Full Ice Shooting Warm-Up Progression by Marty Wilford is a great way to get players skating, passing, and shooting early in practice. This drill emphasizes quick puck movement, communication, and shooting.
Setup
- Pucks and players are positioned at all four blue lines.
- Coaches or cones are placed at the center ice face-off circles.
Progression 1 – Inside Coaches / Cones:
- Two players cross and drop a pass, then skate up the center of the ice, making one-touch passes.
- They complete a final one-touch pass before taking a quick-release shot.
- Players should maintain proper spacing, ensuring they are not too far ahead or behind each other as they move up the ice.
- Once one side finishes, the opposite side goes in the other direction.
Progression 2 – Outside Coaches / Cones:
- Two players cross and drop a pass, then skate up the outside lane.
Part 1:
- Players make one pass at center ice.
- The player with the puck skates in for a shot, while the other player looks for a rebound.
Part 2:
- Same as Part 1, but the puck carrier makes a seam pass just over the blue line.
- The receiving player takes a quick-release shot, while the other player looks for a rebound.
Part 3:
- Same as Part 2, but instead of a quick shot over the blue line, the player passes to their teammate driving toward the net for a backdoor pass.
Coaching Points
- Players must communicate! Call for passes and stay aware of teammates.
- Keep sticks on the ice so teammates can clearly see passing options.
- Focus on quick, crisp passes and quick-release shots to maintain tempo.
Variations
- Coaches or cones can be placed at the center ice face-off circles.
- Coaches can apply light pressure at center ice to force players to keep their heads up and make decisions while passing.
