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Puck protection / On ice

Shield and circle

Carry the puck around a cone with the body between the cone and puck throughout a broad half-circle.

8U · 10U · 12UBeginner6 minutes1–1 players
Original drill diagram
Shield and circle: player positions and movement 1D
The cone is the defender reference. Player 1 starts to its left with the puck farther outside. The inner solid arc is the player route; the outer solid arc is the puck route. Keep the player between cone and puck around the upper half-circle, then reverse. Two arcs show one player and one puck, not two skaters. The full-circle variation is not shown. 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. Put one cone in open ice to represent a stationary defender. Start one player about two meters to its left, as viewed in the diagram, with the puck farther left than the skates. Leave room above the cone for a broad half-circle.
  2. Begin slowly and travel around the upper half of the cone, ending about two meters to its right. Keep the puck on the outside of the route: cone, player, then puck when looking outward from the cone.
  3. Use forehand or backhand as the direction requires. Keep the puck close enough for the next guiding touch without a reaching stride; the body provides the shield, not an outstretched arm.
  4. Finish on the opposite side and settle the puck. Reset the stance and reverse the same upper half-circle back to the starting side. This works both directions without adding another player.
  5. Use six minutes including a demonstration and rest between pairs of attempts. Count an out-and-back pair only when the puck stays outside the player on both trips.

Key teaching points

  • Cue: “Cone, me, puck.” Check the order at the start, halfway around and at the finish.
  • Cue: “Outside, but reachable.” Protection does not require stretching the stick as far away as possible.
  • Look at the next part of the arc between touches. Use a broad route that allows the puck to stay beside the body.

Common mistakes

  • Puck drifts between player and cone. Try: pause halfway around and place it back on the outer side before completing the arc.
  • Player reaches so far that the next touch requires a lunge. Try: bring the puck closer while keeping the body between it and the cone.
  • One direction is avoided because it needs the backhand. Try: begin that direction with a shorter quarter-circle, then extend the route.

Make it fit the player

  • Easier for newer 8U: first place the puck in the protected position while standing. Then move only a quarter-circle and reset.
  • Harder for ready 10U/12U: complete one full circle in the same direction, then reset and complete one the other way. Keep the cone as the stationary reference.
Research context & source notes

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

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