Years ago, a very wise and well respected hockey man once told me there are three keys to the game of hockey: emotion, skill and discipline. The longer I play the game, the more I realize how crucial these components are. Of these these components, the skill component might be the most difficult and crucial to develop. I believe that some players are just flat out born with skill. Others develop it over the years, but if you are not born with much, it’s hard to do. Here are my top 10 observations of how to develop skill within players.
Repetition
You can never underestimate the importance of repetition. Some say it takes 10,000 repeats of a specific movement for the body to naturally do it. Regardless of the number, repeating specific skill moves over and over certainly builds the muscle memory necessary to develop certain skills.
Visualizing
Whether it’s imagining a certain skill in your mind or watching it on TV, visually observing others or yourself has a huge impact on skill development.
Good coaching
Coaching matters. Especially in younger players, a good coach can make the difference between a good and a great player. Knowing how to break down certain skills and techniques and understanding how to teach them takes a special person.
Attitude
A ‘can do’ and open attitude can take any player a long way. Being open to taking feedback and constructive criticism can make a huge difference in a player’s skill development.
Courage
Having the courage to play with skill and try things on the ice is half the battle. The best players aren’t afraid to make mistakes and try things. It takes courage to take risks.
Randomness
Especially with younger players, moving away from practices and training sessions that are too structured and into more random/game-thinking scenarios can do wonders for relaxing players and encouraging them to use their own natural instincts. As a result, I feel the natural skill can be developed and encouraged.
Don’t think, just play
Throw a puck on the ice every so often with no rules or coaching and let the players just play. Spend time on the outdoor rinks playing pickup hockey and for the true love of the game.
Physical fitness
Having a great capacity for work and a work ethic allows players to be able to repeat and complete specific skills on the ice. Whether it’s making a power move on a defenseman or blasting a shot past the goalie, fitness is a huge component of skill development.
Athletic ability
Allow players the opportunity to grow as athletes by playing sports other than hockey. Cross training helps develop raw athletic ability, which is crucial in performance as a hockey player.
Fun, fun, fun
Plain and simple – have fun. |