Did you know...
that it would take you 3-5 team practices or summer hockey school ice times to handle the puck as much as you will in only one Puckmasters 1-on-1 Hockey Training Session? The same holds true for shooting the puck, passing the puck, personal instruction and coaching. To really raise your game to the next level, train 1-on-1 at Puckmasters throughout the spring and summer! There is not a better way to get true results with your game!
Stickhandling Rehearsal
With any skill in hockey, the more you practice, the more "perfect" you become. Here's a few ways to practice your stickhandling.
Physical Rehearsal
One of the best ways to physically rehearse your stickhandling abilities is with a "Phantom Rush." The Phantom Rush was born from the concept of a shadow boxer who spends time throwing various punches against a phantom opponent in order to improve his fighting ability. Start at one end of the ice and carry the puck down the length of the ice practicing your stickhandling maneuvers. Practice only a few stickhandling maneuvers each time. For example, start by keeping the puck in front of you, then move it to the outside with a speed burst around a phantom checker. With the Phantom Rush, you want to imagine a series of opponents, and work on beating each one as you skate down the ice. Practice fakes, putting the puck through the checkers legs, changing directions, spinoramas, and other stickhandling maneuvers.
Mental Rehearsal
It's been said many times that your mind doesn't know the difference between something that's real and something that's vividly imagined. Mental rehearsal has the advantages of not only being able to be performed anywhere at any time, but when you mentally rehearse something, you can get it perfect every time, something that's far less likely when practicing in reality. when you mentally rehearse something enough times, your body will react in reality as if it's real.
Unfortunately, most people use this principle the wrong way -- let's say someone has to give a speech in front of 500 people. What happens is they mentally rehearse FAILING so many times before the speech, imagining everything that can go wrong, that it becomes physically debilitating to the point where they can't give the speech, or if they manage to give the speech, they fail miserably, providing justification for their original train of thought.
What we want you to do is use mental rehearsal the correct way, so that it's empowering and productive, and when you SUCCEED, you'll provide justification for your original train of thought. Find a comfortable place to sit, and imagine in your mind the above "Phantom Rush" drill. "Skate" the length of the ice in your mind, and practice your stickhandling maneuvers. As you approach the imaginary checker, notice how time slows down (imagine "bullet time" in the Matrix movies) so that you can see exactly what's happening. Imagine pulling off the maneuver flawlessly... putting the puck through the checker's legs, then speed burst around to pick it up, and have the puck land right on your blade, fake to one side and watch the checker commit, then bring the puck around to the opposite side. As you complete the move, notice how time speeds back up again as you approach the next checker. Run these scenarios over and over in your mind every week and you'll naturally start to do them in real life.
When Not to Stickhandle
Keep in mind that knowing when not to stickhandle is as important is knowing when and how to stickhandle. Unnecessary stickhandling maneuvers slow you down, and when making a rush for the net, every second counts. Generally speaking, you only need to perform stickhandling maneuvers when there's a checker in your way. If the way is clear, carry the puck and go, don't worry about any fanciness or stickhandling.
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