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Offensive Zone Play: Follow the Puck

Our support rule: everyone shifts with the puck so the carrier always has a short option and the far side is never abandoned.

F1F2F3D1D2FOLLOW THE PUCK
F = forwards, D = defence (our five skaters) / Net we are attacking is at the top, our blue line at the bottom / Solid arrows = skating routes / Dashed arrows = puck movement / Black dot = puck

What this is Follow the Puck is the habit that makes every other offensive zone play work. When the puck moves, all five skaters move with it. That keeps the passing distances short and makes sure nobody is standing on the wrong side of the ice.

Reading the diagram F3 has the puck on the wall. The dashed arrow shows the puck going back to D1 at the line, and the solid arrow shows F3 immediately skating into the middle to become the next option rather than watching the pass. The dashed arrow across the blue line shows D1 moving it to D2, and D2 shifting over with it. Every player ends up one pass away from the puck.

Key ideas Support is a movement, not a position. If the puck changes sides, so do you.

What to look for

  • When the puck moves, all five skaters move
  • Keep every option inside one short pass
  • Give the puck up, then get to a new spot
  • Far side shifts in so the ice never gets too wide

Coaching cues

  • Pass and move — never pass and watch
  • Shift with the puck
  • Short options beat long options
  • Stay off the wall when the puck is on the wall

Common mistakes

  • Standing still after making a pass
  • Two players supporting the same spot
  • Weak-side player stapled to the boards
  • Trying to hit the long seam instead of the short option
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