How many times do you think a forward takes a slap-shot in a game?
I think back to my playing days and I’d say I probably only took one
a game to dump the puck in - maybe one or two more if I was out on
the penalty kill.
So you can understand how it makes me a little crazy as a skills coach
when forwards ask to work on the boomers? It’s not a complete waste
of time - but they’d be much better served working on something else.
Specifically, all players, Ds included, need to work on getting their
shots off FASTER.
Over 75% of the goals scored in girls hockey are scored from the
hashmarks down. That means 3/4 of the goals come from shots taken
from the slot or rebounds.
Think about what’s happening in front of the net in those scenarios.
If you happen to get an uncontested breakaway and there’s no one
there to obstruct or deny your shot on net (other than the goalie of course),
then you may have the luxury of TIME and SPACE and could decide
to shoot a slapshot, wristshot, snapshot or backhand.
But how often does that happen? You rarely get that kind of time and space,
and even if you do, you’re more than likely to shoot a snapshot or backhand
on that breakaway because you can get them off more quickly and be a
bit more deceptive leading up to the shot.
Typically, when you’re in the slot taking a shot or trying to fight for a rebound,
there are lots of bodies around and not much time or space. The defenders
are simply trying to deny shots on net by either lifting your stick, getting in your
shooting lane or a mixture of both. They aren’t going to give you the time or
space to take your big wind up and wait for the perfect shot. That’s why the
snapshot and backhand are so lethal from in tight because if you do them
well, you can get them off almost instantaneously. They require very little
backswing and very little change in body position to release.
And when you get really good, you’ll even learn how to position your body
in what little space you might have down by the net to ensure that you
get your shot off even more quickly. Once you learn how to position
your feet, hips, and hands properly relative to the direction the puck is
coming from and your target, you’ll become a threat to score every time
you touch the puck in the slot.
Now this skill of quick release shooting isn’t just for forwards.
The ability to get a quick, hard and accurate snapshot off from the point
is an underrated skill in the women’s game.
I get it - the boomer looks impressive, is typically much harder and can
strike fear in your opponents.
But it takes more time to release and has this annoying tendency to
hit shinpads or the glass instead of the net.
This happens with the snapshot from the point as well, but you don’t
need as much of a windup as the slapshot and when you get good
at it, you won’t even have to look down at the puck before putting the
snapshot on net - which means you can spend more time looking at the
target and avoiding any obstacles in your path.
It takes great technique and strength to get a hard, fast and accurate
snapshot in from the point, but it is something that coaches and scouts
love because they are shots that generate second opportunities for
your forwards in the slot - who are ready to use their snapshot or
backhand to put the puck in the back of the net.
So don’t wait for the perfect shot, don’t worry about getting the boomer off,
and focus on getting pucks on net quickly and driving the net hard for rebounds.
Your coaches will thank you for it - and the goalies won’t like it at all.
Until next time - Work Hard and Dream BIG.
Your friend and coach,
Kim
Kim McCullough, MSc, YCS
Director & Founder, Total Female Hockey