Pass. Move. Get Open.
Hockey does not stop after you make a pass.
JOEY – One of the simplest habits a young Player can learn is also one of the most important:
Coach Joey’s lesson is straightforward.
Make the pass. Then move to open ice and become an option for your teammate again.
Standing still after passing the puck makes the next play harder.
Moving without the puck can make everything easier.
Why Players Should Move After Passing
A pass changes the position of the puck.
It should also change the position of the Player who made the pass.
Moving after a pass can:
- Create another passing option.
- Pull a defender away from the puck.
- Open space for a teammate.
- Help maintain puck possession.
- Create better scoring opportunities.
- Keep the play moving.
Good Hockey Players are involved even when they do not have the puck.
Movement matters.
Do Not Watch Your Pass
Young Players will sometimes make a good pass and then stop to watch what happens.
The better habit is to immediately look for open ice.
Ask:
Where can I move next?
Can my teammate pass the puck back to me?
Can I create space for another Player?
The Player without the puck can influence the play just as much as the Player carrying it.
Give Your Teammate an Option
A teammate receiving the puck needs choices.
If every Player stands still, those choices disappear quickly.
Moving into open space provides another outlet.
Sometimes the puck comes right back.
Other times your movement creates room for somebody else.
Both can help the Team.
Coaches Can Reinforce the Habit
Coaches can encourage Players to think about three actions:
PASS.
Move the puck to the right teammate.
MOVE.
Do not remain where you made the pass.
GET OPEN.
Find space where you can help the play again.
It is a simple sequence that can be reinforced during practices, small-area games and regular game situations.
Coach Joey’s Takeaway
PASS. MOVE. GET OPEN.
Do not admire your pass.
Make the pass and become useful again.
That is today’s Coach Joey™ 10-Second Hockey Lesson™.
ONE LESSON. ONE INSTRUCTION. ONE TAKEAWAY.™
Presented by The Hockey Resource™
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