USE THE WALL. KEEP POSSESSION.™ Use the Boards when pressure removes the direct lane and the wall offers a safer route. Coach Joey™ teaches Players to bank, rim, or protect the puck with purpose.
COACH JOEY™ BY AGE
U5-U7 • U8-U10 • U11-U14 • U15-U18 • Junior
U5-U7 + U8-U10 — Use the Boards as a Target
Practice passing the puck off the boards to yourself or a teammate when the direct lane is blocked.
U11-U14 — Bank the Puck With Purpose
Choose the angle and speed of the bank so the puck reaches useful space. Do not simply throw the puck away because pressure is coming.
U15-U18 + Junior — Use the Wall to Beat Pressure
Read the forecheck and support. A hard rim, soft bank, or indirect pass can move the puck around pressure when the middle is closed.
Why the Boards Can Help
A defender can take away a direct passing lane, but the boards create another angle. Therefore, a Player who understands bank passes has more ways to move the puck safely.
Control the Weight of the Pass
A soft bank can help a nearby teammate. A harder rim may move the puck around pressure. The correct choice depends on distance, support, and how quickly opponents are closing.
Do Not Use the Boards Automatically
Indirect plays are useful, but they are not automatically safer. If a direct pass is open, use it. The boards are another option, not a substitute for reading the ice.
5 Smart Ways to Use the Boards in Hockey
Use the Boards as a tool, not a panic button. The wall can help Players escape pressure, move the puck into space, or create a controlled pass when the direct lane is closed.
1. Check the Direct Lane First
Do not use the wall automatically. If a clean direct pass is available, it may be faster and easier for the receiver to handle.
2. Control the Weight of the Bank
A soft bank can die before it reaches support. A hard one can become a turnover. Match the pace to the distance and the ice available.
3. Lead the Receiver
When you Use the Boards, put the puck where the teammate is going, not simply where the teammate started.
4. Use the Wall to Protect Possession
Along the boards, Players can use body position and the wall together to keep pressure away from the puck while waiting for support.
5. Know When to Rim and When to Keep It
A rim can relieve pressure, but it can also give away possession. Read support, pressure, and the next available lane before moving the puck around the wall.
Practice Controlled Wall Plays
Use short bank-pass drills first, then add a defender so the puck carrier must choose between a direct pass, a wall pass, or protecting the puck. Reward the decision, not just the execution.
Continue with Reset After a Mistake and Short Shifts. For more player-development resources, visit USA Hockey training materials.
Coach Joey’s Takeaway
When the direct lane disappears, create another one. USE THE WALL. KEEP POSSESSION.™
Coach Joey™ 10-Second Hockey Lesson™
USE THE WALL. KEEP POSSESSION.™
ONE LESSON. ONE INSTRUCTION. ONE TAKEAWAY.™
Part of Coach Joey™ 10-Second Hockey Lessons™. Presented by The Hockey Resource™.
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