Two-Choice Passing Read
Decision Making
Legend
- player
- coach / parent
- movement path
How it works
Teach young players to read a simple two-option passing decision and choose the correct target based on position.
What you need
- hockey stick
- puck
- cones
- ice
Your focus
Decision making begins with giving players binary choices so the cognitive load is manageable. Processing two options and choosing correctly based on what they see builds the foundational scan-and-decide habit that underlies all future hockey decision making. Starting simple ensures early success, which builds confidence in making decisions independently.
Player stands at center with a puck; two teammates stand at opposite sides of the ice.
Coach points to one player who raises their stick as open and one who sits down as covered.
Player must pass to the open teammate.
Rotate the open/covered assignment randomly for 8 reps; celebrate correct decisions.
Goal
You've got it when you make the correct pass choice more often than not, the open target gets the puck, the covered one doesn't.
Helpful cues
- Look at both options before you pass
- The open player has their stick up, pass to the stick
- Make the decision before you move your hands
Adjust the challenge
Make it easier
Strip it back
Run at a standstill, no skating, to isolate the decision from physical movement.
UpLVL it
Add the next challenge
Both targets skate in different directions and player must read open space, not a static position.No 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.