IMPROVING YOUR HOCKEY SKILLS

Improve your hockey for the upcoming season by refining your basic skills with some simple drills.

Dribbling:
When you dribble, make sure you carry the ball a little to your right, or in other words, the one o’clock position.  The ball should be on your stick, and NOT next to your body because it prohibits you from turning fast enough to left or right. With the ball in the proper position, you should work to make some left and right pulls but again, keeping the ball as close as possible to your stick. Make sure your hands are in the right position with your left hand turning the stick, your right hand low and as a “shell” around it to make the pulls.

Drill:
Place obstacles like cones or any object in the field, and dribble around them (mine field). Start slow with the correct technique and try to avoid touching the objects. As you improve, reduce the spaces between the objects and dribble faster, but always maintaining the proper technique. You should always feel in control, with the ball going where you want.  When you are proficient with skill and speed, then add another dimension and try lifting the ball over the objects.  

Tip: When you watch TV on the couch hold your stick in your hand and pull left and right with a tennis ball…stay in control and try it with not looking at the ball!

Receiving a pass:
When receiving the ball make sure your left and right hand are in the correct position.  Your right hand should be low and receive the ball “dead”….angle your stick a little bit so the ball gets in fact stuck under the stick and does not jump away from your stick (see photo above). Do this forehand as well as with the back hand.

Receiving on the move:
When you receive the ball on the move with your forehand make sure that your right foot is in the direction you want to run (see photo below)…let the ball go across your body and receive it outside your right foot…do not stop it dead but “tap it on the head” so it slows down and you can continue running with the ball. Important is the position of your hand (right hand low), position of your feet and the angle of your stick. Again angle your stick a little bit so the ball runs under the stick and stays there in total control!

Receiving with your backhand on the move is basically the same however your left foot is in the direction you want to run. Make sure that the ball goes across your body and is received outside your left foot. Again angle your stick and make sure your right hand is strong on the stick so the ball stays in your stick and in total control!

Drill: run in a half a circle and have somebody pass the ball to you. Run clock wise for the forehand and counter clock wise for the backhand. Start with a short distance and make it longer the better you get. Also increase the ball speed. If you are really good, try to receive bouncing balls or pull the ball left and/ or right when you receive it.

If you want different or more difficult drills or advise feel free to contact Daan Polders, Asst. Hockey Coach Wake Forest University, email:polderdg@wfu.edu.

Perfecting basic skills is essential for advanced play, whether it’s for your home team, camp or in college!