Archived Learning Tips

Being ready for the puck

So much is made of "what to do" when YOU have the puck. When you watch the game as a fan, either live or on television, most of the attention is paid to the puck and the player carrying it. Unfortunately too little time is spent talking about what the players on the ice away from the puck are doing. Whether you are on offense or defense, 99% of your time spent on ice is away from the puck. Here are some important things to remember and try to incorporate into your game, along with pictures to illustrate.

First and most importantly, you need to ALWAYS be ready to join the play. Being ready means:

• Stick always on the ice and in a "useable" position.
• Both hands AWAY/OFF the body - especially your top hand.
• Always try to keep you body "open" to the play. (Imagine your eyes are part of your chest and you need to see the play.)
• Knees bent and ready to push off and accelerate or change direction IMMEDIATELY.
• Pay attention to your positioning within the play. Also, take notice of the entire ice surface and always be ready to adjust to any changes.
• Take note of the picture with 3 Islanders players reacting to a rebound. They are in a TRIANGLE and are aware, in position and ready.

Final note: If your teammate looks up at you, and you are ready to receive a pass, you have a better chance of getting the pass than if you were looking down. You also now have a teammate who has the confidence to LOOK for YOU when they have the puck again!

                

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Stick Handling by Coach Vinny

Stick-handling is a key to your success as a hockey player. Passing and shooting are obviously important, but these skills are reliant upon your ability to "HANDLE", or control a puck well. All great stick-handlers, passers and shooters can control a puck while looking up at from their puck.

Here are some tips to help you to improve your stick handling skills.

The pictures should help illustrate this tip.

• Keep your hand off your body (sound familiar ?)
• Try not to slap or "manhandle" the puck. Try to feel the puck by cupping the puck with every touch. You should not here chopping when you stick-handle.
• You don't have to constantly dribble the puck. sometimes pushing the puck is all that is needed. Remember, you increase your chances for error the more dribbling you do.
• * Handle the puck out in front of you, under your chin, so that you can SPLIT your vision. ( Try to look up and keep the puck in your peripheral vision below the area that you are looking at.) looking up from your puck and still seeing it is the key.
• You can practice this with a ball or puck off the ice. Be creative and PRACTICE, PRACTICE,PRACTICE

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