ABOUT SHOOTING OPTIONS
QUESTION: I'm working with a Travel Midget Hockey team. I've noticed at least two decent players almost always shoot off their back foot, leaning forward with the other foot off the ice. I've tried talking to them about it and they feel helpless to change. One kid could not shoot at all with both feet planted (tried to have them shift weight from back to front). I have to say, these two are fairly effective shooters and are at least better than average all around.
It just seems to me that teetering on a foot severely limits your options, vision and agility - not to mention a quick release. Essentially, once you take the one footed position you're committed to shooting. You would think it would limit their power too, but they both shoot fairly hard. Do you think I'm wrong trying to change them? I've seen the pros do it sometimes. I don't want to eliminate the shot completely, but add more useful shots to their arsenal. If I'm right, do you have suggestions on how I get through to them ... drills, etc?
ANSWER:
I totally agree with you. While that one shot may be effective for certain situations - to ONLY use that one most definitely LIMITS the player. Yes I would encourage you to assist them with adding more "weapons" to their arsenal...
Here are some thoughts you can "add" to their own thinking process that may get them to make natural adjustments as they work in self improvement. (This age of player can sometimes be challenging to coach instructors -- sometimes all you can do is make suggestions and ask them to use it if it makes sense to them!?!?!)
QUICK RELEASE
i.e. A quickly released "quick" shot is probably one of the highest percentage scoring opportunities going. Done quickly (i.e. IN STRIDE), it will catch allot of goalies off guard; shot sharply and accurately, it will also NOT give goalies enough time to react. Also when taking this shot, know that the lower corners are the higher percentage shots.
SHOOTING PERSPECTIVE:
Another important tip is shoot from the eyes of the puck.
Do this exercise. With puck on blade, stand in front of goalie in net. First notice your "openings" from where your eyes are while standing.
Then go down on your belly and look from behind the puck -- as the "eyes" of the puck. Notice the openings you have now! THERE IS ALOT MORE ROOM ON YOUR STICK SIDE now isn't there??
If you can learn to trust this shot, I guarantee you will score more goals shooting just inside the post on YOUR stick's side... (i.e. if you shoot left - shoot towards your left side of the net ... if you shoot right, shoot towards YOUR right side of the net) -- the only thing a goalie can do to really stop this is to cheat by keeping his body centered on the puck... if he does that -- then that is your queue to go back hand deke!
Think about these. Visualize doing them and scoring. Practice, practice, practice. AND WATCH THOSE GOALS GO IN!!!
Good Luck with the Puck,
Martial
