LOOK FIRST. PASS WITH PURPOSE.™ Good Hockey passing starts with a look. Before you send the puck, notice where your teammate is, whether she is ready, and whether the passing lane is available. That quick check gives your pass a purpose.
Coach Jane™ 10-Second Hockey Lesson™
Presenter script: “Hi, Coach Jane here. Before you pass, find your teammate, check the lane, and see her stick target. Look first, then pass with purpose.”
See the Player and the Passing Lane
An open teammate is useful only if the puck has a route to reach her. Look at the space between you as well as the Player herself. If a defender moves into that lane, your original option may have changed.
Your teammate can help by showing her stick as a target and using a short call. Match the pass to where she can receive it. For beginners, start with a stationary partner before practicing moving passes.
Practice Look, Target, Pass
Set up two Players a short distance apart in a clear practice area. The receiver shows a stick target and calls the passer’s name. The passer checks the target and lane, sends the puck, and gets ready to receive it back.
After several controlled passes, the receiver can move to a new spot between turns. Reset before the next pass. The purpose is to notice a new target, not to rush the puck toward the old one.
Look Early, Then Check Again
As the drill becomes more familiar, practice noticing your options before the puck reaches you. A look ahead can help you prepare, but the picture may change as other Players move.
You still need to control the puck. Use brief looks suited to your skill level rather than trying to stare away from it throughout the drill. If the lane closes, keep possession and find another available play.
COACH JANE™ BY AGE
U5–U7 • U8–U10 • U11–U14 • U15–U18 • Junior
Choose the task that fits the Player’s experience. Age is a guide; beginners can start with the simplest version.
U5–U7 + U8–U10 — Find a Ready Partner
Use a short stationary pass. Ask the receiver to show her stick target, then let the passer look before sending the puck.
What Did You Learn?
What should you find before a simple pass?
U11–U14 — Check the Lane
Add a cone between the Players and choose a position with an open passing lane. Change positions between turns so the passer has to look again.
What Did You Learn?
What if the passing lane is blocked?
U15–U18 + Junior — Prepare the Next Play
Scan before receiving, then update the picture as the puck arrives. Combine the visual check with useful communication from your teammates.
What Did You Learn?
Why should you check again after an early scan?
Coach Jane’s Takeaway
A completed pass starts with a useful decision. Find the Player, check the route, and send the puck to a target she can use.
LOOK FIRST. PASS WITH PURPOSE.™
Keep Learning With Coach Jane
Continue with Use Your Voice on the Ice and Protect the Puck With Body Position. Take one idea from each lesson to your next practice.
ONE LESSON. ONE INSTRUCTION. ONE TAKEAWAY.™
Part of Coach Jane™ 10-Second Hockey Lessons™. Presented by The Hockey Resource™.
