Continued from: Puck Handling Fundamentals – Arc of Control

Once you are comfortable stick handling along your “Arc of Control”, you can easily develop your “Band of Control” by sliding your lower hand down the shaft of your stick and lifting the elbow on your upper-hand side. This brings the puck closer to your feet. Now, practice puck handling using the tip of your stick blade along the range defined by your “Arc of Control”. Next, slide your lower hand up the shaft of your stick, so your hands are closer together. This will allow you to move the puck further away from your feet. Now, practice puck handling using the heel of your stick blade along the range defined by your “Arc of Control”. As you become proficient with these exercises, you are developing your “Band of Control”.

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For some additional fun, practice stick handling the puck, not only from position to position in numerical order, but try skipping positions. Move the puck from Position 1 to Position 3 or even 4, then back to 2 before returning to Position 1. This will create a triangle shape, which is very useful in the game of hockey. When moving the puck from Position 2 to Position 1, practice drawing the puck back on your backhand, and then next time, use a “toe drag” technique by turning the toe of your blade over top of the puck and pulling back toward Position 1!