4 more hockey skills girls’ hockey players need to improve

While writing my recent article on the 7 skills every female player needs to improve, I used the notes I took while watching the University of Wisconsin and the University of Minnesota-Duluth women’s teams face each other in a double header. . I went back to my notes this week while thinking about the drills to run in this week’s practice and realized that I had a few more key points that I wanted to share with you after watching these two elite teams play and execute at such a level. . high level.

So I created a new list of “4 more skills the player should improve on” based on my observations during these two games.

1. Forwards seek to feed the defense:

This skill was one that I saw both teams using extremely effectively in these games and it made me realize that it is not used enough at the lower level of hockey. Moving the puck back to the points while in the offensive zone forces the defensive team to have to adjust position, which often drives holes in their defensive coverage. You don’t want to blindly throw the puck at your defense, but you’re probably not using them as much as you could to create opportunities on offense. One bonus point to this: once you make the pass to the point, be sure to move to open up and be in position for a pass or rebound.

2. Defense lifting bodies in front of the net:

This is something that has been an even greater challenge for players since minor hockey obstructions and interference were removed. What this generally leads to is forwards gaining an inside position on the defender and having opportunities to score in tight. Too often, defenders get caught staring at the puck in these battles for position in front of the net rather than finding their player. This is one of the key skills that next-level scouts and coaches look for in their players, and it’s one you’ll have to learn to do correctly (without receiving a penalty) in order to compete at that level.

3. Find Open Ice to support your teammates:

I think this is the biggest difference between bantam-age players (13-14 years) and middle-aged players (15+). While there may be a significant difference in overall skill levels between these two age groups, at higher levels, most roosters and dwarfs have the same relative skill level. Most players in both age groups are very good when they have the puck, but midget players do a much better job of opening up and supporting their teammates than French players. This can certainly be taught, but it also comes with years of experience. As the game becomes faster and even more physical, players cannot rely solely on skill. They need to develop their sense of hockey and understand where the space is on the ice and how to use it effectively.

4.Each pass is difficult, fast and done with authority:

This is something that you don’t really recognize as a player until you start playing with and against players who pass as hard as you normally shoot. This happened to me the first time I played with the girls of the national team in Calgary. I spent the first few weeks getting used to the fact that I thought my cane was going to break every time they passed me. As the game gets faster, the passes also get harder and faster. The sooner you start passing with authority, the sooner you will help yourself and your teammates to get used to the speed and strength of the passes you will encounter in the future.

By improving in these 4 areas, as well as the 7 we covered last week, and focusing on executing each skill to the best of your ability, you will take one step closer to becoming an elite player one day.