| Hockey is a not just a game of smarts; it's a game of | | | | Time your release so that your puck is already flying |
| skill that calls for precision. One miscue and your | | | | toward the goal before a defender reaches you or |
| defensive man can steal your puck, aim, shoot and | | | | the goalie reaches the end of the goal you were |
| score, all in less than 30 seconds. Obviously, it's a | | | | aiming for. |
| game that requires focus, strategy, quick thinking and | | | | 3. Adapt drills. Inline drills can be adapted to ice hockey |
| top-notch skills. Although it admittedly takes years to | | | | and vice versa. Shooting techniques can be slightly |
| gain the playing skills of competitive professional | | | | different between inline and ice hockey but the general |
| hockey players, amateurs can improve their game | | | | principles are the same. It's the same game of speed |
| quickly with constant practice and a few useful tips: | | | | and precision; you only need to adapt to location. So |
| 1. Work on both forehand and backhand wrist shots. | | | | get a drill book and start practicing some shooting drills |
| You need the variety and the alternative to get around | | | | you read on. |
| a defender or two. It would also be helpful to master a | | | | 4. Watch and learn. Use your tivo and the slow motion |
| backhand shot off a deke. You don't want to be too | | | | button. Studying actual plays executed perfectly can |
| easy to stop. If you have excellent forehand and | | | | help you improve your technique immensely. This isn't |
| backhand wrist shots, your defenders won't be | | | | new, really. All professional athletes study their game |
| complacent. So deke and let out a calculated | | | | and their opponents' games watching hours of |
| backhand wrist shot. Just remember to bring the puck | | | | recorded plays and hitting the slow motion button. |
| as close to your body to shield it from defenders | | | | Breaking down an excellent play into its per-second bit |
| who'd be doing their best to keep you from hitting one | | | | helps you concentrate on the minutest detail of |
| more hockey goal. | | | | execution. And as you apply it to your game; you have |
| 2. Learn to release a quick shot off the wrong foot. | | | | a way of timing yourself against the ideal play. You'd |
| Many times in the game, you'd catch yourself on the | | | | be hitting more hockey goals in no time. |
| wrong foot - but with a wide berth for an open shot, | | | | Obviously, shooting techniques are intuitive. This is why |
| especially on the slot. You must learn to take | | | | practice is indispensable. You have to get to know |
| advantage of these situations to maximize scoring | | | | yourself well as a player. Practice and you'd know |
| potential. Plus, if you practice this technique often | | | | which one works for you. Don't be afraid to alter a |
| enough, you'd learn how to balance and brace yourself | | | | technique to suit your style. After all, as long as you |
| against the likely fall when a 250-pound defender | | | | play within the rules, the goal is it hit as many hockey |
| pounces on you to keep you from making that hockey | | | | goals as you can. |
| goal. Practice with someone giving you a quick pass. | | | | |