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