Hockey Goalie Hand Eye Coordination Drills
As a hockey goalie, your hand-eye coordination is crucial to your success on the ice. The ability to track the puck, anticipate its movement, and react quickly is what separates the greats from the rest. Luckily, there are several drills you can do to improve your hand-eye coordination and take your game to the next level. In this article, we'll cover some of the best hockey goalie hand eye coordination drills.
The Basics of Hand Eye Coordination in Hockey
Hand-eye coordination is the ability to use your eyes to guide the movement of your hands. In hockey, this translates to being able to follow the puck with your eyes and react quickly enough to make a save. Hand-eye coordination is important for all hockey players, but especially for goalies. As a goalie, you need to be able to anticipate the movement of the puck and make split-second decisions to stop it.
Drill #1: Tennis Ball Toss
This drill is simple but effective. All you need is a partner and a tennis ball. Stand about 10 feet apart from your partner and have them toss the tennis ball to you. Your goal is to catch the ball with one hand while your other hand is holding your goalie stick. This drill will help improve your reaction time and your ability to focus on the puck in a crowded area.
Drill #2: Juggling
Juggling may seem like a circus trick, but it's actually a great way to improve your hand-eye coordination. Start with two balls and gradually add more as you get comfortable. As a goalie, you'll be juggling the puck between your hands and your stick, so this drill will help you get used to that movement. It will also help improve your peripheral vision and your ability to track objects in the air.
Drill #3: Eye-Hand-Feet Coordination
This drill is a bit more advanced but will really help improve your overall coordination on the ice. All you need is a ball or puck and some cones. Set up the cones in a line about 10 feet apart. Start at one end and dribble the ball or puck through the cones, using your stick to guide it. At the end of the cones, stop the ball or puck and make a save. This drill will help improve your footwork, stickhandling, and your ability to make quick saves.
Drill #4: Reaction Time Drill
This drill focuses specifically on improving your reaction time. All you need is a partner and a puck. Have your partner stand about 10 feet away from you and randomly shoot the puck towards you. Your goal is to make the save as quickly as possible. This drill will help you improve your reflexes and your ability to anticipate the movements of the puck.
Improving your hand-eye coordination is essential to becoming a great hockey goalie. These drills will help you improve your reaction time, focus, and overall coordination on the ice. Remember to practice these drills regularly and you'll see improvements in your game in no time!