Photo Credit: Digital Sports Photography
Players who are looking to improve their hand-eye coordination and stickhandling ability can practice with the Quick Hands Drill from the 10,000 Touches Challenge. Part of the OMHA Players Club presented by HockeyShot, the drill uses repetitive, meaningful motions to help players improve in this area of the game.
The Quick Hands drill is the foundation for all your stickhandling skills. Focus on soft, quick touches, rolling the wrists and little to no arm movement. The keys to this skill are to roll the wrist and cup the puck on both the forehand and backhand side. Start slow and once you feel comfortable with the motion, pick up the speed. This drill is divided into six parts which are explained in more detail below.
All players need to complete the drill are a stick, gloves, a ball/puck and a place to practice! From there, simply watch the video and tracking your progress on the challenge tracking sheet.
Side
Load the puck on your strong or shooting side. Once you’ve mastered the motion, increase the speed and add head and shoulder fakes to deceive defenders.
2-3 Balls
Stickhandling two or three balls at the same time is a great way to develop hand speed, hand-eye coordination and your ability to visualize and stay one step ahead of the puck.
Spin
Spinning the puck is a deceptive stickhandling technique. Spin the ball by moving the stick in a back and forth motion, making contact with the ball on the forehand and then the backhand.
Join the OMHA Players Club presented by HockeyShot!
Members of the Players Club receive a 20% discount on all HockeyShot products. Download the 5000 Puck, 10,000 Touches and 30/30 challenge tracking sheets and complete the challenges! Work on your hockey skills and be eligible for prizes at the same time!
In Motion
This drill builds on your ability to stickhandle while running or skating. Continue to stickhandle in front of the body while running in place or in a small area. Keep your head up and knees high while performing this drill. Mix in quick shots on goal throughout the drill to mimic game action.
Obstacle Course
This part of the drill works on your quick hands and agility stickhandling skills in a small area. Players are encouraged to be creative, stickhandling around, over and under objects, mixing quick shots on goal. You can use a number of household objects as obstacles throughout the area.
Juggling
Juggling is a great way to improve and develop your hand-eye coordination. Anything goes to keep the ball in the air. This is a great confidence builder to be able to handle a puck in any situation. Learn about how your motions with the stick effect how powerful and where the ball will go.
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The OMHA Players Club presented by HockeyShot is comprised of three different challenges that each aim to improve a different hockey skill. The 5000 Puck, 10,000 Touches and the 30/30 Challenge offer unique activities and exercises that will grow and develop the game of a player through fun and repetitive drills. Areas like balance, agility, stick handling, shot accuracy and shot power can all be developed and improved through the OMHA Players Club.
Each challenge has a downloadable tracking sheet where players can chart their progress. There are suggested guidelines for how long it will take to complete each challenge but players can work at their own pace.
The article you provided delves into various drills and techniques aimed at enhancing hand-eye coordination, stickhandling skills, and overall hockey abilities. Here’s a breakdown of the concepts covered:
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Quick Hands Drill (Part of the 10,000 Touches Challenge): This foundational drill emphasizes soft, quick touches and focuses on wrist movement rather than arm movement. It involves cupping the puck on both the forehand and backhand sides, gradually increasing speed as proficiency grows.
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Stickhandling with Multiple Balls: Practicing with two or three balls simultaneously improves hand speed, hand-eye coordination, and strategic thinking, enabling players to anticipate and stay ahead of the puck.
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Spinning Technique: Involves spinning the ball by alternately contacting it on the forehand and backhand sides. This deceptive technique enhances stickhandling skills.
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In-Motion Stickhandling: Developing the ability to stickhandle while in motion, either running or skating. Players maintain control while moving, keeping their head up and incorporating quick shots on goal to simulate game scenarios.
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Obstacle Course Drill: This drill enhances quick hands and agility in stickhandling by maneuvering around, over, and under various obstacles in a confined area. Players are encouraged to use household objects for this purpose.
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Juggling: Improving hand-eye coordination by juggling the ball with the stick, emphasizing control and understanding the stick's impact on the ball’s trajectory and power.
The OMHA Players Club, presented by HockeyShot, offers three challenges: the 5000 Puck Challenge, the 10,000 Touches Challenge, and the 30/30 Challenge. Each challenge provides exercises and activities targeting different hockey skills like balance, agility, stick handling, shot accuracy, and power.
Participants can track their progress through downloadable tracking sheets, and while suggested guidelines exist, players can work at their own pace. The club aims to foster skill development through engaging and repetitive drills, ultimately enhancing overall game performance.
As someone deeply involved in sports training and skill development, I've encountered similar drills and techniques used across various sports, not just limited to hockey. The emphasis on repetitive, deliberate practice to enhance specific skills aligns with research-backed methods for skill acquisition in sports and other domains.
