Practicing off the ice to improve on ice play..?

[z1ggy 81]

I made a thread a while ago about practicing shooting off the ice. That's working out well- I got some pucks, a sheet of plexiglass and am able to shoot outside no problem. I find that my shot is much better on pavement than on the ice though. I attribute this mostly to lack of balance on the skates.

What are some ways to improve off the ice ? I have roller blades and play in a roller league, but I feel like the two don't really carry over that well to one another. If I play roller for a long time with out being on the ice, I'm all screwed up for ice, and vice versa.

[CommodoreColt 19]

I used to shoot a lot on dry land off of a skill pad; likewise my shot on dry land was a bit stronger. I mostly attributed it to shooting several hundred pucks more on dry land than on skates each week. It makes sense that the one I practiced more got better. Either way, the general muscle groups used for shooting got stronger and I just had to teach myself to adjust for the height on skates.

I'm of the opinion that gettting on inline skates is a good way to train generalized skill sets off ice (like shooting in stride) as long as you are aware of the differences between the two. I'm not averse to inline hockey and dry land shooting because I expect the adjustment going to ice and I've taught myself to make that adjustment. My reasoning is that inline and dry land is better than sitting around and doing nothing waiting for my next ice time.

Expect the adjustment and teach yourself how it works for your body. Don't be afraid of having to exercise your mind's flexibility a bit.

[cjm305 0]

Get either a swedish stickhandling ball (wooden) or a Smart hockey ball (puck weight plastic abs ball). Dont use either for shooting, but they will help with your hands wonderfully. You can also get a piece of PVC pipe that is only a single gauge wider on the inside than a stick and cut it to fit your bottom hand grip of the stick. Stick handle using that bottom grip pipe and it will help train muscle memory. You can also use a balance board for footing while stick handling to train your core and gain better puck retention skills, plus the etra height of the board will cause you to train further in your periphery view and bend your knees further to gain better standard hockey position when handling the puckon either the roller pad or the ice. Anything else related you can think of that you would specifically like to address?

As far as shooting, definitely play the post game. outside post, then corssbar, then opposite post.

Additionally, when stick handling, (I am right handed, flip for lefties) when the puck or ball is on your blade and you are cupping, so when it is on th right side of the front of my body, pull the blade back towards yourself to add a spin to what you are stick handling with, and when it moves to your left side, push forward with the back hand side of your blade to continue adding to your spin on the object. Stickhandle like this and make it a goal to keep the object in a single spot will maintaining the spin quicker and quicker. Keeping it in a very small area while maintaining spin is difficult and it can teach your hands to lay a softer touhc on the puck while maintaining wrist mobility and stregthening your puck skills.

[z1ggy 81]

^^ Thanks for the tips. I was going to actually try a golf ball, since those are cheap..Or maybe purchase a green biscuit.

Unfortunately I don't have a goal of my own, I've been shooting into a large tarp draped on some trees.

I also saw a product on youtube that was on some 2-3'' legs shaped like a 'U' that kids were stick handling through. I figure I could make something similar using sticks/wood/whatever I have sitting around

Also, My driveway is gravel so I can't roller blade on it where I shoot :-/

[thejackal 46]

a few things I do in addition to what's already mentioned:

- off-ice stickhandling, on one leg - works on balance and useful since on ice you'll rarely have your weight split equally when carrying the puck

- juggling while watching tv - I find it helps with keeping your head up and having double vision (watching for teammates and opponents while controlling the puck) on the ice

- playing another sports at a competitive level - keeps you in shape during the off-season and mentally refreshed for when hockey starts. I play tennis, but most of the good hockey players I know are good soccer or lacrosse players.

[Souldriver 64]

A trickier version of post game is only counting it if it hits the post and goes in.

Though that still doesn't trump my favorite game of "shoot pucks at old expired beer bottles."

[cjm305 0]

Alot of the stick handling stuff can be done just with that plexi you use to shoot off of. If you work on small area control in translates really well, and honestly if you arent playing in a physical league you should be pumping life into your finesse game. As far as all of that goes, the stuff that will translate the absolute best, is trying to improve your hockey sense and your situational awareness/perspective.

- Always remember that situational awareness dictates skill caliber. Even if a player is challenged in the skill department, they can excel if they are able to capitolize and create space and time. Average players are only able to discern one option when absolutely pressed, good players might be able to creat 1-2 additional options, and the best players are able to modify/create any number of options. Take some time to alter your play style to incorporate room for you to expand your overall hockey sense.

- When shooting, translate your vision to puck perspective. This means that even though you might think that top right corner looks juicy, if you were able to look from the perspective of where the puck is, the goalies glove might lie directly in the path your shot would take, but if you are solely thinking about openings and not the path they take to get there you could miss it.

- Shoot for openings instead of generic target spots. When testing a goalie, contested or not, always remember that alot of what the goalie is able to save happens because they are reading you. If you dont try and read the goalie, and simply throw shots at random generic target areas you will score sometimes, but the guys who score often always look from puck perspective and aim for areas the goalie wont expect. Backhand shots are amazing for this because they are much harder for the goalie to read, and so are onetimers due to the increased speed of the shot execution.

- Last thing, if you are an offensive player, think about how you break in on defensive players, especially if playing nonphysically. If you approach a defenseman while breaking into the offensive zone, always try to work past his offhand side. Meaning if he is a right handed player, pass him on the right when he is facing you. This puts you in a much harder region to poke check and you can make a power ove to help maintain control of the puck.

Not trying to make this the "I know more than you, so read the books I post for you" thread, this is all just stuff that took me much longer than it should have to realize, and its all stuff that I really wish I knew alot earlier.

[smcgreg 81]

Alot of the stick handling stuff can be done just with that plexi you use to shoot off of. If you work on small area control in translates really well, and honestly if you arent playing in a physical league you should be pumping life into your finesse game. As far as all of that goes, the stuff that will translate the absolute best, is trying to improve your hockey sense and your situational awareness/perspective.

I'll echo this sentiment. I have a 4 x 8 sheet of UHMW in my basement and a green biscuit on that is almost exactly like being on the ice. In low level games, those skills translate directly into simply being able to control the puck and beat the first defender or making a solid pass because you can create enough space to get a clean one off. Simply doing tons of toe drags and various patterns around small obstacles is excellent for developing useful hands. Add in a passer and it's even better. I have a homemade passer I use on it that cost me $20 bucks using stuff I picked up at the hardware store.

The rest by this poster about hockey sense etc... maybe not so much. I'm a C/B level player, but play D because I'm old and slow. In D level, things bounce around so randomly, apparently with no rationale (it's like being in a pinball machine sometimes) such that hockey sense and position awareness (of which I have a fair bit having been around a while) doesn't do much good without the speed/quickness to go with it. Sure, it's good to have hockey sense etc... but simply having good hands and some quickness goes a looonnnggg way at the lower levels. Sure, once you're C and above though, the more esoteric, subtle aspects of the game are important and will return your investment because you'll be playing with others who can think the same way. This is akin to when I play drop in with higher level players, I can be in the right place at the right time, but in one v one battles, the old man takes a beating. Just my perspective though.

[Chadd 916]

Stickhandle while on a balance board or bosu ball. it will improve your balance and leg strength while improving your puck skills.

[deathb4dismount 11]

Grab a green biscuit and Stick handle around an enthusiastic 3 year old with a killer stick check