Develop puck control while swimming so players can move with the puck, change direction, and recover possession under light pressure.
- Establish strong body position over the puck
- Puck positioned slightly in front (right shoulder)
- Progress from eyes on puck to peripheral awareness
Stationary Puck Control
Link: Foundation for all moving puck control.
- Swim forward with controlled puck touches
- Maintain consistent speed and spacing
- Keep puck within recovery distance
Straight Line Carry
Link: Transfer control from stationary to movement.
- Navigate through markers with control
- Adjust speed before changing direction
- Keep puck close through turns
Weave Through Markers
Link: Introduces controlled direction change while moving.
- Execute tight controlled turns
- Protect puck using body position
- Exit the turn under control
Curl Around Marker
Link: Reinforces control during tighter, game-like turns.
¶ 5. Pass and Swim
- Pass forward into space
- Swim to recover possession
- Regain control before next action
Pass and Swim
Link: Introduces movement off the puck and recovery timing.
¶ 6. Flick to Space and Recover
- Flick puck into reachable space
- Accelerate to recover
- Re-establish control quickly
Flick and Recover
Link: Builds separation and recovery under control.
- Maintain control with a trailing defender
- Protect puck using body and positioning
- Avoid rushed or panic touches
Trailing Pressure Carry
Link: Applies all skills under light game pressure.
- Apply puck control skills in game play
- Focus on control over speed
- Make decisions under light pressure
Short Game Play
Link: Combine all puck control skills into realistic play.
¶ Exit Standard
- Swims forward with puck under control
- Changes direction while maintaining control
- Flicks to space and successfully recovers possession
- Maintains control under light trailing pressure
- Hips and knees low
- Puck positioned in front (right shoulder)
- Progress from looking at puck to using peripheral vision
- Maintain forward movement
- Use small, controlled touches
- Keep puck within recovery distance
- Avoid panic pushes
- Slow slightly before turning
- Keep puck close through the turn
- Exit with control
¶ Flick and Recovery
- Flick to reachable space
- Accelerate to recover
- Control before next action
- Protect puck with body position
- Stay composed under pressure
- Avoid rushed touches
- Control first
- Strong body position
- Eyes up
- Protect the puck
- Recover under control
- Losing contact with the puck – Emphasize controlled touches
- Losing control during turns – Slow through the turn
- Over-flicking beyond recovery distance – Flick to reachable space
- Head down – Reinforce eyes up
- Keep pressure light and controlled
- Maintain spacing during drills
- Intervene early on poor puck habits
- Progress only when control is consistent
- Reduce spacing between markers
- Add controlled 1v1 channel play
- Require pass after successful carry
- Increase spacing between markers
- Remove trailing pressure
- Shorten swim distances