Offense Drill #4A: “Seal/Screen” The Shooter
- Arrange players in one or both ends of the floor depending on numbers. Have them stationed on their proper floor sides, at the crease and shooter position on both sides of the floor. It is also possible to run this drill with lines at the crease and point positions ("seal the point").
Variation #1 (15 min): "High Screen & Shot." The shooters begin with the ball and start the drill on one side with a pass down to the same-side crease player (who "pops" out to receive the pass).
After receiving the pass the crease player runs up to the shooter position and the player at the shooter position seals an imaginary defender. The timing of this exchange is paramount, with the player coming overtop of the seal ideally doing so at the exact same time that the seal is getting locked in and "brushing shoulders" with the sealer. The crease player then takes an outside shot around or over top of the screen being established by their teammate (could be a set-shot, drag or sweep).
The player sealing the defender attacks the rebound (Variation #1A) or a coach can hit them with a pass (Variation #1B), or loose ball (Variation #1C), as they roll "in tight" for a shot. Both players then switch lines and the drill alternates from side to side each repetition.
Variation #2 (10 min): "Dummy Defense." Same as above except a single defender is playing contain defense at the shooter position (Variation #2A); the rotation for the drill sees players take their turn at the shooter, next playing defense, eventually switching lines to the crease position. Advance to 100% "full defense" (Variation #2B), with the ball carrier having the option to shoot or make a dump pass to the roller depending what the defender does. After playing defense, players should attempt to corral a rebound off of the goalie (shooting if it's there).
Variation #3 (7 min): "Skip Pass." This variation starts on one side with a pass down to the crease player. The crease player pops out to receive the pass and then sends a skip pass to the far-side shooter position, where the shooter seals and the off-ball crease player receives a "lead pass" for a "screen shot."
Players receiving the pass should also be "flashing their stick," as a good habit.
Alternate this action from side-to-side, with players first passing then receiving a pass or sealing on their side, before eventually exiting the drill and switching lines.
Variation #4 (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 at the shooter position should pass, seal; then switch to the same-side crease line (shoot), and vice-versa.
Variation #5 (7 min): "Screen & Roll." Same as above except the players setting the seal/screen roll underneath towards the outside lane (after holding the seal for 1-2 seconds), receiving a dump pass from the shooter who first fakes a shot.
Variation #6 (7 min): "No Drops/No Misses Game." For every ball that is dropped and/or misses the net during the drill players will have to sprint from one side-board (or end-board) to the other. For every goal that is scored, one sprint is removed from the total, with goalies having to run if the players keep their sprint total at or below zero.
Variation #7 (10 min): "2 Vs. 2." Same as the previous variations except 2 players on the same-side are on offense against 2 defenders. Balls start up high with a pass low and seal at the shooter position, continuing to play 2 vs. 2 for a maximum of 10 seconds, utilizing as many seals as necessary to get a quality shot.
The rotation through the drill would be the same as Variation #6, except both the shooter and crease player move to defense after taking their turn on offense.
The other way to do it would be for players to first start on defense and then switch to offense, which makes them more tired on either defense or offense.
Variation #8 (10 min): "4 Vs. 4" Same as Variation #7 except it is 2 vs. 2 on both sides of the floor at the same time. Repetitive seals should be encouraged by the coaches and players are given a maximum of 20 seconds to get a quality shot; switching which side starts with balls halfway through the drill.

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