Get ready for hockey season with these six hockey drills, developed to improve ball and stick skills. The best part, they can all be performed in your backyard, so no excuses.
1. Stationary air tapping
Tap the ball into the air. Set yourself a goal this can be either time or quantity based.
2. Yardsticks
Place your stick on the floor and mark the distance using two markers. Then drag a ball from one marker to the next. Add some variation; change your shape from linear to a square, semi-circle or a triangle. Set yourself a goal.
3. Small pops
Place a broom on two bricks. Then do small pops on the front stick and back stick, making sure that you are as close to the broom as possible. Again, set a goal; try to see how many you can do in a minute and aim to improve on that.
4. Bigger pops
Place +-4 bricks on top of one another on the lawn or on a smooth surface. The bricks must be just below knee height. Then place another 4 bricks approximately a meter away and place a broom over the top of the two piles of bricks. Stand about 3m away and do a medium-paced pop over the broom, then run around and fetch the ball. Repeat this on both the front and back stick.
5. Ball taps
Mark out a 10m run area with two bricks. Scoop the ball onto the stick, tap, and run with the ball in between the bricks. Aim to do five reps without dropping the ball. You drop, you start over.
6. Wall hits
If you have a wall to hit against, make a mark on the wall (for accuracy) and hit the ball using the front of the stick at the mark. Once you have nailed this, hit the ball towards your weak side or lift the ball for a bouncing stop.
Remember to set a goal with each drill, make a note of what you achieved after each practice and aim to improve on it during your next one.
Now that your are prepared to take to the field, make sure you remain protected with an Opro Mouthguard. View range here