Hand and eye coordination is one of the most important skills to a number of popular team sports. Hockey is no exception, but the types of hand and eye coordination can vary in this sport. Most players on the ice utilize hand and eye coordination to control a hockey stick, with which the hockey puck is controlled. Goalies, on the other hand, require very quick reaction time and accurate hand-eye coordination to defend the goal.
Backhand Wrist Shot
The backhand wrist shot is very similar in its mechanics to the forehand wrist shot, but because of the angles it takes time to develop the proper coordination needed to aim accurately. Drills for the backhand wrist shot can consist of players moving from one shooting station on the ice to the next, at each station shooting a backhanded shot toward the net. Conversely, you can set up orange cones and have players take turns shooting from a single station to multiple targets while using a backhand wrist shot.
Horseshoe Give-And-Go
The horseshoe give-and-go drill helps players develop their hand and eye coordination while moving on the ice -- a common situation in hockey.
It's a basic skating drill that also helps players master their speed and shooting skills. To execute this drill, place a cone in the middle of each faceoff circle on the ice. Have skaters start by skating from one cone to the next moving across the width of the rink. As the player reaches the cone, have them turn around in a horseshoe motion around the cone and skate back toward the next cone. When that player reaches the starting cone, the next player in line will pass the first player a puck to handle on another loop around the cones. The second player will then skate behind the player controlling the puck for a lap. After the lap, the first player will pass the puck back to the second player and go to the back of the line. The second player will handle the puck for a loop, and the next player in line will join in behind him.
Dryland Goalie Drills
Hockey players don't always have access to a rink. If you're a goalie, you also need the luxury of having an offensive player shoot at you to develop your on-ice skills. Fortunately, you can do drills on dry land to develop your hand and eye coordination. For example, you can squat down close to the ground and, while hopping along the ground, dribble one or two tennis balls out in front of you to practice hand and eye control while moving. You can also dribble a tennis ball on the paddle of your goalie stick to develop your goalie stick coordination.
