ADVANCED (10-15 MIN)

• 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 teaches 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. Offensive players should have high expectations for execution!  If they don't get the job done they should have to do sprints after each rep that they miss (side-boards to side-boards), or at the end of the drill (goals = +1 point vs. dropped balls, missed nets & bad shots = -1/2 point).