Ravrius 0 Report post Posted October 3, 2007 i'm having a little trouble with using my skates to block or direct a puck...seems whenever a puck comes too fast and I try to block it with my skate I end up losing balance and just flail my arms in the air. Is there any technique to doing this or do I just have to work on balance? I've tried bending my knees more but it still seems like i get knocked over way too easily. Thanks for any help! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
revolutionz_s13 0 Report post Posted October 3, 2007 I think the biggest thing would be your core strength. Maybe doing some core exercises would make your balance stonger so that you are able to stand on just one skate if the puck knocks your other one out from under you, and keep your balance. Maybe something to do if you have free ice time is have a buddy just pass a puck at your skates increasingly harder so you can figure out how you need to set your body to keep your balance. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
booyaagrandma 4 Report post Posted October 3, 2007 Play some soccer :) .Try kicking a ball at a wall and controlling it with your feet to get used to the action ( you can move onto a tennis ball as you get more used to the action ).Or play some hacky sack it will all help you get used to the action of using your feet and help with your balance :) . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fatwabbit 93 Report post Posted October 3, 2007 watch falcao (on youtube). He's a great futsal player, and watch his body and balance, rather than the ball ;) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chadd 916 Report post Posted October 3, 2007 Play some soccer :) .Try kicking a ball at a wall and controlling it with your feet to get used to the action ( you can move onto a tennis ball as you get more used to the action ).Or play some hacky sack it will all help you get used to the action of using your feet and help with your balance :) .I used to just kick a tennis ball around the house to work on those skills. Getting on the ice and carrying the puck up the ice in your feet is another good drill.i'm having a little trouble with using my skates to block or direct a puck...seems whenever a puck comes too fast and I try to block it with my skate I end up losing balance and just flail my arms in the air. Is there any technique to doing this or do I just have to work on balance? I've tried bending my knees more but it still seems like i get knocked over way too easily. Thanks for any help!Make sure you aren't reaching too far for the puck. Otherwise it's just a matter of coordination and balance. Work on those things and you will get better. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
booyaagrandma 4 Report post Posted October 3, 2007 watch falcao (on youtube). He's a great futsal player, and watch his body and balance, rather than the ball ;)Wow,that guy is impressive ! you'd want to know what you're doing to pull some of those moves on hard court,grass is much more forgiving . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
5minutesforfighting 0 Report post Posted October 4, 2007 For me...If it's while I'm on defense in front of the net, I won't touch it, with risk of me deflecting it into the net. If it's while I'm opposition, I just make sure the toe of my skate is pointed where I want the puck to go (on deflection). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
krwwc6 0 Report post Posted October 5, 2007 What if you bent your knees a bit more. If you are standing straight up, flat footed, and taking a shot in the skate, I'd think you could lose your balance a lot easier. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
daca 0 Report post Posted October 5, 2007 knowing your comfort zone between feet and stick is a big thing. playing soccer helps a ton as well. go out to a soccer store and get a mini ball and play around with it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GoHabsGo24 1 Report post Posted October 5, 2007 I play soccer, and it helps a ton. I often kick pass the puck when im tied up, block shots, and otherwise use my feet to kick the puck to myself, it really helps. I think i've had 3 or 4 assists this season from kicking the puck to teammates. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
booyaagrandma 4 Report post Posted October 5, 2007 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXoiEDs_a0ESpeaking of soccer,this is a good clip. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jarick 5 Report post Posted October 5, 2007 In addition to bent knees, you could try having a little wider stance. That makes you more stable on the ice, although you may give up a bit of mobility. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wc19 1 Report post Posted October 6, 2007 maybe if your stick is free you can lean onto to it as leverage before you deflect/kick the puck Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thockey17 1 Report post Posted October 8, 2007 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXoiEDs_a0ESpeaking of soccer,this is a good clip.Nash was always juggling a soccer ball running through Central Park over the summer. Pretty cool. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
daca 0 Report post Posted October 8, 2007 i think his brother plays for the Canadian National team. pretty sweet. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RadioGaGa 162 Report post Posted October 8, 2007 As far as blocking shots with my feet. I'll try to get out of the way if I can (when someone pays me to play...I'll block shots)...but, I'm getting better at using my feet along the boards to kick pucks free, and in the slot to move a puck to my stick...What I am still no damn good at is taking a puck off the outside of the blade and directing to the stick at full speed (like when a pass is a bit behind you and you are going up the wing).as far as how to get good at it...It's like everything else in the game...confidence in your ability and practice. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chadd 916 Report post Posted October 8, 2007 As far as blocking shots with my feet. I'll try to get out of the way if I can (when someone pays me to play...I'll block shots)...but, I'm getting better at using my feet along the boards to kick pucks free, and in the slot to move a puck to my stick...I stopped trying to block pucks with my feet when I stopped wearing Kors. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RadioGaGa 162 Report post Posted October 8, 2007 As far as blocking shots with my feet. I'll try to get out of the way if I can (when someone pays me to play...I'll block shots)...but, I'm getting better at using my feet along the boards to kick pucks free, and in the slot to move a puck to my stick...I stopped trying to block pucks with my feet when I stopped wearing Kors.I might be so inclined if I was in a league of some kind....but not in a pickup/shinny skate. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Theo 1 Report post Posted October 8, 2007 As far as blocking shots with my feet. I'll try to get out of the way if I can (when someone pays me to play...I'll block shots)...but, I'm getting better at using my feet along the boards to kick pucks free, and in the slot to move a puck to my stick...I stopped trying to block pucks with my feet when I stopped wearing Kors.Really surprised me, but I have blocked quite a few shots from the Kors and they did not help me like I thought they would. Am still wearing the skate from Dec 2005 though, so they are built well.But among the shots I have blocked- One from June 2006- Hurts my foot when I walk to this day. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chadd 916 Report post Posted October 8, 2007 As far as blocking shots with my feet. I'll try to get out of the way if I can (when someone pays me to play...I'll block shots)...but, I'm getting better at using my feet along the boards to kick pucks free, and in the slot to move a puck to my stick...I stopped trying to block pucks with my feet when I stopped wearing Kors.Really surprised me, but I have blocked quite a few shots from the Kors and they did not help me like I thought they would. Am still wearing the skate from Dec 2005 though, so they are built well.But among the shots I have blocked- One from June 2006- Hurts my foot when I walk to this day.Catch them on the top and they will hurt, catch them on the side and you generally won't feel much, if anything. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TBLfan 25 Report post Posted October 8, 2007 As far as blocking shots with my feet. I'll try to get out of the way if I can (when someone pays me to play...I'll block shots)...but, I'm getting better at using my feet along the boards to kick pucks free, and in the slot to move a puck to my stick...I stopped trying to block pucks with my feet when I stopped wearing Kors.I might be so inclined if I was in a league of some kind....but not in a pickup/shinny skate.Sounds like me. I block shots in league games but in pickup I'll get out of the way, who plays defense in pickup anyway? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
big ben 0 Report post Posted October 9, 2007 I practice in sock feet on my kitchen floor, helped with my hockey stops as well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
