Ice Hockey
Ice Scanning Shoulder Checks
Build the habit of regular shoulder checks to read the full ice surface
10 min
6 x 45-second possession drills with scan cues
Beginner
Why this drill
Builds toward build the habit of regular shoulder checks to read the full ice surface.
Instructions
- 1Skate with the puck in a small area with a coach calling out random numbers to check for.
- 2Take a shoulder check every few seconds without slowing your feet or losing the puck.
- 3Identify open teammates or pressure and verbally call out what you see.
- 4Increase pressure and space demands as scanning frequency improves.
What to focus on
Frequent head checks without losing puck control or speed.
Recommended reps
6 x 45-second possession drills with scan cues
Common mistake
Keeping the head down on the puck and never scanning the ice.