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Receive, set, release

Turn a lateral pass into a deliberate shot with one receiving touch and a deliberate setup before release.

10U · 12U · 14U+Intermediate7 minutes2–2 players
Original drill diagram
Receive, set, release: player positions and movement 12
2 passes laterally to 1, who sets the puck and shoots at the empty net on the right. The cone marks the shooting station; all five attempts use the same starting position. 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: Skates, Hockey protective equipment, Cones, Stick, Pucks, Net

  1. Place shooter 1 about 18 feet in front of an empty net. Passer 2 stands 12 feet to one side with five pucks. Put one cone at the shooter’s starting position.
  2. Passer 2 sends one flat pass to the shooter’s blade. Shooter 1 receives and moves the puck into a comfortable forehand shooting position.
  3. Look at a low corner and release a wrist shot. This is a receive-and-shoot sequence, not a one-timer; let the puck settle before shooting.
  4. Return the blade to the receiving position before the next pass. After five shots, collect pucks together and swap roles. Repeat from the other side within seven minutes.
  5. Count controlled catches and shots on target separately. This shows whether the reception or the release needs more practice.

Key teaching points

  • Cue: “Catch, place, shoot.” Each action has a purpose even when the sequence becomes quicker.
  • Pass to the blade rather than the shooter’s feet.
  • Choose the shot target before beginning the release.

Common mistakes

  • Puck rebounds from the receiving blade. Try: soften the catch and reduce pass speed.
  • Shooter makes several extra touches. Try: choose a single comfortable shooting spot before the next pass.
  • Shooter rushes an unsettled puck. Try: hold the received puck for one count, then shoot.

Make it fit the player

  • Easier: move the passer closer and allow a full pause between catch and shot.
  • Harder: alternate passes slightly ahead of and behind the ideal spot, requiring a small adjustment before release.
Research context & source notes

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

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