April 3, 2009 E-MAIL PRINT

Attack shooting drills

by Dan Chouinard/

Question mark shooting drill

Question mark shooting drill

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These are just a few of the shooting drills we use in the EMass Jr. Minutemen program during the offseason when training our attackers. These drills focus on dodging from ‘X,’ getting hands free from the defender, high repetitions and proper shooting mechanics. Attackers need to be able to create scoring opportunities and be able to dodge defenders to create slides, and if the slide does not come or comes late, attackers need to be able to take advantage of their opportunities. All of these shooting drills are drills that have been collected over the years by the coaches in the EMass Jr. Minutemen program attending coaching clinics. They have been instrumental in teaching our players to play at a higher level.

QUESTION MARK SHOOTING DRILL

When starting this drill, you can use a cone to act as a defender for your players to dodge. For more difficulty, add a defensive player with no stick or short handle (12-inch cut shaft) and then allow the defensive player to use his long stick.

The question mark dodge (roll back) is a key technique for all attackers to learn and master when dodging from ‘X.’ The attacker split dodges at ‘X’ and then runs full speed and stops about 5-6 yards above GLE (goal line extended) and rolls back for a shot far side low. In the diagram, the attacker split dodges from left to right at ‘X’ and drives above GLE righty, stops, plants hard with his left foot and steps away from the goal, making sure to keep the stick in front of his body. When coming out of the roll back, the attacker then switches to his left hand for a lefty shot, shooting far side low.

Keys to focus on during shooting drills:

? Dodge full speed

? Roll back should be done 5-6 yards above GLE

? Shoot far side low

When is this dodge used in a game? When a defender is overplaying the attacker to the high side (up field) and the attacker stops, plants his foot and steps away from the goal, allowing the attacker to get enough space from the defender and free his hands for a shot on goal. Getting 5-6 yards above GLE will give the attacker a good shooting angle.

ROCKER DODGE

This drill is great in combination with the question mark shooting drill and inside roll dodge because the attacker fakes the roll back dodge, freezes the defender and takes a few quick steps up field in front of the cage for a shot.

If your attacker has already beaten the defender in the game with the question mark dodge or inside roll dodge, this rocker dodge certainly will get the defender to bite and give your attacker another opportunity to free his hands, shake the defender and get off a quick shot.

The level of difficulty can be changed by using a cone, defensive player with short handle (12-inch stick) or defensive player with long pole.

Tips for shooting drills:

? Need plenty of balls

? No goalie in net so players can go in rapid fire mode and get more reps

? Have players work on quick release

? Have players alternate lines so they work both right and left shooting

? Shoot overhand

? Have players work on all dodges from ‘X’ and wing position (face, split, roll)

DODGE FROM ‘X’ AND SHOOT AFTER GETTING STEP ON DEFENDER

This is your basic dodge from ‘X’ where your attacker just flat-out runs hard and gets a step on the defender and gets his hands free for a quick shot. The attacker should make sure he gets about 5-6 yards above GLE to ensure he gets a proper shooting angle.

Attackers always should keep their head up during these drills. Coaches can add defensive and offensive players to this drill to create slides and recognize when to shoot or feed (pass).

Tips for shooting drills:

? Need plenty of balls

? No goalie in net so players can go in rapid fire mode and get more reps

? Have players work on quick release when shooting

? Have players alternate lines so they work both right and left shooting

? Shoot overhand

? Have players work on all dodges from ‘X’ and wing position (face, split, roll)

INSIDE ROLL DODGE

When starting this drill, you can use a cone to act as a defender for your players to dodge. For more difficulty, add a defensive player with no stick or short handle (12-inch cut shaft) and then allow the defensive player to use his long stick.

Dodge from ‘X,’ taking the defender one-on-one and carrying the ball one-handed above GLE (5-6 yards) and 5-6 yards wide of net. The attacker should place his body between the defender and the ball, plant hard with left foot, pivot off the left foot and step wide with the right foot, and accelerate to the goal while keeping the defender on his back. The attacker always should keep his stick in front of his body.

Keys to focus on during shooting drills:

? Dodge full speed

? Roll back should be done 5-6 yards above GLE and 5-6 yards wide of the goal

? Attackers always should keep their stick in front of their body

? Shoot far side low

FINALIZER DODGE FROM ‘X’

When starting this drill, you can use a cone to act as a defender for your players to dodge. For more difficulty, add a defensive player with no stick or short handle (12-inch cut shaft) and then allow the defensive player to use his long stick.

The finalizer dodge is a dodge where the attacker sets up the defender to make him believe the attacker is going one way, reverses pivot and goes the opposite direction. The attacker goes to one side with a one-handed cradle and then rolls back in the opposite direction.

Once the defender takes three or four steps with the attacker, the attacker then changes direction, switching hands, bringing his stick in front of him by either tucking it under the defender’s stick or going over the defender (called the swim move) and accelerating to the front of the net for a pass or shot.

Dan Chouinard is the founder, director and coach of the EMass Jr. Minutemen select team and an assistant coach at Scituate (Mass.) High School.

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