Ice hockey is one of the most exciting sports to watch, especially when played in Canada or the US. But, while the strategy for games involving a puck on a frozen pond is straightforward – try to block shots as best you can – the same cannot be said for ice hockey played indoors.
Indoor hockey, also known as ‘hockey-style ball’, is a variation of the game that was first introduced in Canada in the 1930s and has since taken the sports world by storm. It is a great way to play hockey, as it allows for more strategy and less physical contact than traditional ice hockey. Unfortunately, this also means that the game is a lot easier to play ‘wrong’.
Whether during a game, practice, or just for fun, if you’re ever hit with a puck in the head or neck area, it can be incredibly painful and even cause serious trauma. In fact, more people are hurt or killed by a hockey puck than by a real life attacker (per 100,000 people). This is why it is essential to know how to block a shot in hockey. In this article, we’ll discuss how to block a shot in hockey (both literally and figuratively) and the various ways you can prevent serious injury to yourself and others.
Table of Contents
Ducking
The most effective way to block a shot in hockey is to ‘duck’ or ‘slide’ the puck before it reaches you. If you’re playing defense, you’ll know exactly what to do; just stand in front of the puck and ‘glove’ it (that is, wrap your glove around it to stop it from rolling away).
For instance, if you’re playing defense and the opposing team has the puck trapped inside the corner, you must slide or duck to the side to avoid a scoring chance. A player can’t come around or behind you without your knowing it; try to anticipate their every move so that you can counter it with your own move. If you’re fast enough, you can also reach your glove out first, intercepting the puck before it reaches your opponent.
If you do this effectively, you will never be hit by a puck again. The problem is that it is not easy to predict where the puck will go, especially when it is shot at an angle. This requires you to constantly keep adjusting your position, and it takes a lot of coaching and practice to become truly great at it.
Shielding Yourself With You Glove
Unlike a regular hockey glove, which has a solid leather lining, the outside of a goalie’s glove is usually made of a foam material that is slightly resilient and can stop a puck (but is still easy to break apart).
If a regular glove does not feel right to you, you can also try a hockey glove, which has a tighter fitting cuff around the wrist to more effectively guard against being hit by a puck. Just remember that if you do play with a regular glove, make sure its wrist is at least an inch above your ear when you’re playing goalie.
Positioning
To avoid getting hit by a puck, you must know where to position yourself when defending or blocking a shot. For example, if you’re playing defense and the opposing team puts the puck near the goal line, slide or duck towards the opposite corner to avoid getting hit. This puts you in the perfect position to stop the puck with your glove.
Another effective defense against a puck is to stick your skate out in front of it. This will automatically push the puck away from you, making it harder for your opponent to score. Just remember to keep your head up while doing this, as this will keep you from getting a puck in the face; a potentially lethal blow if you aren’t expecting it. Once you’ve established this position, you can also start backing away slowly, keeping your eyes on the puck so that you don’t have to worry about tripping over your own feet or skates.
Prediction
To score a goal, the puck must first reach the opposing end zone. To do this, it must travel across the ice to where its trajectory will take it. However, there is no guarantee that this will happen, and many times the puck will just ‘stick’ to the ice and not leave the realm of the ‘puck trap’ (that is, the area directly in front of the net).
In these situations, it is best to avoid taking the shot unless you know for sure that it is going to go in. If you’re not sure, you can always ask the goalie for his opinion or tap another player on the shoulder to get the ball rolling.
To prevent further injuries, the league has implemented the ‘puck line’ rule, which states that when a puck is on the blue line, it is an automatically awarded goal. This ensures that there is no question about exactly where the puck is at all times and reduces the likelihood of players getting hit by a puck that has left the zone of play.
Protect Your Eyes
Like any other part of your body, your eyes are extremely important and should be protected whenever possible. This is why it is important to keep your eyes open when playing hockey. If you keep your eyes open, you’ll be better able to see where the puck is going, and you can make better, more informed decisions about how to defend yourself against it. It is also advisable to wear protective gear whenever you’re playing hockey. This stuff is getting better all the time, and there are now helmets, masks, and goggles specifically designed for hockey players. These products are not just there to prettify the player’s looks; they are tools that can keep your brain safe and healthy.
Watch The Ceiling
In case you did not know, the center of the ceiling is particularly dangerous when it comes to getting hit by a puck. This area of the room is directly above head level, and this is why it is important to always keep your head up while playing hockey. If you keep your head up, you’ll be less likely to get a puck in the face, as they tend to come in at a sharper angle and therefore hit the ceiling first before impacting your head. This also makes the ceiling a more dangerous spot to be when playing hockey, as it is harder to see where the puck is going because of all the lights and angles. Another thing you can do to avoid getting hit by a puck is to never, ever play with one hand behind your back. This is especially risky if you do it while looking down at your phone or wallet, as you are giving your opponent an easy target for a scoring hit. Always keep your hands in front of you when playing hockey, whether on the floor or in the air – it really is the safest way to go about it.
Keep Track Of Pucks
To avoid injury, it is important to know where every puck is at all times. Like any other part of the game, injuries can easily occur if you do not know where the puck is at all times. If you’ve ever watched a professional hockey game and seen the players wearing black armbands, this is because they are ordered not to touch the puck. They have to keep track of it somehow, so they use the armbands to mark its location on the ice before and after each shot.
Another good idea is to use a puck jacket. These are puffy jackets that are designed to cushion the blow from a puck and prevent serious injury. You can find these at any hockey store or online retailer.
When playing hockey, you need a good rule book in case things get out of hand. This way, you’ll know what to expect and can follow the appropriate rules. For instance, fighting is usually not allowed, but it is acceptable to ‘interfere’ with the play in some other way. Always keep the principle of fair play in mind when playing hockey, and you’ll be able to have a safe and exciting time doing what you love. Just make sure you are always aware of the risks, and try to play within the rules whenever possible.