CLICK HERE TO SEE A VIDEO OF THE DRILL

Welcome to our 12th Drill of the Week, powered by Kenny Brandt and SkilledAdvantageHockey.com. This week we move from our stickhandling progressions to the realm of “moves” that you can take to the ice and use against real opponents in game situations once you master them. Each of our past drills and progressions, along with this move, can be found at MYHockeyRankings.com. This is a basic or rookie-level move, so if you feel like you’ve mastered it you can always look back at past drills and progressions to find drills that will continue to challenge you.

Here are links to some of our past drills:   

 

Stickhandling Progression #2

Click Here for Drill of the Week 8.

Click Here for Drill of the Week 10.

Click Here for Drill of the Week 11.

 

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 12^th in our series, also can be found below, and the accompanying video of the move 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. 

There are two variations of this week’s move, the “Level 1 Rookie Wand Backhand” and the “Level 2 Rookie Wand Backhand Reverse.” 

The great thing about these off-ice drills and moves 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 extra ice time available before or after practice, these moves can be tried on the ice as well.

After perfecting the first variation of this move, you can move ono the second slightly more-difficult variation. Practice the moves in sets of 10-15 repetitions, with short breaks in between each set, until you are fatigued or ready to try the second variation. Once you have worked on both moves enough to be comfortable executing them you should be ready to ramp it up and take your new moves to the ice to give them a try in practice or games.

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 move slowly and exactly as you see it the first several times you attempt it. Read the description. Watch the video. Imitate the movements and try to perform the move exactly as you see it. Go as slowly as you need to so 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 move and get the feel for it, you certainly can speed up a little bit. But even more important, as you get comfortable you can start to pick your head up and look at whatever is in front of you as you execute the movement. 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

  

Wand Backhand & Wand Backhand Reverse

Category: Moves 

Levels: Rookie Levels 1 & 2

Variations: 2

• Wand Backhand
• Wand Backhand Reverse 

 

Reps:

Complete the move you are working on 10-15 times before taking a break and trying again. Repeat the move as often as you like until you are fatigued, are ready to stop or are ready to move onto the more difficult variation.

 

Materials Needed:

• Your preferred stick
• 1 puck to handle
• 1 stickhandling board or stickhandling ball if you aren’t on a flat, slick surface

 

Mechanics:

The video shows the mechanics for executing these moves. There are two variations, the Wand Backhand and the more-difficult Wand Backhand Reverse.

Trying the moves slowly at first and exactly as they are 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 as you make the moves.

 

Wand Backhand Breakdown:

• Start with the puck aligned with and out in front of your backhand foot.
• Tap the puck with you’re the heel of your stick on the backhand toward the forehand foot.
• Wave your stick in front of the puck.
• Pull the puck with the toe of your stick on the forehand wide to your backhand.
• Repeat 10-15 times and take a break before trying again. Once you are comfortable with this move you can start working on the next variation of the move.

 

Wand Backhand Reverse Breakdown:

• Start with the puck aligned with and out in front of your backhand foot.
• Tap the puck with the heel of your stick on the backhand toward the forehand foot.
• Wave your stick in front of the puck.
• Pull the puck with the toe of your stick on the forehand to your backhand foot (fake).
• Pull/tap the puck with the heel of your stick on the backhand wide to your forehand.
• Repeat 10-15 times and take a break before trying again. Once you are comfortable with both moves give them a shot on the ice.

Good luck and have fun!