This week’s video covers the basic technique of the one-timer shot. One-timers are excellent for creating fast scoring opportunities and not giving the goaltender a chance to set prior to the shot.
Key Teaching Points
Puck should be shot similar to a slap shot, located between the middle of your feet and the back foot
Hands just over shoulder-width apart (this will vary based on the degree of knee bend and “sitting” in to your shot)
Transfer the weight to the back leg
Low stance on the shot motion, transferring your weight to your front foot
Open your hips and front foot toward your target
Be prepared (and practice) adjusting your stance to accomodate for passes slightly off target
This week’s video discusses the basics of passing and receiving on the forehand.
Passing Key Teaching Points
With beginners, start with feet perpendicular to the target
Puck on the middle of the blade
Bring puck behind the back foot, slightly cupping the puck
Head up, look at your target
Push the puck forward in a straight line, transferring weight from the back leg to the front leg
Open your hips as you transfer the weight
Point your stick directly at the target on your follow through
Follow through low to the ice
Receiving Key Teaching Points
Start with blade flat on the ice and not angled
Blade should be parallel to the passing stick for optimal control
Blade should start about 6″ inside your front foot if feet are perpendicular to passer
Catch the puck in the middle of your stick blade
Absorb the impact of the puck by having a slight give (only a few inches) to the stick
Avoid un-necessary stickhandles before moving the puck again
Here is a link to the PassMaster used in this video. Note that I do NOT make any money if you buy this, I’m providing the link because I like the product and find it useful.
I hope everyone out there had a safe and happy holiday season! We’re back from our short break (and lots of hockey travel) with some new content for 2012.
In this video, we will cover a power skating maneuver/drill to improve backward outside edges. This drill forces players out of their comfort zone with cross-overs by doing a very unnatural cross behind.
A good breakout pass can be the difference between creating an offensive scoring opportunity, or finding the puck in the back of your own net. Last week we covered passing options for neutral zone regroups -- in this week’s video, we’ll take a look at options for picking up a loose puck in the defensive zone.
Teaching Key Points:
Prior to picking the puck up:
Look over your shoulder prior to picking the puck up
Angle in when approaching the puck (don’t skate straight at it)
Strong-side pass option (wing or center):
Move the puck quickly
Eliminate unnecessary stickhandles
Avoid rimming the puck around the wall if at all possible
Identify which pass option is available prior to picking up the puck
D to D pass:
Move the puck quickly
Eliminate unnecessary stickhandles
Know if your partner is right or left-handed
Don’t jam your partner up by putting the puck to close to the wall
A defenseman’s ability to quickly move laterally to the middle of the ice at the point while maintaining control of the puck and properly reading options is a skill often overlooked. In this 7-minute video we cover the techniques, teaching points, and visual references for defenseman to improve their blue-line mobility.
Forehand Side Key Points
2 Main Options
Backward quick start
explosive first steps -- cover distance quickly
move toward the blue line to create additional space between yourself and the attacker
head up as you move so you can see your options
feet can go outside the blue line
Forward quick start
explosive first steps -- cover distance quickly
head up
when you’re ready to move the puck, bring the puck under your body so you can use your stick’s flex to put a hard shot on net (or hard pass to an option)
Backhand Key Points
2 Main Options
Backward quick start
explosive first steps -- cover distance quickly
move toward the blue line to create additional space between yourself and the attacker
head up as you move so you can see your options
bring the across your body to your forehand side quickly to increase your strength with the puck and improve your shooting angle
feet can go outside the blue line
Forward quick start
explosive first steps -- cover distance quickly
head up
bring the across your body to your forehand side quickly to increase your strength with the puck and improve your shooting angle
protect the puck with your body
Reading the Shooting Lane Key Points
Read your lane from the “eyes of the puck” -- players often see the lane (openings in coverage) based on their body position rather than from where the puck is traveling.
If the opponents body is in the pucks lane to the net, look for a short-side, back door, or safe (corner) option.
If the opponents body is coming toward your body, you typically have a lane to move the puck directly to the net.
