This video explains balance and agility progressions, offering creative ideas for improving players' control, body awareness, and movement on the ice.
Coaching Points:
- Start Simple: Begin with basic drills like small jumps, knee drops, and 180 spins to help players gain body control and balance.
- Use Obstacle Courses: Set up cones and sticks for players to navigate while gliding, jumping, or turning, to develop agility and edge work.
- Balance Without Sticks: Sometimes remove sticks to allow players to focus solely on their body movements and core stability.
- One-Leg Exercises: Incorporate single-leg jumps and balancing drills to strengthen players' stability on each leg.
- Progress to Backward Movements: As players improve, challenge them with backward jumps, spins, and turns to further enhance their agility.
- Encourage Creativity: Use a variety of drills, adding elements like 360 spins and switching between forward and backward movements to keep players engaged.
