¡¡¡ Hockey Lab Japan articles #4¡¡¡

One-timer Progression Drills for beginners
Improve the best scoring weapon around the net!
drills
ABSTRACT
One-Timer is undoubtedly the best scoring weapon around the net. Because the stats shows that about 50% of all goals were scored by one-timer and 40% of all goals were scored after brief puck carrying.
("A game analysis from Finnish Championship league" by Erkka Westerlund: International Ice Hockey Coaches' Seminer in Turku, 1991)

Even you understand the importance of one-timer, training one-timer is, especially for kids and women, sometime very difficult and takes long time to improve. One of the reason is obviously the luck of strength in their upper body. But more of that, learning proper sense of 'TIMING' is very important since hockey is non-stop game with physical contact. That is to say, practicing one-timer should not be like just 'you pass and I shoot' drill in a static situation.

Here we show you the idea of progression drills to improve one-time shot and pass, especially for beginners.

  1. First, pair up and start with continuous one-time pass drill within a short distance about 3 feet. As you get used to this, you gradually increase the distance up to 15 feet. (fig.1)
  2. Next, in the same drill, one player waits for the best timing pass to come, and attempt one-timer toward board. Need to have good eye-contact as a sign. (fig.2)
  3. Next, one of them stands about 3 feet from the board as a setup passer. The other stands about 10 feet from the board as a shooter. Start with continuous one-time passing drill. After few passes, the shooter makes a quick start toward the board right after his pass. The setup passer makes a nice and accurate pass to the shooter and the shooter blast it toward the board. (fig.3)
  4. Next, add one more players along the board as another setup passer. (see alignment on fig.4) Start with continuous one-time passing drill. The shooter waits for the nice CROSS PASS passing in front of him and start off with timing. One of the setup passer makes a nice and accurate pass to the shooter and the shooter blast it toward the board.

These drills have a lot of variations. For example, add more players, add pressure(s), pass from the corner or behind the net. But every drill you have to emphasize the timing, accuracy and positioning.

It's needless to say you have to train your wrist shot and pass to get ready for the one-timer.

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