Penalty Kill Focus Block
Focus
Legend
- player
- coach / parent
- movement path
How it works
Develop sustained defensive focus by running a 90-second penalty kill requiring continuous attention to both puck and player positions.
What you need
- hockey stick
- puck
- ice
Your focus
Defensive zone focus is most tested on the penalty kill , one moment of mental lapse allows a power play unit to find a seam and score. Training focus specifically in the penalty kill context builds the sustained defensive attention habits needed to kill penalties consistently. Players who can maintain high-focus coverage for a full 90-second penalty kill rarely allow power play goals.
Set up a 4-on-3 penalty kill scenario.
Coach places distractions: calls out random player names, announces fake score changes, or uses visual distractions at the boards.
Penalty killers must maintain coverage despite distractions, 90-second kill attempt.
After the kill, debrief on which distraction moment was most disruptive to focus.
Helpful cues
- Your eyes stay on the puck and your assignment, nothing else exists for 90 seconds
- If something distracts you, re-anchor immediately to puck position
- Focus is a skill you choose, not something that just happens
Adjust the challenge
Make it easier
Strip it back
Remove external distractions and run the penalty kill purely on coverage focus for the first several reps.
UpLVL it
Add the next challenge
Add a coach calling out fake play names mid-kill, requiring the killers to filter information and maintain real coverage.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.