|
Passing 2 - The Saucer Pass The next step in the passing progression that I will discuss is the "saucer" pass. This technique differs slightly from the standard pass, in that the puck actually travels through the air, rather than just on the ground. This pass is used to make it more difficult for the opposition to intercept it - for example in a fast break (two on one), with you and a teammate approaching the net with a defender in between, you might find that the defending players lays their stick down flat on the ice to try and cut off the pass to your supporting player. Using the saucer pass you are easily able to clear the obstacle and give your teammate a clean pass, and, in this case, an opportunity to score. To execute the saucer pass, you must be comfortable with the correct (basic) passing technique explained in a previous week (Passing 1). The technique required here is actually a combination of the basic pass and the wrist shot technique. Set up your stance as you would for the basic pass, and begin the passing motion as before, this time, however, before you let the pass go you need to lift your stick from the ice, using the forwards motion and wrist rotation (as for the wrist shot) to lift the puck off the ice as you complete the pass. It is very important that you close the face of the stick blade (see the wrist shot discussion) as you release the pass to ensure that the puck travels correctly through the air. One of the key aims when making a pass is for your teammate to be able to receive the pass with a minimum of effort, and most importantly to get the puck safely. Therefore, there are several aspects to the pass that you need to ensure. You need to put make sure that the pass is not behind the player, as if they are forced to turn, they are blind to an incoming opposition player, and could end up hurt if they are hit. The idea is to put the puck ahead of (and in the path of) the player so that they can continue in a direction that lets them see both the puck and players coming to hit them at the same time. Even if the puck ends up too far ahead, the player still has a chance to catch up to it. If the pass is behind, the opposition could find them selves going towards your goal, while all your players are still going the other way! When making a saucer pass, there is one other requirement. The puck must land cleanly - meaning flat on the ice, not rolling end over end. This is the most difficult aspect of the technique, and requires correct rotation of the wrists at the end of the shot. It is not enough to flip the puck over the opponent's stick - you must make it float, flat like when you are shooting, having it land the same way. Players need to practice the saucer pass - it comes
in handy many times throughout a game, adding an extra dimension to
your passing, making it much harder for the opposition to be able to
predict your next move. Players should also work on this pass using
their backhand - this is a great skill to master.
|