An Advanced Look At Picking Up Passes With Your Feet

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This video delves into an advanced technique for picking up passes with your feet, a critical skill for players at any level who want to maximize puck control, even when passes aren’t ideal.

Coaching Points:

  1. Body Positioning and Weight Transfer:

    • When a pass comes to your feet, shift your body weight to the opposite side of where the puck is arriving. This frees up the leg closest to the puck for quick movements.
    • For a pass arriving from the right side, shift weight onto your left skate to free up your right foot. This allows you to kick the puck forward or back, or shift it laterally depending on your need.
    • If the pass is behind you, shift weight to your right skate, allowing your left foot to stay back and control the puck into position.

  2. Foot Usage Based on Puck Placement:

    • Outside Foot (Strong Side): Use the outside foot (right foot if the puck is coming from the right side) to kick or direct the puck forward. This is typically a stronger side for most players.
    • Inside Foot (Weak Side): For pucks slightly behind or between your legs, use the inside foot (left foot for right-side passes) to scoop or pull the puck back into your control.

  3. Repetition to Build Comfort:

    • Each player will have a naturally stronger and weaker side for using their feet. Through regular practice, the gap between the two will minimize, allowing players to react more effectively.
    • Set up a drill where players receive passes to their feet while skating at speed. Coaches or teammates should intentionally pass to the left or right of the player, forcing them to react and use their feet to bring the puck up to their stick.

  4. Turning Bad Passes into Opportunities:

    • The more proficient players are at using their feet, the less time they’ll waste trying to corral difficult passes. This allows them to maintain possession, create plays, and be less prone to turnovers.

  5. Maximize Time with the Puck:

    • By mastering this skill, players will have the ability to take poor passes and turn them into scoring opportunities or keep plays alive.

With practice, players will gain the confidence to seamlessly incorporate their feet into their overall puck control, making them more versatile and effective on the ice.

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