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Article #3: Passing - A Lost
Art
At times it seems passing the puck has become a lost
art. Players,
coaches and parents please note that passing is a key fundamental which
is often overlooked andnot enough emphasis is placed on the skill.
Wayne Gretzky
One could not say Wayne Gretzky had the best shot, or was the best skater,
there have been better stick handlers and he will never be remembered for
his body checks, but he was the games best passer without a question. The
fact that passing made Gretzky the greatest player of all time highlights
the importance of this skill.
Coaches
I believe one cause for this skill to be neglected is the way we teach the
game. Often coaches tell their players to pass to an area. This technique
is fine in some circumstances but for the most part it should not take the
place of a quick, crisp, tape to tape pass.
Coaches also do not give enough praise
to a player who completes a good pass. Positive reinforcement will only
help that player and demonstrate to the rest of the team that good passing
is a valued aspect of the hockey club.
Drills and skill development should have a large emphasis on passing. When
a team is having a bad practice it usually shows the most by passes being
way off the mark. Stop the practice in this case and try to get everyone
focused on bearing down on their passes and the rest should take care of
its self.
Players
Many players use passing as a last resort. This is a big mistake and by
doing this it very hard to make a decent pass. Instead try looking for the
pass ahead of time and if it isn’t there keep skating and use your
options. Focus on making crisp, quick passes and take pride when you make
a good pass. Once you have passed the puck get to an open lane so you can
get it back.
Headman the puck whenever your teammates are ahead of you. This will let your teammates keep their momentum as they advance into the opposition’s zone. Contrary to this if you are ahead of the puck carrier and do not get the puck never go off-side in protest. This attitude does not produce winners.
Another important point to becoming an effective passer is to avoid giving away were you plan to dish the puck. Hockey players can learn a thing or two from basketball players as they make it difficult to tell where they are going to pass the ball. Often it is important to make a move so that a passing lane will open up to your intended target.
Parents
When I was a young hockey player we always had a player on the team who
collected money from his parents every time he scored a goal. This was a
bad idea because they didn’t reward his assists, he became a “puck-hog”and
it alienated the player from the rest of the team. That example is a little
extreme but keep in mind when you put pressure on your son or daughter to
score goals you may be causing more harm then good. A player does not have
to score a goal to have a great game. Team work, sportsmanship and winning
hockey teams are built on working together.
Overseas
As the European invasion continues in the NHL it is clear that the skill
that they demonstrate the most superiority over North Americans is passing.
We need to raise the awareness of this fundamnetal in order to develop better
hockey players in this country.
- Article written by Jim Wheatcroft.
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