Riding is offensive pressure on the clear. This drill teaches young players to funnel the ball and force bad passes.
Equipment needed: 6 cones, 2 balls, 6 sticks.
Setup: Mark the defensive zone with cones. One defenseman has the ball. Two riders (offensive players) line up 5 yards away, ready to apply pressure.
How to run it:
- Defenseman tries to clear the ball. Riders close on the ball carrier and the first pass option, funneling the clear toward a specific area.
- Riders don’t hack or slash. They’re closing space and forcing quick decisions.
- If the defenseman completes the clear, riders reset and the defenseman tries again.
- Do 6 reps per rider pair.
What to look for:
Riders should be closing hard but under control. If they over-commit, the defense passes around them. The riders should communicate about who covers which gaps. If both riders chase the ball, the first pass option is open. Riders should funnel the