Doing a push pass in hockey is a great way to move the ball forward quickly. A push pass is when you use your fast speed to beat a player to a spot on the ice and then pass the ball to them so they can be in position to receive it. Typically, you will want to do this on the break away from the opponent. While you are busy trying to score on the break, the other team is scrambling to get ready for the puck that will be coming their way. With just a little bit of practice, you will be able to pull off this technique and send your opponents running for cover.
There are some key things that you need to keep in mind when doing a push pass in hockey. Keep reading to learn more.
Table of Contents
Ball Control
The first and most important thing is to always keep the ball control. Do not let anyone knock the puck out of your hands unless you absolutely have to. Being the tallest player on the ice is not an advantage when it comes to controlling the ball. You need to use your hockey savvy and experience to keep the puck in the air and avoid hitting the ground too quickly. The faster you can stick the puck in the air, the faster you can start your push pass.
The best way to control the ball is to use your wrists. Not your hands. Your wrists. By using your wrists, you will be able to whip the puck into the air with the same speed as an explosion from a hand grenade. The more you practice with this technique, the easier it will become. Once you master the art of controlling the puck with your wrists, you can start incorporating it into your game. A good example of this is when you are receiving the puck at the net faceoff and you use your wrists to whip it into the air. Then the next thing you do is you freeze the puck and start your push pass to a teammate. If the puck drops before you get there, pick it up and go with the next play.
Body Positioning
When you are doing a push pass, it is important to keep your body positioned correctly. This is especially important if you are receiving the puck in the corner. If you are not positioned correctly, you will either knock the puck out of the air or it will hit the ground before you have a chance to pull off your maneuver. To body position yourself correctly for a corner push pass, start by standing in the middle of the ice. The farther away from the net you are, the higher you should stand. This will allow you to see over the top of the defense and have enough room to complete your pass. If you are going to receive the puck in the corner, raise your stick slightly so it is at shoulder height when you take your hands off the handle.
Once you are standing in the proper position and have retrieved the puck, it’s time to start your push. Start by bringing the puck into the middle of the ice, between your legs. Make sure your feet are shoulder width apart and your knees are slightly bent. When you get to the point where you are ready to pass the puck, bear down slightly on the stick with your palms and use your wrist to whip the puck into the air. As the ball gets higher, continue to whip it until it reaches its peak level and at that point start your push pass. While you are bringing the puck up, your body should remain in the same position. You should not shift your weight to your back foot as you lift the puck up. This will cause you to lose your balance and possibly fall over. Once you have the puck in the air, start your push and use your speed to get away from the opposing teams. Be careful not to run into the corner boards or goal posts as you rush past them. This could potentially cause serious injury. Once you reach the other team’s end, stop and wait for the defenders to regroup before you start skating away.
If you are going to receive the puck at the faceoff circle, you will need to adjust your position a little bit. Instead of standing in the middle of the ice, step towards one of the sidelines so that you can see over the top of the defense when you pull off your pass. This way, you will not run into the boards or goal posts as you turn to pass the puck.
Speed
The last thing you want to do is be slow. When you are doing a push pass, you need to have speed. A lot of speed. The faster you can complete the pass and get away, the better you will be able to avoid sticky situations that could possibly arise from being too slow. Your speed will also help you deceive the defenders. By quickly changing pace, you will be able to confuse and throw off the defending players. It is always preferable to have the upper hand in the speed game. The faster you can get the puck up and over the opposing goaltender, the better your chances of scoring.
Fluid Skating
Doing a push pass in hockey takes a lot of practice. You will not be able to pull it off perfectly the first time you try. That is why you should always be practicing and working at it. After all, perfection is not a thing in this world. It does not exist. You will make mistakes and things will not be perfect. However, with a little bit of practice, you will be able to pull off this technique and send your opponents running for cover. Do not think that just because you are not a professional athlete that you are not capable of doing this. With just a little bit of practice, you will be able to control the puck like a boss and pull off this technique whenever you need to. Do not be discouraged by the mistakes you make along the way. The fluid skating technique will continue to improve with each and every practice session you have. When you can move freely without feeling like you are going to fall over because the ice is slippery, you are doing perfect fluid skating. This is how you want to feel when you are pulling off this technique. Do not be afraid to make mistakes as you continue to work at it. Improving your skills takes time and patience. You will get there eventually.