s Onion Drill ("Death By LB's")

Have a line of players positioned on each side of a coach who is stationed, with a pile of balls, near the shooter position on one side of the defensive zone. Players should be facing the near-side corner, with the coach standing behind them; the coach rolls the ball into either corner, with players reacting upon first sight of the ball. The two players battle for the loose ball and once someone gets it, that player must successfully pass it to another defender who started the drill at the far-side high breakout position. This player transitions the ball up the floor, at which point two offensive players (lefty & righty) come off the bench. The player who lost the loose ball is subsequently chasing down the play as it transitions to the offensive zone, where two defenders are waiting in the "I" formation. If the chaser is able to bring the play back to even strength, the coach allows play to continue for a maximum of 10 seconds. The player who won the initial loose ball battle fills the far-side breakout position, and the two defenders who were just in the previous play jog back to the defensive end and into the loose ball line. This drill is much harder for the defenders than the offensive players, so should be used strategically. It teachers the defenders the value of winning the loose ball battles, otherwise having to suffer the fate of what is the equivalent of multiple re-sets; playing defense while exhausted.
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Defense Drill #4A: Shot Blocking ("Close The Gap")

Start with lines of left-handed & right handed players in the shooter positions on their proper floor sides. Each player in line should have a ball, with a "same-handed" defender standing between the shooter and the net, and their “hips to the boards.” *Variation #1 (5 min): "Stick Length Away." The player in the shooter position (on one side of the floor) should try to get a shot on net while the defender, standing a sticks length away, attempts to block the shot (Variation #1A). After the shot, the defender who just finished the drill runs to the back of the line and the offensive player that just shot is now on defense, waiting for players on the other side of the drill to take their turn. *Variation #2 (5 min): "Start At The Pylon." Play starts when the coach blows their whistle, at which point the player in the shooter position (on one side of the floor) should try to get a shot on net while the defender (starting from the pylon) "closes the gap" (side-shuffling) with their stick up, attempting to block the shot. Coaches may also choose to have players use tennis balls at first, if defenders are reluctant to stand in the shooting lane. Golden rule = don't get used as a screen. Variation #3 (5 min): "Shooter to Shooter Pass." For intermediate players this drill can progress to a pass from shooter-to-shooter (Variation #3A), or mid-boards to point position (Variation #3B), using the same protocols as described above, except play starts when the ball is first passed instead of on the coaches whistle. The offender has the option to take the shot, or to fake the shot (face dodge etc.), which turns into a 1-on-1 defensive situation
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Tactics Analysis:

Split Floor O/D
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Offense Drill #10: Seneca "Re-Pick" Drill

OFFENSE (7 mins) Begin in one or both ends of the floor with groups of lefts and rights on their proper floor side, in 1 of 2 different spots on the floor: high near the shooter position (Variation #1 - 10 min), or down "low" near the mid-boards (Variation #2 - 10 min). Pylons may also be used as markers on the floor for less-experienced players. Depending on the position/direction of the pick (north-south vs. east-west) the two players come off of the pick (in their respective "Lanes") and imagine as though the first attempt didn't get either player "freed up." Without getting too far away from the ball-carrier the picker comes back for a second attempt (re-pick), once again rolling to the net and this time receiving a pass (or the ball carrier can take a shot). Players at the mid-boards and high players switch lines after taking their turn in the drill, with one side going and then the other, in terms of how the drill operates.
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Offense Drill #4A: "Seal/Screen" The Shooter

OFFENSE (7 mins) Variation #2 (7 min): "Shooter-To-Shooter Pass." Is the same as the above variation except the opposite-side shooter sends a lead pass to the crease player as they are arriving at the shooter position, coming over top of the seal, catching and shooting around the screen (as efficiently as possible). Players receiving the pass should also be "flashing their stick," as a good habit. Players at the shooter position should pass, seal; then switch to the same-side crease line (shoot), and vice-versa.
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Defense Drill #9A: "Get On Hands" Drill

DEFENSE (7 mins) Variation #1 (7 min): "On-Ball." The first player on one side of the floor or the other, first engages the defender (while protecting the ball) and then is required to back-pedal to the pylon before taking the defender 1 vs. 1 to the net (5 seconds max) for a quality shot. The defender's job is to "get on hands" with "short" slashes while the offender is back-pedaling (shopping), at the same time being sure to stay balanced & in good "top-side defensive positioning," not "getting beat" to the net. Aside from that, the object of the drill is for the defender to get as many "legal" slashes on the offenders gloves as possible. Alternate sides each rep and also switch positions of the lines between crease and shooter halfway through the drill. Players in the drill play offense, and then play defense against the opposite-side line, before eventually exiting the drill.
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Defense Drill #9B: Close The Gap & Recover To Help

DEFENSE (7 mins) 4v4 w/ backdoor lock off
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Defense Drill #12A: 2 Vs. 2 On-Ball (High/Low "Walling")

Full Team (10 mins) Variation #1 (10 min): "2 Vs. 2." Start with an offensive player at the crease ("low") and shooter ("high") positions, with 2 defenders stationed in top-side defensive positioning ("the wall"), in one or both ends of the floor. Make sure that each end has an even mix of both right and left-handed players. Offensive players start with a ball (passed in from coach), attempting to get quality shot by continuously picking, sealing and/or cycling for each other, trying to create "separation" on-ball. Allow 10 seconds max for players to make a play. Continue the play if possible after a shot (attack rebounds), at the discretion of the coaches whistle. Right-handed players go against left-handed players ("proper defensive side"), with offensive players doing the drill, then going to defense; defensive players exiting the drill. Bring all of the lefty’s or righty’s into opposite ends after 5-10 minutes to practice “cross-handed” defending.
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Offense Drill #7B: Six Nations Shuffle (On-Ball Picks)

OFFENSE (7 mins) Variation #5B (10 min): "Up & Down Picks." Balls start with one line of shooters, switching which line has balls halfway through the drill. This variation of would be starting with a swing pass from shooter to shooter, this time having an up-pick on-ball, with a simultaneous down-pick happening off-ball.
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Defense Drill #3B: Off-Ball Shadowing ("Open Stance")

DEFENSE (7 mins) Variation #3 (7 min): "Player Obstacle." Same as the above variations except after playing defense players remain between the pylons, acting as an obstacle for the new player playing defense to have to evade while shadowing.
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Defense Drill #12C: 2 Vs. 2 Off-Ball

Full Team (7 mins) Variation #1 (10 min): "2 Vs. 2 With Passer." Start with 2 offensive players at the crease (low) and shooter (high) positions, with 2 defenders stationed in an open stance. Offensive players continuously pick, seal and/or cycle, trying to get open off-ball, while the coach or volunteer passer tries to make as many consecutive passes as possible to an open player; defenders practice their switching techniques and abide by the 2-for-1 rule while also practicing their clamping skills. Advanced defenders should be held accountable to the the "high/middle" defenders responsibility of "showing help" (open stance) when the ball is swung to the other side of the floor. Coaches/volunteer may also choose to take a shot at any time, forcing the defenders to "box-out" and the goalie not to cheat; goalies should also communicate any loose balls ("ball down"). For this drill in particular, allow ball carriers (including coaches) only 3 seconds to hold onto the ball, completing as many passes back and forth as possible, until a ball is dropped. Keep track of which duo/trio gets the most successful catches. Give players 20 seconds maximum if passes aren’t dropped and count down the last 5 seconds of the shot clock, at which point the players are allowed to look to generate a quality shot. After they have taken their turn, offensive players switch positions with the defensive players, and defensive players exit the drill.
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Defense Drill #13A: Off-Ball "Help" (Fixed)

Full Team (7 mins) Variation #2A (5 min): "3 Vs. 3." Start with 2 offensive players at the crease (low) and shooter (high) positions, with the 3rd offensive player starting in the shooter position on one-side of the floor. Match up 3 other players in their respective defensive positions. The weak-side shooter is fixed in that area of the floor, acting as more of a feeder (also promoting off-ball "help"), but is still able to shoot if the help defender over-commits and isn't able to recover. If the goalie makes a save or there is a rebound, the defensive players should try to successfully clear the zone with the ball. For rotating through the drill, players who started the drill at the crease position (on both sides; defense & offense) are out of the drill, and players who started at the shooter position (defense & offense) are now at the crease position on the weak-side; with two new defenders/offenders entering the drill on the strong-side. Offenders/defenders should switch between being on defense or being on offense each time through the drill (unless playing the Offense-Defense transition system).
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Defense Drill #13B: Off-Ball "Help" (Dynamic)

Full Team (7 mins) Variation #2B (7 min): "3 Vs. 3." Start with 2 offensive players at the crease (low) and shooter (high) positions respectively, with the 3rd offensive player starting in the shooter position on the opposite side. Match up 3 other players in their respective defensive positions. Coaches should allow the offensive players 15-20 seconds max to get a shot off, also allowing them to continue to play if there’s a “re-set” from a shot. The weak-side shooter is now able to back-door cut and/or go one-on-one to the net. If the goalie makes a save or there is a rebound, the defensive players should try to successfully clear the zone with the ball. For rotating through the drill, players who started the drill at the crease position (on both sides; defense & offense) are out of the drill, and players who started at the shooter position (defense & offense) are now at the crease position on the weak-side; with two new defenders/offenders entering the drill on the strong-side. Offenders/defenders should switch between being on defense or being on offense each time through the drill (unless playing the Offense-Defense transition system).
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Tactics Analysis:

Split Floor O - Set plays (5v5, PP) D - (PK, Triangle Rotation)
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Rotating Box "Jump The Point"

DEFENSE (10 mins) A rotating ("jump") box is a set-play for the defense, which allows them to apply aggressive pressure against a power-play, using a series of slides executed on a “go” call. It can technically be utilized on any pass around the horn, and is very much a timing play; generally communicated on the bench prior to the start of the penalty-kill situation. For the "jump the point" version, the first "slide" (Rotation #1) happens after the high defenders anticipate a pass from the opposite-handed shooter to the point player. When this happens, the off-ball high defender pressures ("jumps") the point (arriving at the same time the ball arrives), and the on-ball high defender "jumps" the passer; the ball-side low defender also needs to lock-off ("jump") their check. This leaves the point player with only one option, which is a tough “behind the back,” or “cross-body” pass to the same-handed shooter. If successful, the off-ball low defender needs to slide up to this shooter, and all other players need to rotate in the opposite direction of the ball, in order to get back into a box as fast as possible (Rotation #2).
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"Rotating Triangle" (Rotations #1 & #2)

DEFENSE (10 mins) Starting in a two player high triangle, the ball-side defender is slightly higher, standing in the shooting lane and passing lane, with their stick up (Rotation #1). The off-ball high defender sags until they are split between the shooter and the crease player and level with the mid-boards, with their stick in the passing lane ready to pick-off any passes to the crease. The low defender should be positioned in the passing lane, between the off-ball crease and on-ball shooter. When the ball-side shooter passes the ball to the same-side crease player, the low defender should play cat & mouse, with the off-ball high defender also ready to slide down to cover the “crease-to-crease” pass at "GLE" (Rotation #2). If the ball gets passed back up to either shooter, the high defender on that side approaches in the shooting and passing lane, with the off-ball high defender again splitting the off-ball shooter and crease player, with the help of the low defender (Rotation #3). Any time the ball gets swung from shooter to shooter, the low defender switches from one side of the crease to the other (Rotation #4). If the offender’s string together multiple skip passes consecutively, one of the defenders should yell “hold” in an attempt to re-establish proper positioning; preventing over-committing and confusion. This defense can be very effective but requires smart defenders with quick feet.
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"Rotating Triangle" (Rotation #3 & #4)

DEFENSE (cont.)
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5-On-5 Play #9A ("Double - Up-Picks") & Play #9B ("Double - Up & Down Pick")

OFFENSE 9A. Double - "Up-Picks" The point player passes to the strong-side shooter and then cuts the middle; the strong-side shooter passes to the weak-side shooter. Once the point player gets to the top of the crease, both crease players leave for east-west up-picks at their respective shooter positions, while the point player goes around the net. The weak-side shooter comes overtop of their pick for a shot (Option #3), swing pass to the strong-side overtop of their pick (Option #2), or to the point player who is now left at the vacant crease on the strong-side (Option #1). If none of these options are open, the strong-side picker may also be open rolling to the net. The weak-side picker also rolls if the ball is swung to the strong-side.
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5-On-4 Box Play #5C (Off-Ball Quick Stick) & Play #5D (Off-Ball Up-Pick)

OFFENSE 5D. Up-Pick - "Off Ball" (Bottom Diagram) The point player passes to the same-handed shooter and then seals for the opposite-handed (weak-side) crease player. The strong-side crease player simultaneously sets an east-west up-pick for the strong-side shooter. Before the pick arrives the ball carrier passes to the off-ball crease player (weak-side) and then steps overtop of the pick (Option #1), with the picker rolling to the middle (Option #2). The crease player passes to whichever option is open, otherwise also has the option to shoot if they are wide open after the seal (Option #3).
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5-On-4 Box Play #7C ("Dice - Middle Vacate 1") & Play #7D (“Dice - Middle Vacate 2”)

OFFENSE 7C. Middle Player Vacate - "Down Picks" Players on the outside pass the ball around the horn and when the ball gets back to the weak-side shooter position, the ball is passed low and both shooters down-pick for the crease players, on‐ball slightly before off-ball. The player in the middle simultaneously vacates the middle up into the point position (Option #1), otherwise either of the off-ball players are likely to be open (Option #2 & #3).
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5-On-4 Box Play #7E (“Dice - Off-Ball Scissors”) & Play #7F (“Dice - Create Passing Lane”)

OFFENSE 7F. Middle Player – "Create Passing Lane" Players should begin in the 2-2-1 formation to disguise this set-play (the weak-side crease player shifts to the middle after the ball comes "around the horn" on their side). The ball is then passed from the point player to the weak-side shooter (initiating the play) and three other players work together picking up & down (at the same time) to create a passing lane, as well as time & space, for the strong-side crease player (Option #1). The strong-side shooter rolls to the net off of their down-pick as a secondary option (Option #2).
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Defense Drill #15A: 5 Vs. 5 - Sorting ("Short Change")

Variation #1 (10 min): "Defensive Short Change." Random PP/PK Start in one end of the floor with one player on their proper-side, standing with a ball (behind the rag-line), on the far-side of the floor (relative to the benches). Start the defensive players on the bench closest to the net, at the back-door. The other 4 offensive players should be on the opposite bench, in proper "bench order." On the coach's whistle the offensive player with the ball enters the zone and runs it deep to the far-side, with all other players on offense and defense coming off of their respective benches (Variation #1A). In Variation #1B, coaches can also experiment with sending players in different incremental waves in order to create fast break scenarios (i.e. 1 offense, 1 defense, 2 offense, 2 defense). Defensive players do their best to get into "the hole" and then sort out defensive match-ups. Variation #1C has two defenders starting "in the hole," coming out and double teaming the ball carrier while the coaches subsequently release players from the offensive and then defensive benches, at varying intervals. The offense should be allowed 15-20 seconds to play offense; rotating to defense, with the defenders then moving over to the offense bench. If your team is playing offense-defense transition system, just re-start the drill with 5 new offense/defense ready to go (or allow 2 reps before changing players).