It's a funny thing, in that some subjects necessary to playing our game well seldom get talked about in hockey circles. That's why I spend so much time seeing what coaches in other sports are doing, and that's why I got psyched to find some pretty good help for our players' on-ice hockey vision.
-- Dennis Chighisola
On-ice Hockey Vision
Okay, I hope we can agree on something here, in that most transition sports -- like hockey, basketball, soccer and lacrosse -- have a lot of similarities. Of course, the big thing is that play continues in a transition game, as either a puck or ball switches hands. In other words, on a turn-over, one team goes from being on the attack to suddenly being on defense. Along that same line of thinking, ball possession or puck possession is big-time important. It should necessarily follow, then, that vision is important in each of those games, as a player moves with either a ball or a puck. So again, members shouldn't be surprised that a video series on point guard vision would jump right out at me.
Ya, the basketball point guard. Every time I watch a b-ball game, the point guard position reminds me of a hockey playmaker, and such a player also reminds me a lot of the guy I like running my powerplay. No matter, all of these players need great vision, moving with the ball or puck as they survey the area ahead for enemy players and open teammates. So, it's the same thing in our game as it is in basketball or soccer or lacrosse, huh? Ya, and in our sport, on-ice hockey vision is key to advancing the puck up-ice and towards the enemy goal.
One aside here... Members might know that I argue a lot with those who have gotten locked into saying that, "Hockey players have to keep their heads up as they carry the puck." What I say is, "Hockey players must keep their eyes up as they move with the puck." The distinction shouldn't be a biggie if two coaches are talking, but I much prefer to emphasize the eyes as I help players with their puckhandling skills.
Okay, I'm not going to say much in reference to the following two videos, and I'm even going to suggest that coaches, parents and players follow the video links to catch more videos in that series. My feeling is that the basketball coach's approach to ball control is going to help my members a lot with their on-ice hockey vision...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK7xtnn6RdA
:) Stephen's intro aside, let's get on to some basic advice -- on point guard play and our on-ice hockey vision...
:) Again, a big smile from me, because this old coach loves that Stephen began with a little philosophy. I've mentioned that elsewhere within these pages ("A Philosophical Approach To Hockey"), because the physical side of sport doesn't progress unless there's a strong philosophy already in place.
Interestingly, my old friend Mike Sullivan -- now a Stanley Cup winning coach with the Penquins -- talked a lot about caring for the puck and on-ice hockey vision in an article I called "How Hockey Players Learn". If you haven't seen Mike's video and read my post, you really should.
I know I haven't provided a lot of advice here -- other than what's contained in the two short videos, but the most important thing I'd like to leave members with today is a mental picture of something... I mean, whether it be a basketball point guard or one of our hockey players, please envision a player moving with a ball or puck, scanning the area ahead, moving, scanning, moving, scanning... Neither player can survive with tunnel vision, but he instead needs to be able to take in a wide field, and constantly assess the safest way to advance the ball or puck.
Lastly, if you click here -- on more of Stephen Bardo's videos, you'll find quite a few amassed there on his YouTube channel. I do suggest members go through those for a lot more specific -- physical and mental -- advice.
