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Youth Hockey Goal Scoring Tips
There is an old hockey myth that goal scorers are born not made,
what a bunch of nonsense!
Do you believe that Sidney Crosby, Alexander Ovechkin, Dany Heatley,
Mario Lemieux, Wayne Gretzky, Brett Hull, Mike Bossy, Phil Esposito
and others were all natural born goal scorers?
Or, did their mothers, fathers, older sisters & brothers and many, many
Minor/Youth Hockey coaches take the time to teach them at a very
young age the shooting skills, scoring strategy and correct on ice
positioning for scoring goals?
Goal scoring is not rocket science but is a unique hockey skill that can be
taught to young 5 to 12 year old players if it's explained in simple terms,
demonstrated, then practiced over and over again until it becomes a habit.
Goal scoring tips to help Forwards and Defencemen score goals:
The 4 prime on ice areas for shooting and scoring goals are:
1. The slot area, located between the face-off hash marks, 12-15 feet in front of the net
2. Just outside the crease area to score on rebounds and loose pucks
3. The open points, and in particular shots taken from near the middle of the blue line
4. Just off to the side of the net, opposite the far goal post to score on an across ice pass
How to score more Goals
To score more goals the shooter must "see like the puck," because the puck
is positioned 2-3 feet off to one side of your body on your stick blade.
The opening and angle to the net that your eyes see is not exactly the same
opening and angle that the puck sees. You must adjust your thinking to the
shooting angle from the pucks location on your stick blade.
When attempting to score a goal,
Look for an opening for the puck to enter the net.
Think, and visualize, can I score from here or not,
React, shoot, pass, or carry the puck to a better on ice shooting and scoring location.
Remember the entire puck must be over the goal line to score a goal.
Scoring goals is accomplished by one of the following methods:
Most young players know there are 5 - key locations to score goals: but you must
read then react to the goaltender's set positioning and physical actions to score.
If the goalie drops down on his knees into the butterfly position, shoot high stick side
or high glove side to score because the lower part of the net has been taken away.
If the goalie remains standing, shoot low stick side or low glove side to score.
If the goalie opens his legs or is moving side-to-side or post-to-post, shoot 5-hole
between his legs if there is enough open space to score.
If the goalie comes out to cut the angle on a breakaway, deke wide to one side
getting the goalie to move in that direction then cut back and score on the other side.
If the goalie retreats back to the goal line on a breakaway shoot low if standing,
or shoot high over his shoulder if he drops down to his knees to score.
To score on a regular basis, players must practice shooting hard and accurately
using a regulation size and weight puck to the area just inside the goal posts.
Practice shooting at home in your drive way or in your school yard against a brick wall.
Some top young scorers practice shooting the puck at least 100 times per day.
Other skills you can use to help your Team score more Goals:
1. If the goalie comes out and cuts the angle, pass to an open teammate
situated in a better scoring position possibly at the far side of the net,
in the slot area, or to an open defenceman on the point and he scores.
2. Tipping or deflecting a teammate's shot into the net by changing the
puck's flight and direction with the shaft or blade of your stick.
The stick must remain below your shoulders to count as a goal.
3. Going hard to the net to get to a rebound, stick blade on the ice, shoot to score.
Don't be afraid to get your nose dirty and battle for the puck in front of the net.
The harder you work for a loose puck the more goals you will score.
4. Screening their goalie's view of the puck from just outside the goal crease
so s/he cannot see the puck and a teammate scores, or the puck deflects
in off you because you legally blocked their view of the puck.
5. Feed your open Defenceman on the point for a low, hard accurate shot and
if there is a clear shooting lane to the net take the shot, but hit the net as it
could create a big rebound if the goalie stops the puck without catching it.
6. Try a wraparound shot if coming out from behind the net and there is no
teammate open to pass to.
It doesn't matter who scores the goal, this is a team game and everybody is
part of the team. You win as a team and you lose as a team.
Be a team player and try to help your team score, but don't try to do it all
by yourself by taking shots from impossible angles or not passing the puck
at opportune times to open players in a better scoring position or you could
get labeled as "a puck hog" or "a pond hockey player."
Players need to know how to shoot, when to shoot, where to shoot on the net,
where to shoot from on the ice, what shot to use from specific on ice locations
and where to position themselves to shoot and score on rebounds.
Published in Hockey Made Easy 11/18/09
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