Triangle Passing Drill: The Roll Away
One of the most most fundamental passing and catching drills out there, Triangle Passing is great way to get your players' eyes up and feet moving toward the ball. By adding in a "Roll Away", teach your players to move away from pressure while protecting their sticks and the ball.
The classic Triangle Passing Drill is easy to set up and doesn't require much space on the field. The Roll Away is a basic technique your players will use to protect their sticks using their bodies from stick checks from the Defense, and to keep their feet moving to find the open man.
THE DRILL:
Figure 1. Set up 3 cones in a triangle. The cones should be roughly 10 to 20 yards apart from each other. You can shrink the distance if necessary, depending on your players' stick skills.
Put all of your players in a line behind one of the three cones. Be sure to mix offensive and defensive players together. Everybody on your team needs to be able to run, catch, and throw with both sides.
If you have more than 20 players at practice, create multiple sets of cones to ensure your players get the maximum repetitions in your drills. There's no reason your players should come to practice to stand around waiting in line.
PRACTICE TIPS:
- Switch directions halfway through the drill- move the ball clockwise, catching right-handed and throwing left-handed.
- Time Your Drills for your players' age and attention span. Move on to something else once a drill or game becomes unproductive.
- Move towards the ball- "Attack the pass in the air." Move towards the passer to shorten the distance and stay in front of the Defense.
- Stick in the outside hand- Beginning players need to practice both hands equally. Keep the stick protected, away from the defender.
VARIATIONS:
- Put the cones closer together for faster passing and even more reps. Try 5 or 10 yards apart.
- Add a defensive player at each cone- Catch and carry the ball against light coverage.
- Ground balls- Get your players used to picking up ground balls and passing at lightning speed.
- Dodges- Use this same setup to practice the Roll Dodge, Split Dodge, etc. Make your move then move the ball quickly.
- Backdoor cuts- Cut behind the Defender to get open on the way to the goal.
- Over-the-shoulder- Turn a simple catch into a Fast Break and some exciting goals.
Try it at your next practice. Let us know if you have any great Triangle Passing Drills of your own!
