Hurrying Takes Time

If you want to win games you have to score goals (more than your opponent) you do this by controlling the puck/ball. If you have the puck, the other team doesn’t. If you want to score goals, shoot on net (not over the net or right into the goalie’s pads). Make good passes. This means that you must get the puck to your teammate. Just throwing the puck in their direction may not be good enough. This is a teamwork issue. Your teammate must get into position to receive the pass. Not just getting open is enough either. You can be open for a pass, but not in a strategic position to move the puck/ball toward the opposing team’s goal. This also means that you are moving the puck/ball away from your own goal and out of an area that leaves your own goal vulnerable to attack. Get good at using your body to protect the puck. Keep your body between your opponent and the puck. A lacrosse player changes hands to move the ball to the outside and away from stick checks. A hockey player can switch from two hands to one hand to extend their puck control area by pulling the puck far to the outside away from the opponents stick while moving his/her body to block the opponent from reaching the puck. For stick handling and passing move your hands closer together. For battling for the puck in close quarters move your hands farther apart for strength. Think about where you want the puck to go on the ice and pass the puck so that your team mate can skate to it. If you are receiving the puck, skate to where you want it. Communicate to each other; sometimes this will only be a look that you read from your teammate. Keep your eyes open and expect the unexpected. The puck bounces, passes are missed or deflected, and checks knock players off the puck. If you can react quickly to sudden changes you can sometimes gain and advantage and catch your opponent off guard, setting up a scoring opportunity, or preventing one. Play smart. A team that thinks and works together can be very dangerous to a team that doesn’t work together. You can pass the puck faster than you can skate the puck, but you still have to skate hard to move into position or to shoot on net. All this involves speed: quick passes, quick skating, and quick shots. If you over handle the puck, you give your opponent time to react and you lose any advantage you may have gained with a quick pass. Don’t sacrifice smart hockey for speed that does you no good. Racing into poor positioning or a fast blind pass will work against you. My dad always said, “Hurrying takes time” Be fast, but be smart while your doing it.