5 Drills to Elevate Your Team’s Game

Our Teammate Mitch Giguere is back with another drill-packed update, ready to equip coaches with fresh insights, innovative drills, and powerful tools to take their practices to the next level. Let’s jump into his latest tips on maximizing your practice plans.




 

Mitch Giguere's Insight:
 

I told you—monthly drills with videos and more interaction. As you can see, professional drills aren’t so different from junior or youth levels. It’s all about detail and repetition. Now, let’s move on to my next five drills, all of which can be found online, complete with drawings and videos. If you’re not a member yet, use the code GIGUERE to get 20% OFF your subscription. With a full year’s access to CoachThem, you'll have all the drills and videos at your fingertips, completely free!
 

Each drill comes with a video—just click on the drill graphic to watch.

 

1. Practice Like A Pro 2.0 - 2v2 Surf Full Ice



 

Nothing’s more exciting than watching the forwards attack the defensemen at full speed. But for the defensemen, there’s nothing worse than having a bad gap and seeing the forwards coming in fast. Sometimes, you have to change things up. By adding a whistle, you can see how your team reacts when they’re forced to readjust on the fly.

 

2. Practice Like A Pro 2.0 - Passing and Open Up



 

A great warm-up/activation drill that not only works on puck touches and passing but also on opening up and moving without the puck. It’s a low-paced drill that covers a lot of skills without taking 10 minutes per rep. Players have to stay sharp because the last player in the opposite line has to make a play as well.

 

3. Practice Like A Pro 2.0 - Breakout to Neutral Zone to Neutral Zone



 

This was by far the hardest drill to draw—I have to be honest. I probably wouldn’t have drawn it at all if I didn’t have the video to go with it! It starts with a breakout in units of five, leading into a 5v2 rush against the defensemen. Then, on the whistle, there’s a regroup, and we add F1 for pressure. After crossing the blue line, F2 and F3 track back, turning it into a 5v5. This drill works on multiple systems at once and forces players to adjust quickly based on what happens next.

 

4. Practice Like A Pro 2.0 - CIFO SAG 3v3



 

This is by far the small-area game I’ve run the most in my life—and the one players love to finish practice with. Adding a reward or consequence for the winning/losing team brings the intensity to another level.

 

5. Practice Like A Pro 2.0 - 2v2 Full Ice with Re-Gap



 

If you remember the short breakout drill from my previous article, this follows the same concept. How can we work with the defensemen on both surfing and playing a 2v2? Simple—make them surf right away. That’s exactly what they’re doing in this drill. No fancy setup, no long build-up—just straight into the action.

 

______________________

 

We hope you enjoyed these drills and insights from Mitch Giguere! If there’s something specific you’d like to see in future updates, let us know in the comments. Looking for more personalized guidance? You can book a 1-on-1 session with Mitch here. 

CoachThem is your go-to sports coaching technology and drill planning software, helping teams stay organized with custom drills for coaches and an all-in-one athlete development platform. Whether you're using the best coaching apps for teams or searching for hockey training tools to enhance player performance, we've got you covered.

Use the coupon code GIGUERE for 20% off your subscription and take your coaching to the next level with team management software for coaches that makes practice planning seamless!

 

 

March 27, 2025

Written in collaboration with Teammate Mitch Giguere and the CoachThem Team

 

Ditch the pen and paper! Sign up or log in to create professional digital drills in minutes.

Join CoachThem Rewards to earn money by referring other coaches and growing our coaching community!