Introduction: Skill Development Strategy

Coaches' Corner, Hockey Equipment, Off-ice Training, Skills, Useful Products
Off-Ice Skill Development Strategy This is the 2nd of 3 intro videos for the Home Hockey Training Center. Check out the first video before watching this one. Here are the links to videos 1 and 3: Video 1: Course Overview Video 3: Objectives and Considerations There are certain hockey skills that can very realistically be developed away from the rink, and then there are some that don't work quite as well. You can gain an advantage over your opponent by practicing as many skills as possible off the ice. This video breaks down which skills can (and should) be worked on away from the rink, and gives a quick overview of how you might want to strategize your off-ice training plans. The main hockey skills that can be developed at…
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Give and Go Corner Drill

Give and Go Corner Drill

Half Ice Drills, Hockey Drills, Individual Skill Drills, Misc. Drills, Passing & Timing, Shooting, Stickhandling
The Give and Go Corner Drill is EXTREMELY effective for the really young age groups! This is an awesome drill for the really young players. It works on a number of key skill elements such as giving and receiving passes, skating to a receiving zone, power turns with the puck, and shots. Here's the diagram: Give and Go Corner Drill 1. Quick give and go with explosive start out of the corner 2. Skate around the cone and take a shot with your feet moving Note: Teach your players to call for the pass back. It's never too early to teach communication! Enjoy! USE THIS DRILL IN YOUR OWN PRACTICE PLAN:
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Warm-up Pass Exchange

Warm-up Pass Exchange

Hockey Drills, Individual Skill Drills, Passing & Timing, Shooting, Skating & Agility, Stickhandling, Warm-Up
The Warm-up Pass Exchange is a great way to start your practice! This is a cool little drill that incorporates a lot of different elements such as puckhandling, forward skating, backward skating, pivots, crossovers, passing, and shooting. It can be run at a quick pace, making for limited "stand-in-line" time. Warm-Up Pass Exchange: 1. Players line up in opposite corners, with pucks 2. Players skate the diagrammed route, pivoting backwards between the blue lines 3. Players exchange pucks in neutral ice, then step in and shoot. Note: make sure to run from both sides so players work on pivoting both directions Enjoy!!
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Overspeed Agility Drill

Overspeed Agility Drill

Hockey Drills, Individual Skill Drills, Shooting, Skating & Agility
The Overspeed Agility Drill brings in many different skating elements! I've mentioned before that technical skating drills can be boring and monotonous for many youngsters. The problem is that skating ability is SO essential... you HAVE to find ways of developing it! One method I've found to work with youngsters––and older players too :)--is to add a shot at the end of a skating drill. This tactic turns it from a skating drill into a shooting drill, and is much more fun and motivating for the players. Start with no pucks. As your players progress, add a puck, then start making them do 5 push-ups for each time they lose the puck. Players must be able to execute these skating maneuvers at full speed without mishandling the puck. Add more…
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