Dryland or iceless hockey is a form of the game that does not require ice. It is played in many communities by young players who don't have access to ice time for practice or games. Additionally, players may play dryland hockey during the summer months to keep up their skill level.
Shooting
Shooting in dryland hockey is similar to shooting on ice. You must get yourself to the open spaces and give yourself time and space to have the best scoring opportunities. You are better off taking wrist shots in both games because you can get them away quickly and they are far more accurate than slap shots. Developing an accurate wrist shot in dryland hockey will give you more confidence on the ice because you know exactly how to shoot the puck to get the desired results.
Holding Your Ground
Most players in dryland hockey who have an interest in playing ice hockey will find themselves more confident in their movements on dry land. That's only natural. However, you can use some of the principles in dryland hockey and apply them on the ice. One of those is figuring out how to hold your ground once you establish your position in the offensive zone. You don't want to be knocked off your feet and you must establish a solid base. This translates to the way you position yourself in ice hockey.
Endurance
Dryland hockey requires constant movement and hustle. There is almost no standing still when you are playing iceless hockey. The constant running will help improve your endurance and make you more dependable when you play ice hockey. When playing the game on ice, you have to accelerate and stop. However, once you are moving you don't have to stop and start. You can glide and accelerate. Because of that, it may be easier to save your energy when playing ice hockey.
Stickhandling
Carrying the puck from one end of the dryland hockey rink to the other is difficult. You may have uneven surfaces and opponents who close in on you and make you vary your route to get the puck in the offensive zone. There is no chance to let your momentum carry you in iceless hockey. This would allow you to keep your head up when you are carrying the puck. This is almost impossible when you are playing on an iceless surface. If a player can stickhandle while running at full speed on dry land, he will have confidence when stickhandling on ice.
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