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Play Along The Boards
Hockey is a series of one-on-one battles and often times you will find yourself battling along the boards. Sure, anyone can perform in open ice with a little speed, but how well do you do in a confined area, trapped along the boards, with limited space to maneuver? To be a great hockey player you have to play big and do what it takes to win every one-on-one battle. Regardless of where you are on the ice, learn to "create space", even along the boards. To improve your "play along the boards", consider mastering the following four key points:
Strength
To
a hockey player, physical strength is as important as having your skates
on the correct feet. When it comes to battling along the boards, muscle
is often the best trump card. In many instances along the boards, your primary
source of power shifts from your legs to your upper body. This occurs as
a result of being tied up by an opponent and having your feet obstructed
by your opponent's body contact or by trying to control the puck with your
feet. If you want to be effective in confined areas on the ice, you need
to develop the lean muscle mass to power your way through tight spots. Use
the boards to your advantage as "leverage". While along the boards,
control the puck with your feet and push against the boards or Plexiglas
with your arms and hands to move your opponent away from you and off the
puck.
Body Position
Establishing
superior body position begins with balance and body control and will produce
confidence and power in any situation along the boards. When an attacker
is approaching and you have the puck on or near the boards, try to use the
boards to your advantage. Position yourself against the boards with good
knee bend, so that one shoulder is actually making contact with the boards
and the other will take the impact of the contact. We suggest positioning
yourself up against the boards for two primary reasons. First, this will
eliminate the "Danger Zone" which is a stick length distance from
the boards. The Danger Zone produces a high percentage of the injuries in
hockey today. There is just enough room to lose your balance and to hit
the boards with your arms, shoulder, legs, back, neck or head. Being up
against the boards and positioned correctly will not only increase your
chances of maintaining control of the puck, but significantly decrease your
risk of injury.
Quick Foot Work
Against the boards, your feet assume the responsibility of your stick blade.
As your hands are tied up pushing off the boards and using the boards for
leverage, your feet must battle for control of the puck. Protect the puck
with your feet until you can break loose, until a teammate arrives to help
out, or until you kick the puck to an open teammate. A common strategy is
to make a quick fake on direction, then push yourself and the puck out the
other direction. This takes a lot of strength, balance and quickness and
can be extremely effective. Remember in your defensive zone, try not to
direct the puck toward your own net. You really have only one direction
to go in your defensive zone and that is OUT.
Vision/Awareness
The hockey term is to "keep your head on a swivel". You must watch
behind you, control the puck and know where the other players are on the
ice. Take quick peaks all around you while trying to feel the puck in your
skates (protecting the puck in your skates allows you to use your hands
to push against the boards or Plexiglas for leverage). The more time you
have your head up and planning your escape, the better. Establish great
visual awareness on the ice by keeping your head up and on a swivel!
Give the following
play a try to improve your play along the boards.
This article was written by Shawn Killian,
Director of Planet Hockey Skills Camps and the Planet Hockey Ranch in Salida,
Colorado. For more information on all Planet Hockey Programs including Training
Videos and coordinating a Planet Hockey Skills Camp for your Association
or Group contact Planet Hockey at 1-800-320-7545 | www.planethockey.com
| shawn@planethockey.com