Ryde Hockey Club Director of Coaching Tim Collier discusses the basic technique for slapping the ball. Slapping has become an important skill in hockey given its potency as a distribution technique.
It's kinda funny watching this years later with the new videos out by Ben Craig and comparing the two. Tim Collier really knows the theory and explains it so well. On the other hand his slaps look a little different, maybe because of the camera, and maybe because he moves around as he demonstrates; but his balance looks odd. It looks like he leans back a little from the knee, his back is slightly more sloped, and his weight is also behind his foot - as though he's trying not to strain his back or something. The camera position in this video for some reason seems really professional for presenting, but it's a little zoomed out when Tim steps back to actually demonstrate, and so a bit harder to see his stance in general. It's noticeably different when compared to when the younger guys do it, as they lunge far over their knee, and lower their stick by flattening their back towards the ground, like when the younger demonstrator does it in this video (and also when Craig does in his). Finally I also really like how on Ben Craig's videos start with a short demonstration to think about, while he's explaining the stuff afterward. It helps make sure I'm imagining everything correctly!
I personally feel much more comfortable shooting and passing with slapping rather than through hitting. I just find that slapping comes more natural to me as opposed to hitting. That said, hitting is not a skill that I or anyone else for that matter should ignore. Especially when it comes to goal shooting. Hopefully I will be able to master both techniques over the longer term.
Mostly you would only use a deceptive pass if there is an opponent directly trying to intercept your pass. In a game situation this would be an attacker trying to intercept a pass from a defender to a defender.
I was using a stick with less Bow but I started to be a good drag flicker and my father bought me an Adidas xxtreme 24 and started to suck at hitting.What should I do
Hi Tim, been watching some of your videos and it has always been enlightening. I have been trained to look for the square and straight passes all the time, I am still playing at a basic level. With these deception slap passes that you show, they look to be in at the diagonal. Would you not be concerned that these could get intercepted or is the deception enough to fool the opposition? Just trying to understand when it can be used in a game situation.
