Unlock Your Stickhandling Potential with MCHL's Expert Tips and Tricks
Sticking handling is one of the most important skills for a hockey player. Being able to handle the puck with control and precision can make all the difference on the ice. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced player, there are always ways to improve your stick handling. In this blog, we'll go over some tips and tricks that can help you improve your stick handling skills.
Keep your head up
One of the most common mistakes that hockey players make is to look down at the puck while stickhandling. While it's important to keep your eyes on the puck to maintain control, it's also important to keep your head up and look at the ice around you. This will help you to anticipate where your teammates and opponents are and make better decisions with the puck.
Practice with a golf ball
Stickhandling with a golf ball is a great way to improve your stickhandling skills. Golf balls are smaller and lighter than pucks, which makes them more difficult to handle. If you can stickhandle with a golf ball, you'll be able to handle a puck with ease. Plus, practicing with a golf ball will improve your hand-eye coordination and overall stickhandling abilities.
Use your entire body
When stickhandling, it's important to use your entire body, not just your arms and hands. Your hips, shoulders, and feet should all be involved in the motion. This will help you to maintain better balance and control, and make it harder for defenders to knock you off the puck.
Vary your stickhandling speed
Don't always stickhandle at the same speed. Varying your stickhandling speed will make it harder for defenders to anticipate your moves. Try slow, deliberate movements and quick, snappy movements to keep defenders guessing.
Work on your wrist strength
Strong wrists are essential for good stickhandling. To improve your wrist strength, try doing wrist curls with a small weight, or use a wrist roller. The stronger your wrists are, the more control you'll have over the puck.
Keep your stick close to your body
When stickhandling, try to keep your stick close to your body. This will help you maintain better control over the puck and make it harder for defenders to poke it away.
Be creative
Stickhandling is an art, and there's no one right way to do it. Don't be afraid to experiment with different moves and techniques to see what works best for you. The more creative you are with your stickhandling, the harder it will be for defenders to anticipate your moves.
In conclusion, stickhandling is a crucial skill for any hockey player. By keeping your head up, practicing with a golf ball, using your entire body, varying your speed, working on your wrist strength, keeping your stick close to your body, and being creative, you can improve your stickhandling abilities and become a more effective player on the ice. Good luck!
If you're looking for ways to improve your stickhandling skills, MCHL offers practices with drills specifically designed to work on this skill. These drills can help you to develop your stickhandling abilities, build muscle memory, and improve your overall performance on the ice.
For example, MCHL may offer drills such as the "cone weave", where players stickhandle through a series of cones arranged in a zigzag pattern, or the "figure 8", where players stickhandle through two cones arranged in the shape of a figure 8. These drills can help to improve your stickhandling speed, control, and agility.
MCHL may also offer "shooting and stickhandling" sessions, where players can work on their stickhandling and shooting skills in a controlled environment with guidance from experienced coaches. These sessions can provide valuable feedback and help players to develop good habits and techniques.
