Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/118963
DEAR STIX, I'M HAVING TROUBLE WITH FACEOFFS. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO IMPROVE ON THE FACE-OFFS, AND REMEMBER I AM 10 YEARS OLD. HOW CAN I CHANGE THAT? FINN LACY SALEM, MASS. FACE-OFFS ARE ALL ABOUT WINNING. BEING 10 YEARS OLD IS NO EXCUSE FOR NOT WINNING, FINN. WINNING LITTLE BATTLES LIKE FACE-OFFS SHOULD START WHEN YOU'RE ONE YEAR OLD. WINNING THE BATTLE FOR THE BEST RATTLE AT DAYCARE IS WHERE A GOOD CENTER GETS HIS START. OKAY, WINNING ISN'T EVERYTHING, FINN. BUT, AS YOU OBVIOUSLY KNOW, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR FACE-OFFS. HE WHO CONTROLS THE PUCK CONTROLS THE GAME. HERE ARE A FEW IDEAS TO HELP YOU IMPROVE AT THE FACE-OFF DOT. IMPROVE YOUR HANDS PRACTICE PRACTICE Work on Hand/Eye Coordination PRACTICE PRACTICE GOOD CENTERS "SEE" THE PUCK LEAVE THE REFEREE'S CENTERS NEED TO BE QUICK AND SKILLED ON THE DRAW. TO IMPROVE YOUR HANDS, WORK ON STICK HANDLING HAND, PLAYING THE PUCK THE INSTANT IT HITS THE DRILLS THAT REQUIRE QUICK, DEFT MOVEMENT. PRACTICE PRACTICE ICE. BELOW ARE TWO SIMPLE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO IMPROVE YOUR HAND/EYE COORDINATION. PRACTICE PRACTICE TO IMPROVE THESE SKILLS, HERE IS ONE VERY SIMPLE DRILL YOU CAN WORK ON AT HOME. KEEP A PUCK OR BALL YOUR STICK STICK HANDLE THROUGH A STOOL OR CHAIR, PRACTICE PRACTICE AND BLADE. OR THEITIN THEASAIR USINGTHE GROUND. WHEN DROPS, PULL THE PUCK OR BALL MOVING THE STICK IN AND AROUND THE LEGS. WAY OTHER IT IN PLACE OF USING A PUCK OR BALL, USE A GOLF BALL, PRACTICE PRACTICE ONEDURING THE OFF-SEASON, HITSSPORTS THAT BECAUSE THEY ARE LIVELIER AND SMALLER. WORKING PLAY WITH GOLF BALLS WILL HELP IMPROVE QUICKNESS AND PRACTICE PRACTICE REQUIRE HAND/EYE COORDINATION, SUCH AS; CONTROL ONCE YOU MOVE BACK TO USING A PUCK. BASEBALL/SOFTBALL, LACROSSE AND TENNIS. PRACTICE the Ice PRACTICE On Work on Quick Hands AT PRACTICE, BE THE FIRST ON THE ICE. WITH TWO OTHER TEAMMATES, ASK YOUR COACH FOR PUCKS. BETWEEN THE THREE OF YOU, TAKE TURNS TAKING DRAWS OR DROPPING THE PUCK. WITH ENOUGH PUCKS YOU SHOULD EACH BE ABLE TO GET IN A DOZEN OR SO DRAWS. IMPROVE YOUR BRAIN STUDY STUDY STUDY Know Your Situations KNOW WHICH MOVE IS YOUR STRONGEST, PULLINGSTUDY STUDY STUDY THE THERE ARE DIFFERENT STRATEGIES FOR EACH FACE-OFF PUCK BACK ON YOUR FOREHAND OR BACKHAND. POSITION DOT ON THE RINK. AS CENTER, YOU'RE THE "CAPTAIN" AT STUDY STUDY STUDYEACH FACE-OFF.MAKE SURE EACH PLAYEROFISTHE PUCK, IT'S YOUR TEAMMATES WHERE THEY WILL HAVE THE BEST PRIOR TO EACH DROP CHANCE TO GAIN THE PUCK AFTER THE DRAW. YOUR JOB TO POSITIONED STUDY STUDY STUDY AND KNOW WHAT THEIR RESPONSIBILTY IS. CORRECTLY IF YOU'RE GETTING BEAT ON THE DRAW TIME AND TIME AGAIN, PERHAPS YOU WILL POSITION STUDY STUDY STUDY IN THE OFFENSIVE ZONE YOU CANHOWEVER, INYOUR HAVE TO TIE UP THE OPPOSING CENTER'S STICK. MAKE TEAMMATES WHERE YOU WANT. THE SURE YOUR TEAMMATES KNOW THAT'S YOUR PLAN SO STUDY STUDY STUDY DEFENSIVETOZONE, YOU NEED TO READ AND REACT ONE CAN STEP IN FOR THE LOOSE PUCK. HOW THE OPPOSING TEAM SETS UP. STUDY Chess on Ice STUDY STUDY FACE-OFFS ARE LIKE PLAYING CHESS ON ICE. YOU NEED TO POSITION YOUR PIECES (TEAMMATES) IN THE BEST PLACES TO WIN THE PUCK. A SMART CENTER STUDIES THE OPPOSING CENTER TOSTUDYMOVES MIGHT BE. A GOOD CENTER USES HIS BRAIN AS MUCH AS HIS HANDS. SEE WHAT HIS STUDY STUDY Know Your Strengths Illustrations by Mike Curti USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM ApriL/May. 2013 35