MAKE THE GOALIE FIND IT.™ Shoot Through Traffic when bodies and sticks make the puck harder for the Goalie to track. Coach Joey™ teaches Players to find a real lane and make the shot useful.
COACH JOEY™ BY AGE
U5-U7 • U8-U10 • U11-U14 • U15-U18 • Junior
U5-U7 + U8-U10 — Get the Puck to the Net
If the lane is safe and open enough, shoot toward the net instead of waiting forever for a perfect opening.
WHAT DID YOU LEARN?
What should you do when you have a clear enough lane to the net?
U11-U14 — Use Traffic
Look for teammates or defenders between you and the Goalie. A quick shot around or through traffic may be difficult for the Goalie to track.
WHAT DID YOU LEARN?
Why can traffic help a shot?
U15-U18 + Junior — Change the Release Lane
Use a small lateral move, drag, or release-point change to shoot around a defender’s stick and through a screen. Choose the lane quickly before it closes.
WHAT DID YOU LEARN?
What is the goal of changing the release lane?
Why Screens Matter
Goalies rely on early visual information. If bodies or sticks delay that information, reaction time becomes shorter. Therefore, a well-timed shot through traffic can be more dangerous than a harder shot from a perfectly visible lane.
Find a Real Lane
Do not simply fire into the nearest shin pads. Move the puck enough to create a path toward the net. Meanwhile, keep your release quick so the defender cannot close the lane again.
Think About Rebounds
Traffic can also create second chances. For example, a low shot through bodies may produce a rebound into a crowded scoring area. Teammates should be ready to stop at the net and locate the puck.
5 Smart Ways to Shoot Through Traffic
Shoot Through Traffic when the puck can still reach the net. A screen helps only if the shot avoids the first defender and gives the Goalie a difficult read.
1. Find a Real Shooting Lane
Do not fire directly into shin pads. Move the puck or change your release point enough to get the shot through the first layer of pressure.
2. Use the Screen
If a teammate or defender is between you and the Goalie, release before the Goalie gets a clear view. The screen can reduce reaction time.
3. Keep the Shot Low Enough for Second Chances
A shot through traffic can create rebounds and loose pucks. Players near the net should be ready for the play after the first save.
4. Change the Release Point
Pulling the puck slightly inside or outside can open a lane. To Shoot Through Traffic, the Player may need to adjust the release rather than simply shoot harder.
5. Make the Goalie Save It
Traffic makes the shot useful only if the puck reaches the scoring area. Prioritize getting the puck through and on or near the net over maximum power.
Practice Shooting Through Screens
Use a stationary screen first and require the shooter to change the release point until a lane appears. Add a moving screen or defender later so the shooter must read when the lane opens.
Continue with Reset After a Mistake and Short Shifts. For more development resources, visit USA Hockey training materials.
Coach Joey’s Takeaway
A Goalie cannot save what they cannot track early. MAKE THE GOALIE FIND IT.™
Coach Joey™ 10-Second Hockey Lesson™
MAKE THE GOALIE FIND IT.™
ONE LESSON. ONE INSTRUCTION. ONE TAKEAWAY.™
Part of Coach Joey™ 10-Second Hockey Lessons™. Presented by The Hockey Resource™.