CLICK HERE TO SEE A VIDEO OF THE DRILL

Welcome to our 11th Drill of the Week, powered by Kenny Brandt and SkilledAdvantageHockey.com. This week, once again, we are at the “pro” level as we continue with our second, more-advanced stickhandling progression This second stickhandling progression began with Drill of the Week 8, which can be found – along with the second drill in the current progression from last week – by clicking the links below.

Stickhandling Progression #2

Click Here for Drill of the Week 8.

Click Here for Drill of the Week 10.

 

There are eight drills in our initial stickhandling progression, each of which can be found by clicking on the links below this paragraph. If you find that you have trouble executing any of the higher-difficulty drills, you can always go back to the beginning and perform each drill in these progressions to work up to the most recent lesson. Each of the drills builds on the previous movement, so once you are comfortable with one you should be able to move on to the next one successfully. 

Here are the links to the drills from our initial stickhandling progression:

Stickhandling Progression #1 

Click Here for Drill of the Week 1.

Click Here for Drill of the Week 2.

Click Here for Drill of the Week 3.

Click Here for Drill of the Week 4. 

Click Here for Drill of the Week 5.

Click Here for Drill of the Week 6.

Click Here for Drill of the Week 7.

Click Here for Drill of the Week 9.

The details for this week’s drill, the 11^th in our series, also can be found below, and the accompanying video of the drill being performed is posted each week on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Make sure to follow @KBDangles on Instagram and to check out the Skilled Advantage Hockey website for more similar video content and lessons.

Also, if you shoot a video of yourself doing the drill and post it on Instagram, tagging @KBDangles and @MYHockeyRanking, you will be eligible to win a free membership to www.SkilledAdvantageHockey.com.

As mentioned previously, this week we head back off the ice to continue the more-advanced stickhandling progression we started with Drill of the Week 8 and that continued last week with Drill of the Week 10.  

The great thing about these off-ice drills is that if you’re watching a game or movie on TV, you can get your stickhandling board or stickhandling ball and practice the drills while trying to watch. You literally can do them anytime, anywhere. In fact, doing the drills – once you are comfortable and can do them properly – while watching TV will help you feel more comfortable carrying the puck with your head up when you stickhandle on the ice. Of course, if you have ice time along before or after practice, these drills can be done on the ice as well.

After perfecting this drill and working on it in your free time away from practice, you should be ready to ramp it up and take your new moves to the ice and to execute whatever drills we post in future weeks.

As always, a word of warning, though. You must practice the right way to see positive results. 

You shouldn’t be able to look up while performing these drills right away. Don’t rush a drill the first few times you try it. It’s not a race. Practicing the drill properly is the only way to improve. If you take shortcuts and don’t follow the pattern as you see it in the video or if you don’t try all the variations, you’re not going to see positive results. You can practice all you want, but if you practice the wrong way or don’t put the proper effort into what you are doing, you’ll never see the improvement you seek.

Take your time and focus on doing the drill slowly and exactly as you see it the first several times you attempt it. Read the drill description. Watch the video. Imitate the movements and try to perform the drill exactly as you see it. Go as slowly as you need to ensure that you can do it properly. It’s okay if you mess up, because that means it’s a skill you haven’t mastered and that you are learning something new.

You only get better by doing things that are outside your comfort zone. As you get better at the drill and get the feel of the movements, you certainly can speed up a little bit, but even more important you can start to pick your head up and see whatever is in front of you as you do the drill. This will help make it second nature for you to pick your head up and be able to see the ice when you carry the puck or stickhandle in game situations.

 

Don’t Forget to Join Our Contest!

As an added bonus, if you record yourself doing this drill on video and post it on Instagram and tag both @KBDangles and @MYHockeyRanking, you will be entered into a drawing to win a free month’s membership to the Skilled Advantage Hockey Website!

 

CLICK HERE TO SEE A VIDEO OF THE DRILL

 

Drill of the Week #11

Alt Toe Drag Flip

Category: Stickhandling Progression #2 

Level: 2 (Pro)

Variations: 3

• Middle
• Forehand
• Backhand

Reps:

Complete the drill 5-8 times in the middle then move to the forehand side of your body. Move to the backhand side after 5-8 reps on the forehand side. Start over from the middle of your body and complete all three progressions again. Repeat this sequence until you are fatigued or are ready to stop.

 

Materials Needed:

• Your preferred stick
• 1 puck to handle
• 1 stick lay flat ad use as an obstacle.
• 1 stickhandling board or stickhandling ball if you aren’t on a flat, slick surface

 

Drill Mechanics:

The video shows the mechanics and set-up for this drill. There are three variations as you will perform this drill out in front in the center of your body, on the forehand side of your body and on the backhand side of your body.

Doing the drill slowly at first and exactly as it is done in the video will help you get comfortable. The more comfortable you get, the faster you can go, and ultimately you should be able to look up while you do the drill.  

 

Drill Breakdown

• Lay the “obstacle stick” flat as shown in the video and so it is aligned with the center of your body. The near-end of the stick should be about 12-15 inches from your feet.
• Start with the puck on the backhand side of your stick.
• Tap the puck with the heel of the stick on the backhand around the top of the stick that is laying on the ground.
• Use the toe of the stick on the forehand to pull the puck in toward your feet (toe drag).
• Use the heel of the stick on the forehand side to push the puck back up toward the top of the stick.
• Use the backhand to move the puck around the top of the stick.
• Use the toe of the forehand side of the stick to pull the puck back toward the body (toe drag).
• Use the forehand side of the stick to flip the puck over the stick.
• Repeat for 5-8 reps, take a short break then move to the forehand side.
• Move the stick to the forehand side of your body as shown in the video for 5-8 reps then to the backhand side for 5-8 more reps. Take a break then start again with the middle.

Good luck and have fun!