Hockey Help?

Question

I am in 9th grade and I played on a Jr. Varsity team last season, I really want to make Varsity this year but I don't know how to get on the team. I am a good skater but my shooting isn't good. Stickhandling is ok... what should I work on in order to make the Varsity team, or have a shot at making it?

Answer 1

Hey liz!
well, first of all, i would run a lot to show the coach that you want it. I would shoot everyday and practice practice practice!
-sucking up doesnt hurt either
haha
cya tomorrow =)->--<

Answer 2

When I was young, I had a HORRIBLE shot. I didn't have enough upper body strength to get the puck off the ground on a slap shot.

Obviously, a good wrist shot helps, but let me move on the snap shot really quick.

Here's what I did. I started with developing a good snap shot. There are some good tips at the link below. I knew I didn't have the ability to score from the blue line, but up close, I could get some goals.

Once I got comfortable with the snap shot, I started working more on the slap shot. Since I lacked upper body strength, I put more emphasis on my legs and accuracy on where my stick was hitting. I would hit a few inches behind the puck to make sure I got a good flex out of my shaft, then it'd get more oomph on the shot.

I answered another post about my training regimine. I really think that could help. I think the best players I played with were in great shape and very cerebral. It is really hard to take in everything going on around you and make good decisions if your heart rate is over 175 because you're sucking wind. Being in better shape will not only help you keep up, but it'll make you much more aware of what's going on.

Hope this helps and good luck!

Answer 3

practice makes perfect. Go out side and just shoot into a small space a garbage can or something shoot 100 shots a day 50 slap 50 wrist. Also to help your puck handling take a tennis ball and just stand in one spot with your head UP and just handle it. Don't deke just back and forth for like 15-20 minutes a day until you get used to it. Do this outside so the ball bounces around making it harder. Once you could do this easily just try deking in one spot with the ball. These are the things i did and it helped. Also lifting and being in shape helps a lot to. good luck and have fun!!

Answer 4

As odd as it may sound, try doing a lot of wrist exercises to build up your forearms. To keep practice fun, you might want to pick up an alternate activity like foosball or rowing to work the muscles that you use for snapshots, wristshots, etc. A lot of players in the NHL warm up by playing games or juggling a soccer ball, in order to have a low impact workout that stimulates and simulates the type of movement required in hockey. Other than that, set up a net in your backyard. It seemed to work for Gretzky, Crosby, and the Staal brothers.

Edit: apologies if I reiterated some of Habitant's comments. I was typing this post before the previous one was submitted. Cheers.

Answer 5

You may want to make sure that you are using a stick suitable for your style.
As is written on NHL.com
"The hockey stick is an extension of the hockey player's arm. This means the stick has to fit properly, and the length, curve and lie angle need to match both your size and body type as well as the type of game you play."
Perhaps the coach can assist you on this if he has not done so already.

Answer 6

a great work out for the wrist is get the end of a hockey stick that you cut off, and tie a shoe string around the stick get a 10 lbs weight and tie the string through the hole of the weight and start rolling the weights up and down that's a good work out for your wrist and it will give you lots of strenght on your forearm.


GO HABS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Answer 7

First and foremost, skate, skate, skate. Even if you can do nothing else, if you can outskate them, that gives you a leg up on them. You could also try different exercises to strengthen your wrists, and see if you can find a lead puck somewhere to practice with. It weighs about three times as much as a normal puck and could also help strengthen your wrists and forearms. Just remember, skate, skate, skate.....................

Answer 8

Practice makes perfect! Make sure that you have a stick that works for you, and just practice as much as you can!

Answer 9

work on your slap shot and practice everyday. remember practice makes better.