This video covers the fundamentals of making and receiving forehand and backhand passes, emphasizing proper hand positioning, blade control, and effective body mechanics.
Coaching Points:
- Hand Positioning: Ensure hands are not too close or too far apart to maintain control and power when making and receiving passes.
- Blade Control: Keep the blade cupped to prevent pucks from bouncing off or skipping over the stick.
- Forehand Passes: Push with the bottom hand for power and follow through with the blade to maintain accuracy.
- Backhand Passes: Pull with the bottom hand for power, starting from the heel of the blade and rolling to the middle while following through to the target.
- Receiving Passes: Use a light cradle for soft passes and a “smack back” technique for hard passes to counter the speed of the puck.
- Head Up: Always keep your head up to identify your target and anticipate plays, whether making or receiving passes.