Hockey at Home

HOCKEY AT HOME

The past few years have been filled with unknowns. From lockdowns to mandates, the world has become a tumultuous boxing match for, well, everyone. And, as it seems to be looming again, the prospect of shutting down youth sports has become more and more likely. For Snipers Edge, we’ve always worked to help players play the game they love. So, the idea of shutting down rinks and removing games and practices is extremely disheartening for us. While some of us are still rockin’ in the hockey rinks; our season in full swing-- others have been faced with new lockdowns and season pauses. Either way, there is always a way to improve during the season, especially by putting in the extra work at home. But we’ve all been through this before, and we will get through it the only way we can—together. 

The bitter cold has begun to grip us all incredibly tight this winter. As it continues to chill the air, it’s the perfect time to perfect our game inside. The time to improve your skills right before playoffs and the end of the season! For hockey players, we never want to end the year with regrets. Thinking about the missed shot, the backcheck we fell on, it’s always better to know you gave it your all in the game. That we gave every ounce of effort, then the final outcome will be what it will be. Win or lose, there was nothing more you could have done. It’s in every sports movie speech, every cliche, but it’s true. Put in the work now, and you’ll never regret it down the road! 

TIPS AND TRICKS

Hockey players are as resilient as they are creative. The beautiful thing about the sport is that it is so ambiguous. No one shift is ever like another, and no game can ever truly be predicted. It’s the kind of sport that inspires the masses, that grabs hold of your heart, and never let’s go. As the game may move back to our garages, our houses, our streets, we are here to help. 

We’ve seen a lot of inventive ways that athletes have made the most of their time at home. From balancing toilet paper rolls, to dangling around the family dog, there are ways to improve your game during the hockey at home phase! 

1. View it as a Chance to prepare, not a missed opportunity: Having a break in the season can be off-putting and confusing. Instead, see it as a great time to have a mid-season review, and improve on one or two skills that you’ve been wanting to fix. Maybe it’s your shot accuracy, or the toe-drag move you’ve been trying to perfect. Having a positive outlook can make all the difference. 
2. Routine: Keeping in a common routine while you’re at home can be a great way to focus on skills and improve your game. Try shooting 100 pucks a day, or stickhandling for 15 minutes. It will also keep you fresh for when they open again! 
3. Set attainable goals! By keeping track and monitoring your improvement, you’ll be able to mark exactly how much you’ve increased your skill and be confident and ready to play. They say champions are built when no one is watching, so really push yourself to be the best you can be, because it will pay off in the long run.
4. Communicate: Ask your coach what you can work on, if they have any drills or ideas that you can do, coaches are there to help you get better! Talk with your teammates and see what their working on, and even come up with games and challenges for you to compete against each other! Who can shoot the most pucks! 
5. Take accountability for your own improvement: Integrity and passion are some of the most common characteristics in the stars of the game. Being at home and not having a coach or teammate to make sure you’re giving your best effort is a great way to learn integrity and practice your own game. At the end of the day, a coach will only take you so far, and the fire has to come from within. 
   
   

TRAINING GEAR

On our YouTube page, we have lots of free training videos from top-end skills coaches from all over the world. We have professional athletes, former NHL players, and more, all with drills you can do at home. Our most well-known iconic product is the shooting tarp. Able to withstand thousands of shots and even the hardest slapshots. We have the best flooring and complete at-home packages for hockey players at every level. For the new to hockey at home, we’ve got a few must-have products to help you improve:

1. The Shooting Tarp- the best for protecting your garage door and walls, sturdy and well-made. Shop our Shooting Tarps!
2. The PassMaster- great for working on one-timers and passing skills. Shop PassMaster!
3. Shooting Pad- protect your stick, and shoot off a smooth surface! Easy to move, and easy to use! Shop Shooting Pads!
4. Pucks- you can never have too many! From weighted to regulation pucks, dryland specific, and even white pucks. Shop our pucks!

The Inside Post is a compilation of all of our training contributors and unique and interesting hockey stories. We are committed to helping players along their journey of hockey, the greatest game there is. Be sure to follow us on social media for the latest posts and interviews. Sports in general have a way of building a community. They create a sense of purpose, and they help us grow. One of my favorite quotes, by the great Billie Jean King, “sports teach you character, they teach you to play by the rules, they teach you to know what it feels like to win and lose— they teach you about life”. How lucky we are to play the best sport there is, hockey.

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