All players in hockey learn to skate, stickhandle, shoot and pass. Although these are basic skills of the game, there are playmakers who excel at passing the puck to teammates and setting them up for excellent scoring opportunities. This is a function of experience, skating ability, intelligence and an instinct for understanding what play to make at the proper time. Many playmakers also can put the puck in the net, but they usually get the most enjoyment out of setting a teammate up for a memorable goal.
Step 1
Practice your skating so you can move with ease on the ice. A great skater will not look at the ice as he handles the puck. He skates with his head up so he can find teammates who are open. You have to be able to skate forward, backward and stop quickly so you can change directions. Skating is second nature to the game's top playmakers.
Step 2
Pass the puck to the spot where your teammate is going, not where they are when you have the puck in your possession. The best passes will hit your teammate's sick right on the tape located on his stick blade. When the player has to stop or reverse direction for a puck that is behind him or lunge for one that is too far forward, the play is basically broken up because the offense loses its rhythm. When you can hit your teammate in stride on a consistent basis, you have a chance to be a great playmaker.
Step 3
Learn how to stickhandle when you receive a pass and draw the defense to you when you are skating with the puck. When you have possession, you will draw one or more defenders to you. They will want to steal the puck or block your shot or pass. A good playmaker will make that one extra move that buys just a little bit more time and will enable him to hold the puck and then make the perfect pass to the open teammate.
Step 4
Slow down with the puck when you are in the offensive zone and you are trying to create a play. The players who excel at playmaking have patience to hold on to the puck a half second longer than average or good playmakers. Hockey coaches say that the key to scoring goals is time and space. If you have a half second to take your shot and a few feet of open space, you can take a shot that will challenge the opposing goaltender. When you can slow the action down, you have a better chance of finding the open man with a precise pass.
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