Board Battle Drill
Checking
Legend
- player
- ball
- movement path
How it works
Develop controlled body contact and puck protection skills in a 1-on-1 board battle scenario.
What you need
- hockey stick
- puck
- ice
Your focus
Board battles are among the most contested situations in hockey, requiring both physical and technical skills. Learning to use body position, leg drive, and angling together builds complete checking ability. Practicing in a structured environment with equal competition develops confidence in physical play without reckless technique.
Coach places a puck along the boards in the corner.
Two players start at equal distance and race to the puck.
The player who arrives first must protect the puck along the boards; the defender attempts to dislodge using legal body contact and stick work.
Play continues until one player wins clear possession; rotate pairs every 2 minutes.
Goal
Success is fighting through the board battle until you emerge with the puck, even when you got there second.
Helpful cues
- Skates wide, create a wide base to win the battle
- Drive through with your legs, not your shoulders
- Use your backside to shield, turn your back to the defender
Adjust the challenge
Make it easier
Strip it back
Coach places the puck in favor of one player to practice protection first, then competition
UpLVL it
Add the next challenge
Winner of the board battle must immediately make a breakout pass to a waiting teammate, adding execution pressure after the battleNo account needed
Build a practice plan
Add drills, keep the plan in this browser, then share a link with your staff or parents.This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.
This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.After every practice, UpLVL automatically surfaces the drills each player needs to work on most. See it for yourself.