Stickhandling Drills
Stickhandling is a primary aspect of hockey. When the player has learned how to skate, the next thing he needs to learn is how to use the stick for controlling the slippery, frozen rubber that often causes havoc.
This skill is so crucial that you can drastically up your game if you master this skill. Below are five drills that take a few minutes each and really help improve your stickhandling skill.
From Blue to Red
In this drill, players are divided into three groups and all of them are on the blue line. Every group is supposed to carry the puck head-up from the blue to the red line. This step is then repeated. The other two groups do not skate and stay in the middle of the ice thus creating challenging obstacles for the group on the ice.
The Triangle Shaped Drill
This drill requires the set up of three barriers in a triangle shape. Each barrier is spread out at about 2 feet to the left and right of your position and the third one if right in front of you. You’re then supposed to take the puck on any smooth surface such as ice and move the puck all around the three barriers. The catch is, you cannot move your feet to do this.
Dribbling:
A good dribbling practice is done by cupping the blade stick over the puck and lightly tapping it with the stick. This is done in small strokes for greater impact. Instead of the pucker, a wooden ball can also be used because it rolls faster on ice than a puck.
Dribbling is done so that whenever the stick is hit by the puck, a vibration goes up the shaft and the player can feel the puck position without having to look at it.
Extensive Reach:
A wooden ball is placed right in front of the player’s body, and they have to reach for it extensively from side to side by cupping the blade stick over on backhand and forehand both. The ball is brought to the forehand side and then the player had to reach out wide from front to back. He can then move on to the backhand and reach frontward far ahead and far behind. This should then be put together so that a U-shape is made.
The 8 Figures:
Another beneficial drill is moving the puck around in the figure of 8’s around the barriers. It is suggested to use gloves as barriers. They should first be placed apart at shoulder-width and then slowly moving them about 5-6 feet apart.
This 8 figure drill brings together the skills of dribbling and reaching far & wide.
If this drill is done for about 15 minutes each day, an improvement will be noted in just about 2 weeks.