Hockey drill

Zone Entry with Speed Deception

A full-speed zone entry with a deke against light pressure, finished with a shot on net, alone or with a screen. A forward drill for U11/U12 players.

Category: Skills and tactics
Levels: U11/U12

Hockey drill diagram: Zone Entry with Speed Deception

1on1
forward
half-ice
zone entry
puck control
shooting

How it runs

This is what your players need to understand before the puck moves.

Divide players into two groups as illustrated, each with a pile of pucks. Place two coaches inside the faceoff circles.

On the whistle, the first player in Group 1 leaves with a puck. Players skate around the center faceoff dot from the inside to the outside, then explode up ice with speed toward the zone. The coach in the circle applies light pressure. The player makes a move and drives the net for a shot. After shooting, the player stays at the net.

Next, the first player in Group 2 leaves with a puck. Players skate around the center faceoff dot from the inside to the outside and pass to their teammate, who returns the pass immediately. The player accelerates into the zone, regains the puck, and attacks with speed. The coach in the circle applies light pressure. The player makes a move and shoots on net with a teammate screening in front.

Coach Steve's take

Young forwards slow down as they enter the zone because they are afraid of losing the puck. We want the opposite: speed, then a decision. A deke works best when the player has momentum. Keep the coach’s pressure light so they succeed, and only increase it once the deke is confident. If the player stops before he fakes, that is where you step in.