What’s the first skill that starts to deteriorate when players haven’t
been on the ice for a few days?

I believe it’s passing.

When players are used to skating daily or every other day, it’s pretty
amazing how “off” the timing, strength and accuracy of their passes can get.

I remember back to when I played in university and we took a 5 day break
over Christmas.  Even though most of us still skated when we went home,
we couldn’t string 2 or 3 good passes together when we returned from holidays.

Effective passing is a two-way street.  The player giving the pass must make
it hard enough and accurate enough that the receiver has a good chance of
receiving it safely and effectively in the flow of the game.  The player receiving the pass must give a good target where they show as much of their stick blade as possible to the passer and put themselves in the best possible body position to receive the pass.

When it comes to effective passing, I believe in the “360 Degree Rule”.

Players are taught from a very early age that they need to make sure their
passes go “tape to tape”.  And I think that’s a great guidepost for young players who are just starting to develop their skills.

However, I think it can also breed bad behavior in the pass receiver.

The pass receiver starts to expect that the incoming pass should be “perfect”
and if it is behind them, in their feet or out ahead of them, it isn’t their fault
that they can’t control it.

Wrong.

I believe it is the pass receiver’s job to be able to control any pass that is
within 360 degrees of them.

Let me explain…

The 360 degrees refers to the space surrounds a player in an imaginary circle that would be drawn around them when they are standing on the ice holding their stick out in front of them in their top hand.

I truly believe that it is the pass receiver’s responsibility to control ANY puck that is inside that 360 degree circle.

That includes passes in their feet, wobbly passes, slapshot passes and those
really annoying passes that dribble a few feet behind you as you head up
the ice.

Being able to control those kind of passes, as well as the ones of the laser-like tape-to-tape variety, is an absolutely essential skill for players who aspire to play at the elite level. And it is a skill that coaches must constantly teach and reinforce on the ice during skill sessions, practices and games.

Work Hard. Dream BIG.

Your friend and coach,

Kim

Kim McCullough, MSc, YCS

Director, Total Female Hockey