A little more confidence. A little more fun. Free to use.
PRACTICE BARNHOCKEY DRILLS & PRACTICE PLANSBuild a practice
Home / Drill library / Passing
Passing / On ice

Partner gate passing

Send a flat pass through a gate to a ready partner, settle the puck, and return it accurately.

6U · 8U · 10U · 12UBeginner7 minutes2–6 players
Original drill diagram
Partner gate passing: player positions and movement 12AB
One of up to three separate lanes. Partners 1 and 2 stay four meters apart; cones form a one-meter gate at the midpoint. Dashed arrows show passes in both directions, one puck at a time. The slight offset separates the arrows visually; both passes travel through the same gate. Original schematic; not to scale. Circles with numbers or letters mark players. Other markers and arrows are explained in the caption; some diagrams show puck or ball movement instead of skating. Red arrows show shots. Follow the written setup for spacing.

How to run it

Equipment: Stick, Pucks, Cones, Skates, Hockey protective equipment

  1. Set two cones one meter apart to form a gate. Partners 1 and 2 face each other four meters apart, with the gate halfway between them. Use one puck per pair. For 2–6 players, set up 1–3 parallel lanes with at least three meters between lane centers; increase the gap if sticks or stray pucks enter a neighboring lane.
  2. For 6U–12U players who can stand securely with a stick, begin stationary. Each receiver places the blade where they want the pass and says “ready.” The passer starts with the puck on the forehand side.
  3. Sweep the puck through the gate to the blade. The receiver settles it completely, moves it to the forehand if needed, checks that the partner is ready, and passes back.
  4. After five out-and-back exchanges, pause and discuss one miss. If the gate is hit repeatedly, move closer before trying again. Use seven minutes including setup, short sets and rest.
  5. When a puck leaves its lane, both partners stop. The adult checks nearby lanes before allowing retrieval; no player chases across an active passing lane.

Key teaching points

  • Cue: “Sweep to the blade.” Finish the stick toward the receiving target.
  • Cue: “Catch, then send.” Let the blade yield slightly on contact rather than jab at the incoming puck.

Common mistakes

  • Pass rebounds away. Try: slow the feed and practice receiving without an immediate return.
  • Puck misses the gate. Try: choose the partner’s blade before passing and shorten the distance until five exchanges succeed.

Make it fit the player

  • Easier for new 6U/8U players: partners two meters apart with a 1.5-meter gate; use an age-appropriate lighter puck if the program supplies one.
  • Harder for ready 10U/12U: receive on the backhand, bring the settled puck to the forehand, then return it. Keep both players stationary.
Research context & source notes

Background sources for this drill’s skills and teaching principles.

Keep building

More passing drills · Development guides