CLICK HERE TO SEE A VIDEO OF THE DRILL

Welcome to our 10th Drill of the Week, powered by Kenny Brandt and SkilledAdvantageHockey.com. This week we move back to the “pro” level and continue the second stickhandling progression, with some wider movements to get the hands extended from our body and to help get a feel for the puck on various parts of the blade. This second stickhandling progression began with Drill of the Week 8, which can be found by clicking the link below. 

Click here for Drill of the Week 8.

There are eight drills in our initial stickhandling progression, each of which can be found by clicking on the links below this paragraph. If you find that you have trouble executing any of the higher-difficulty drills, you can always go back to the beginning and perform each drill in these progressions to work up to the most recent lesson. Each of the drills builds on the previous movement, so once you are comfortable with one you should be able to move on to the next one successfully.

Here are the drills from our initial stickhandling progression: 

Click Here for Drill of the Week 1.

Click Here for Drill of the Week 2.

Click Here for Drill of the Week 3.

Click Here for Drill of the Week 4.

Click Here for Drill of the Week 5.

Click Here for Drill of the Week 6.

Click Here for Drill of the Week 7. 

Click Here for Drill of the Week 9.

 

The details about the 10th drill in our weekly series also can be found below, and the accompanying video of the drill being performed is posted each week on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Make sure to follow @KBDangles on Instagram and to check out the Skilled Advantage Hockey website for more great video content and lessons.

Also, if you shoot a video of yourself doing the drill and post it on Instagram, tagging @KBDangles and @MYHockeyRanking, you will be eligible to win a free membership to www.SkilledAdvantageHockey.com.

As mentioned previously, this week we head back off the ice to continue the progression we started with Drill of the Week 8.  

The great thing about the off-ice drills is that if you’re watching a game or movie on TV, you can get your stickhandling board or stickhandling ball and practice the drills while trying to watch. You literally can do them anytime, anywhere. In fact, doing the drills – once you are comfortable and can do them properly – while watching TV will help you feel more comfortable carrying the puck with your head up when you stickhandle on the ice.

After perfecting this drill and working on it in your free time away from practice, you should be ready to ramp it up and take your new moves to the ice and to execute whatever drills we post in future weeks.

As always, a word of warning, though. You must practice the right way to see positive results.

You shouldn’t be able to look up while performing these drills right away. Don’t rush a drill the first few times you try it. It’s not a race. Practicing the drill properly is the only way to improve. If you take shortcuts and don’t follow the pattern as you see it in the video or if you don’t try all the variations, you’re not going to see positive results. You can practice all you want, but if you practice the wrong way or don’t put the proper effort into what you are doing, you’ll never see the improvement you seek.

Take your time and focus on doing the drill slowly and exactly as you see it the first several times you attempt it. Read the drill description. Watch the video. Imitate the movements and try to perform the drill exactly as you see it. Go as slowly as you need to ensure that you can do it properly. It’s okay if you mess up, because that means it’s a skill you haven’t mastered and that you are learning something new.

You only get better by doing things that are outside your comfort zone. As you get better at the drill and get the feel of the movements, you certainly can speed up a little bit, but even more important you can start to pick your head up and see whatever is in front of you as you do the drill. This will help make it second nature for you to pick your head up and be able to see the ice when you carry the puck or stickhandle in game situations.

 

Don’t Forget to Join Our Contest!

As an added bonus, if you record yourself doing this drill on video and post it on Instagram and tag both @KBDangles and @MYHockeyRanking, you will be entered into a drawing to win a free month’s membership to the Skilled Advantage Hockey Website!

 

CLICK HERE TO SEE A VIDEO OF THE DRILL

 

Drill of the Week #10

Toe Drag 90 – Forehand & Backhand Foot    

Category: Stickhandling Progression #2 

Level: 2 (Pro)

 

Variations: 2

Forehand Side

Backhand Side

 

Reps: Complete the drill 5-8 times on your forehand side attempting it on the backhand side.

Materials Needed: 1 puck to handle.A stickhandling board or stickhandling ball if you aren’t on a flat, slick surface. 

 

Drill Mechanics:

The video shows the mechanics of the drill. There are two variations to this drill. It is performed on your forehand side first, with the puck touching various parts of your blade only on the forehand. After completing five to eight reps on the forehand, take a stab at the drill on your backhand. Even on the backhand side the puck only touches the forehand portion of the blade.

Doing the drill slowly at first and exactly as it is done in the video will help you get comfortable. The more comfortable you get, the faster you can go, and ultimately you should be able to look up while you do the drill.  

 

Drill Breakdown – Forehand:

• Notice that when you perform this drill on your forehand side, the puck only touches the forehand side of your stick blade.
• Perform a toe drag alternating between the “forehand foot” and “forehand side.”
• Push the puck from a spot next to your foot out to your forehand side with the heel of your stick. Push it to a spot about as far to the forehand side as you can reach without moving your feet or having to lean and reach beyond normal extension.
• Drag it back toward your foot using the toe of your stick.
• Push the puck with the heel of your stick out in front as far as you can reach without leaning forward or taking one hand off your stick. Pull it back to the original starting point using just the toe of your stick.
• Repeat for 5-8 reps then move to the backhand side.

 

Drill Breakdown – Backhand:

• Notice that when you perform the drill on your backhand side, the puck still only touches the forehand side of your stick blade.
• Perform a toe drag alternating between the “backhand foot” and “backhand side.”
• Push the puck from a spot next to your foot out to your backhand side (using the forehand side only) with the heel of your stick. Push it to a spot about as far to the backhand side as you can reach without moving your feet or having to lean and reach beyond normal extension.
• Drag it back toward your foot using the toe of your stick.
• Push the puck with the heel of your stick out in front as far as you can reach without leaning forward or taking one hand off your stick. Pull it back to the original starting point using just the toe of your stick.
• Repeat for 5-8 reps then rest or go back to the forehand side.

Good luck and have fun!