Cross Dot Relay Pass
Skill: Timing and traffic, Passing and Receiving stance, developing soft hands (cushion), passing with accuracy using the 3 zones of a pass.
Purpose: Passer must time and navigate traffic and lanes. Passer uses tape to tape method of passing for developing accuracy. Passer develops stance/balance and hand/eye coordination used to pass accurately, receive, control. Passer learns to soften hands (cushion) while receiving a pass and uses all 3 zones (load, aim/fire, follow) in sending a pass. Stance should be varried from the opposite side receiver as passes and receives need to be handled from various angles.
Directions: Cones can be setup in the drill area to create traffic in the drill path. Passers are lined up on the face off dots just above the blue line and at the face off circles under the blue line. At the directions of the leader the puck is passed through the traffic area to the tape of the receiver diagonally across from the passer. The passer then skates to the back of the receiver side line. The receiver uses soft hands and cushions the pass and sends it diagonally back the traffic area to the next passer. Receiver then skates to the back of the passer line. Focus is on accuracy and form before speed. The group should be able to do 2 - 3 repetitions within 1 minute. This drill is good for getting a larger number of skaters moving at once since 4 skaters are active in the drill at all times.
Variations: Can be used as a warm-up using the 2 face-off circles dots and passing through the slot. Can be used easily when running stationed drills. Skill set can be sweep pass, saucer pass, backhand pass, or backhand saucer pass, static pass or skating into pass.