One vs One Mastery: Jeremy Weiss's Complete Battle System for Hockey Coaches

Every hockey coach knows the truth: games are won and lost in 1v1 battles. Whether it's a puck race to the neutral zone, a defenseman closing the gap on an attacking forward, or battling for positioning in front of the net, players who dominate one-on-one situations control the game.

Jeremy Weiss, creator of Weiss Tech Hockey and a CoachThem teammate, has built his entire coaching philosophy around this fundamental truth. His 1v1 battle drill system has helped countless players develop the competitive edge needed for higher-level hockey.

We previously featured Jeremy's approach in our Spice Up Your Practice: The Power of 1 vs 1 Drills blog. Today, we're diving deeper into his complete 1v1 battle mastery system.

Drill 1: Force vs Contain 1v1, 2v2, Net-Front Battle
 

This is a great drill to work on a variety of 1v1 situations. It develops read and react skills for 1v1 and 2v2 situations within the defensive zone while providing opportunities to battle for positioning in front of the net.
 

Key Teaching Points:

• Read opponent's positioning and intentions.

• React quickly to changing game situations.

• Battle for body position in front of the net

• Manage space in the defensive zone.

Why It Works: Players face these exact situations constantly in games—multiple 1v1 scenarios in the defensive zone and net-front battles. This drill replicates the variety of competitive situations they'll encounter, building game-smart decision-making.

Drill 2: Full Ice - Hadden 1v1

An excellent drill to work on the conventional 1v1 situation where a defenseman closes the gap, then manages the gap against an attacking forward. Both the forward and the defenseman should be competing to control the lane to the net.
 

Key Teaching Points:

• For Defensemen: Close the gap effectively, manage the lane, read the attacker

• Forwards: Attack the gap, control the puck, make quick decisions

• For Both: Compete for lane control at game speed
   

Why It Works: This is the most common 1v1 scenario in hockey—a forward attacking and a defenseman managing. Training this specific situation at packed ice and full speed prepares players for the exact competitive situations they'll face in every game.

Drill 3: Figure 8 Race

A fun drill to develop power turns and racing to control the lane to the puck. It is quick-paced so that you can work through the line quickly. It's also adaptable for smaller space situations.

Key Teaching Points:

• Explosive edge work through turns

• Acceleration and deceleration control

• Competitive intensity to reach the puck first

• Quick transitions in tight spaces
   

Why It Works: Most 1v1 battles begin with who can get to the puck first. This drill trains exactly that element—the speed and footwork that win races to loose pucks. The quick pace also maximizes efficiency through your practice.

Drill 4: D to D Stretch Pass

A great drill that makes full use of the ice. It involves many of the patterns and skills players will need to use in games such as passing, timing, and breakout formations. It starts as a 1v0, but can be converted to a 1v1 once the players are ready to beef it up.
 

Key Teaching Points:

• Accurate passing and timing on breakouts

• Receiving passes at game speed

• Transitioning from execution to competitive play

• Managing space and communication
   

Why It Works: This drill teaches critical game patterns - breakout execution with proper passing and timing - while progressing to competitive 1v1 entries. The progression from non-competitive to competitive mirrors how game situations actually develop, making it highly transferable.

Weekly Practice Integration
 

Build consistency into your 1v1 development by scheduling these drills throughout your week. Use CoachThem's practice planning platform to organize your drills and track player progression.

Recommended Weekly Structure:

This structure builds throughout the week: starting with fundamental execution, progressing to pressure situations, and culminating in high-intensity competitive scenarios. The repetition of each drill across your practice week reinforces the skills while allowing players to refine their technique progressively.

Implementing These Drills at Your Level
 

These four drills work across all skill levels because they're adaptable to your players' development. Jeremy emphasizes that coaching effectiveness depends on understanding your team:

"The answer depends on the physical skills of your players, the mental maturity of your players, and the manner in which the systems are taught and implemented."

Before implementing these drills:

• Assess your players' current 1v1 skill level
• Start with foundational concepts
• Progress complexity as competence grows
• Adapt drill size and pace to your available ice

This ensures each drill serves your specific team at their development stage while maintaining competitive engagement.

Ready to Elevate Your Training?
 

Next Steps:

1. Sign up for CoachThem PRO 
2. Use Jeremy's exclusive code JWEISS15 for 15% OFF
3. Start implementing these proven battle drills in your practice
4. Watch your players' competitive development improve throughout the season

Your players deserve training that prepares them for game situations. These drills do exactly that.

Get Started with Battle Drill Training
 

Ready to develop dominant 1v1 players? Start your 10-day free trial on CoachThem and access Jeremy Weiss's complete battle drill system. Download the CoachThem iOS app for mobile access to all drills during practice.

Remember: Games are won in 1v1 battles. Give your players the competitive edge they need with proven systems from Jeremy Weiss and CoachThem.

October 30th, 2025

Written by the CoachThem Team in collaboration with Jeremy Weiss 

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