When you're under pressure in the defensive zone the smallest details can be the most important. A split second's delay can be the difference between breaking out of the zone and fishing the biscuit out of the basket. 

One of those details is the terminolgy your team uses when your goaltender has the puck behind the net. This usually happens off a rim, and since the goalie is wearing more armour than a knight of the roundtable, it's not as easy to see who's forechecking as it is for the defence and forwards. 

So we have to talk. Your defencemen and low forwards have to communicate. Simple is best because it's easy to learn and it's effective when the pressure is on. Let's set a standard first. The first image represents a rimmed puck coming from left to right. The left side in this case is the strong side, the right side of the net is the weak side.

So the puck is coming from the strong side, and the call your D make to your goalie determines whether it goes back up the strong side or switches to the weak side.

Call 1: Up!

When your defenceman hollers "up!" at the goalie, they want the puck coming back up the strong side. 

Call 2: Over!

The weak-side D has a louder voice then that just means they want the puck more. Over means the puck switches sides, usually behind the net, but it's important to note the goalie can come from either side of the net.

Call 3: Leave It!

Some coaches use set in this situation but I prefer leave it because it has two syllables. It's easier to distinguish fron up and over when the hotshot centre is wheeling behind the net and wants to go coast to coast. All the power to ya, that's an assist for the goalie!

Goalie Breakout Calls Drill

Here's a drill you can use at the start or end of practice to get your goalies and defence on the same page.

Call 1. Up
Call 2. Over
Call 3. Leave It

Coaches can be extra two D

1. Green passes take place first to get the drill started
2. Coach passes to D on point who fakes shot and rounds puck behind the net
   1. Fake shot is to keep the goalie honest
3. First call is UP, so puck gets passed back up strong side to D who passes off boards to original D
4. D to D pass and shot, then repeat from other side
5. Do the same thing for OVER call from both sides
6. On Leave it, strong side D calls Leave It and picks up puck and passes to either point

Mike Smith