| Improving ones hockey skills does not always | | | | put a large rectangle of tape on the wall |
| entail practicing drills on the ice. There | | | | with the corners marked as targets. Try to |
| are always some practice time away from the | | | | copy the dimensions in this diagram. Another |
| rink that can enhance your ability for when | | | | idea is to transpose this diagram onto a |
| you are on the ice and moving at full speed. | | | | piece of plywood, which can be transported to |
| A couple of critical aspects of stick | | | | where you want to practice. |
| handling is the ability to control the puck | | | | |
| through your peripheral sight and feel; with | | | | Once you have this shooting target, you can |
| the feel of the puck on the stick being the | | | | begin to repeated shoot for the corners with |
| most important aspect because it enables you | | | | your various shots. A way for you to see |
| to concentrate your vision on watching out | | | | where your shots hit is to dampen the wrapped |
| for where you are headed, as well as for | | | | ball with water, which should leave a water |
| where your teammates are at on the ice. A few | | | | mark where it hits; the water also adds to |
| of these drills might seem improbable of | | | | the ball's weight since it is not as heavy as |
| enhancing your skill but the drills are | | | | an ice puck. This drill should not be rushed |
| designed for repetition of movement which | | | | because you want to assign a number of direct |
| forms a foundation for your hand-to-eye | | | | hits to each corner triangle (15 per corner) |
| coordination. | | | | before shooting at the next corner. The |
| | | | higher the number of direct hits you assign |
| An example of a short drill as noted by Mike | | | | to each corner will gradually lead to an |
| Hartman and Sam Mercurio in 'STAY IN SHAPE | | | | increase of your hand-to-eye coordination |
| BUT HAVE FUN' is to "work on little things | | | | because you are not just haphazardly shooting |
| like stickhandling. Take out a golf ball and | | | | at a goal. You need to take your time to aim |
| stickhandle in the driveway for an hour or | | | | at each target mentally, locate the ball, and |
| so. Controlling the golf ball will further | | | | then shoot at the target while your is head |
| enhance your hand-eye coordination and, | | | | up looking at it. Hitting the corner |
| again, you will be amazed at the difference | | | | successfully while your head is up will also |
| when you step back onto the ice in the fall" | | | | increase your confidence and feel for |
| ( For all practical purposes, all you need | | | | shooting by relying on your peripheral |
| for stick handling improvement is your hockey | | | | vision. You can call it looking out of the |
| stick and something to hit. Common choices | | | | corner of you eyes, or how you see the ice. |
| for something to hit can be: golf ball (as | | | | |
| stated before), tennis ball, roller hockey | | | | Battling the off season blues should not be |
| ball or puck, racket or hand ball, or any | | | | wasted by laying around watching TV or |
| comparable sized object in your vicinity. | | | | playing video games. You could take the |
| Balls tend to work the best for drills off | | | | initiative to improve your stickhandling and |
| the ice because the ball naturally returns to | | | | shooting aim by practicing these fun, basic |
| the shooter, depending on where you are | | | | fundamental drills mentioned in this article. |
| practicing. | | | | You could come up with a new drill of your |
| | | | own that builds your own confidence. The main |
| Another fun drill to practice is to take a | | | | point is to take some quality time in |
| hockey stick, a tennis ball wrapped in | | | | practicing stickhandling and shooting. The |
| 1-layer of hockey tape to lessen the bounce, | | | | more often you practice, the easier and more |
| a brick wall, and something to mark the wall | | | | natural handling a ball or puck will become |
| with. Chalk can be used on the wall, but you | | | | to you. The benefits you will receive from |
| do not want someone accusing you off | | | | this diligent practice will be realized when |
| graffiti; therefore, it is best to take some | | | | you return to the ice for the beginning of |
| hockey tape and stick it on the wall. If you | | | | next season. Your teammates will be really |
| want the exact dimension of a regulation | | | | pleased that you took the time off the ice |
| goal, 72"x48" what most goals opening are | | | | and used it to your and their advantage. |
| scaled at; however, for your purposes, just | | | | |