Teaching Wingers to Create Space Along the Boards Effectively

Teaching Wingers to Create Space Along the Boards Effectively

Tom Renney•

You're watching your winger get pinned against the boards again. The forecheck closes in, the puck gets stripped away, and your team loses possession in a critical moment. Sound familiar? According to USA Hockey's coaching development research, teams that effectively utilize board play maintain puck possession 35% longer in the offensive zone compared to teams that struggle in these situations.

Board play isn't just about being bigger or stronger—it's about technique, timing, and smart positioning. The best wingers in hockey, from youth levels to the NHL, understand how to use the boards as a tool rather than seeing them as a trap.

Key Takeaways

Essential Board Play Coaching Points:

  • Master the "shoulder check, angle away" sequence for protecting pucks
  • Use small-area pressure drills to simulate real game forechecking scenarios
  • Teach wingers to communicate with defensemen before engaging in board battles
  • Focus on body positioning rather than just stick skills when creating space
  • Track which players excel in different board play situations for optimal line management

Table of Contents

Understanding Effective Board Positioning

The key to successful board play starts before the puck even arrives. Effective wingers position themselves at a 45-degree angle to the boards, allowing them to see both the incoming pass and approaching forecheckers while maintaining options for puck movement.

Research from The Coaches Site shows that players who establish proper pre-puck positioning win board battles 60% more often than those who receive passes while facing the boards directly. This positioning advantage stems from three critical factors:

Body Angle and Vision

When wingers angle themselves properly, they maintain peripheral vision of the entire ice surface. This allows them to identify support options and escape routes before pressure arrives. The most effective positioning involves:

  • Feet shoulder-width apart for balance
  • Inside shoulder (closest to center ice) dropped slightly
  • Head up to scan for forecheckers and support
  • Stick blade positioned to receive the pass cleanly

Using the Boards as a Tool

The boards aren't an obstacle—they're equipment. Smart wingers use board spacing to their advantage by positioning themselves 2-3 feet away from the boards when possible. This creates a "pocket" of space that forces forecheckers to commit to one side, opening up movement options.

Professional development programs emphasize that wingers should think of the boards as a backstop that allows for creative puck handling, not as a wall that limits options. This mindset shift fundamentally changes how players approach board play situations.

The Shoulder Check and Angle Away Technique

The most effective board play technique combines a quick shoulder check with an immediate angle away from pressure. This two-part movement, when executed properly, increases puck retention time by an average of 40% according to video analysis from high-level junior programs.

Step-by-Step Execution

  1. Shoulder Check: As the puck approaches, execute a quick shoulder check to identify the primary forechecker's approach angle and speed
  2. Receive and Shield: Collect the puck with the blade positioned between your body and the forechecker
  3. Angle Away: Immediately angle your body away from pressure while keeping the puck on the far side of your body from the checker
  4. Protect and Move: Use your body as a shield while moving the puck to open ice or a support player

This technique works because it forces forecheckers to adjust their approach, buying crucial seconds for decision-making. The shoulder check provides information, while the angle away creates the space needed to execute the next play.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Many youth players struggle with board play because they panic when pressure arrives. The most frequent errors include:

  • Facing the boards directly when receiving passes
  • Trying to make plays immediately without protecting the puck first
  • Failing to use body positioning to shield the puck
  • Not communicating with teammates about pressure and support options

As detailed in our guide on building pre-season communication habits, establishing clear communication patterns early in the season helps players execute under pressure when it matters most.

Communication and Support Systems

Effective board play requires constant communication between wingers and their support players. The best teams develop verbal and non-verbal signals that help wingers understand where help is coming from and when to hold onto the puck versus moving it quickly.

Pre-Established Communication Protocols

Successful teams use consistent terminology for board play situations. Common calls include:

  • "Time" - indicating the winger has space to make a play
  • "Move" - signaling immediate pressure requiring quick puck movement
  • "Support" - telling the winger that help is approaching
  • "Reverse" - indicating the best option is to move the puck back toward the support player

These communication systems work best when they're practiced regularly and integrated into small-area games that simulate real forechecking pressure. For teams that struggle with communication in noisy arenas, developing non-verbal hand signals provides a crucial backup system.

Defensive Support Timing

The timing of defensive support makes the difference between successful puck retrieval and lost possession. Defensemen need to understand when to step up and support wingers versus when to maintain their positioning for defensive coverage.

Key timing principles include:

  • Support arrives as pressure increases, not before it's needed
  • Defensemen angle their approach to provide a clear passing lane
  • Communication happens before, during, and after the board battle
  • Support players position themselves to receive passes and immediately move the puck

Progressive Drill Sequence for Board Play

Building board play skills requires a progressive approach that starts simple and adds layers of complexity. The most effective drill sequences begin with fundamental positioning and gradually incorporate forechecking pressure, decision-making, and game-speed execution.

Phase 1: Stationary Positioning Drills

Start with basic positioning work without pressure:

  1. Board Angle Drill: Players practice receiving passes at proper angles to the boards
  2. Shoulder Check Sequence: Add the shoulder check component with coaches calling out positions of imaginary forecheckers
  3. Puck Protection Static: Focus on body positioning and stick placement to shield the puck

Phase 2: Movement and Pressure Introduction

Once positioning becomes automatic, add movement and light pressure:

  1. Controlled Pressure: One forechecker approaches at 50% speed while winger practices technique
  2. Angle Away Progression: Winger receives pass, executes shoulder check and angle away, then moves to open ice
  3. Support Introduction: Add a defenseman providing support and communication

Phase 3: Game Speed Application

The final phase simulates real game conditions with full pressure and decision-making:

  1. Full Speed Board Battles: Live 1-on-1 battles along the boards with coaches emphasizing technique over strength
  2. 2-on-2 Board Play: Add complexity with multiple players and passing options
  3. Transition Integration: Connect successful board play to offensive zone possession and scoring chances

This progressive approach, similar to the methods outlined in our small-area games for passing under pressure, ensures players develop confidence and competence before facing full game-speed pressure.

Reading Forecheckers and Adapting

The best wingers learn to read forechecking approaches and adapt their technique accordingly. Different forechecking styles require different responses, and teaching players to recognize and react to these variations elevates their board play significantly.

Aggressive High-Speed Forechecks

When facing aggressive forecheckers who approach at high speed:

  • Use the boards to slow down the checker's momentum
  • Execute quicker shoulder checks to identify approach angles earlier
  • Focus on immediate puck protection rather than trying to make plays
  • Look for quick outlet passes to support players

Positioning-Based Forechecks

Against forecheckers who focus on cutting off passing lanes:

  • Take more time to survey options before committing to puck movement
  • Use deception and puck handling to create new passing angles
  • Communicate more actively with support players to create better options
  • Be willing to hold onto the puck longer to wait for openings

Systematic Team Forechecks

When facing organized team forechecking systems:

  • Recognize patterns in how teams apply pressure
  • Develop counter-strategies based on forecheck structure
  • Use pre-planned support systems and communication protocols
  • Focus on quick, accurate passes to exploit system weaknesses

Understanding these different approaches helps coaches prepare their wingers for various game situations and opponent styles.

Line Management and Player Positioning

Effective board play coaching extends beyond individual skill development to strategic line management. Different players have different strengths in board battles, and smart coaches optimize their line combinations based on these abilities and specific game situations.

Identifying Board Play Specialists

Some players naturally excel in tight spaces and physical battles, while others perform better with time and space. Successful coaches track which players:

  • Win the highest percentage of puck battles along the boards
  • Make the smartest decisions under pressure
  • Communicate most effectively during board play situations
  • Provide the best support for teammates in battles

This information becomes crucial for line combinations, especially in defensive zone situations or when protecting leads late in games.

Situational Line Deployment

Teams that excel at board play often use different combinations based on game situations:

  • Defensive zone faceoffs: Deploy players who excel at winning battles and moving pucks quickly
  • Offensive zone pressure: Use players who can maintain possession and create scoring chances
  • Special teams: Match board play specialists against opponent's forechecking systems
  • Late game situations: Emphasize puck possession skills and smart decision-making

Managing these combinations effectively requires detailed tracking of player performance and situational awareness—exactly the type of organization that separates good coaches from great ones.

FAQ

Q: How young should players be before learning advanced board play techniques? A: Players can start learning basic positioning and puck protection around ages 10-12, but the full shoulder check and angle away technique is most effective for players 14 and older who have developed better spatial awareness and body control.

Q: What's the most common mistake coaches make when teaching board play? A: Focusing too much on physical strength rather than technique and positioning. Smaller players can excel at board play when they master proper angles and timing, while bigger players often struggle if they rely only on size.

Q: How do you practice board play when you don't have full ice time? A: Small-area games in practice corners work perfectly for board play development. Use the actual boards in your practice space and create 2-on-1 or 3-on-2 situations that simulate real forechecking pressure.

Q: Should different positions approach board play differently? A: Yes, wingers need to focus on puck retrieval and quick outlets, while defensemen emphasize support positioning and passing options. Centers often serve as the communication link between wingers and defensemen during board battles.

Q: How do you measure improvement in board play during games? A: Track simple statistics like puck battles won/lost, successful outlet passes from board play situations, and time of possession after winning battles. Many coaches also track which line combinations perform best in specific board play scenarios.

Teaching effective board play transforms how your team handles pressure and maintains puck possession. The techniques covered here—from fundamental positioning to advanced communication systems—provide the foundation for success in these crucial game situations.

The real challenge for coaches isn't just teaching these skills, but organizing and tracking which players excel in different scenarios so you can deploy the right combinations at the right times. Managing line combinations based on board play strengths, tracking individual player development, and communicating effectively with parents about playing time decisions requires systematic organization that goes far beyond what most coaching clipboards can handle.

That's where having the right tools makes all the difference. Hockey Lines helps coaches organize their line combinations, track player performance in specific situations like board play, and communicate clearly with players and parents about development goals and playing time decisions.

Ready to take your team organization to the next level? Download Hockey Lines on the App Store or Google Play and see how easy it becomes to manage the complex decisions that make great coaching possible.

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