This is such an important exercise to learn how to separate the movement of the upper and lower body as well as incorporate head and shoulder fakes. Most North Americans generally are very stiff in the upper body. Two IIHF Hall of Fame coaches, Juhani Wahlsten of Finland and Vladimir Yursinov of Russia were running the hockey school in Finland in this video. They had Yashin, who had just been the NHL player of the year demonstrating the exercises. Later in the video Finnish coaches lead young players.
If you are going to add anything from this site to your practices these exercises should be done all of the time in all levels. When I was coaching in Austria Yursinov came one week per month and led the pro's in these exercises during the morning skill sessions. There are videos on this site with showing leading some of the practices.
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A200 Big Moves _ Russian Warm-up
Key Points:
Increase the size of the moves by reaching as far as possible with the puck. Separate the movement of the upper and lower body by skating away from the puck. Players must be able to handle the puck under control around and through their body.
Description:
– Skate away from the puck. Skate right reach left and skate left and reach right. – Reach as far forward and back as you can using the top hand.
-Put the puck from the stick to inside and outside edges back to the stick.
-Move puck from behind to front through skate forehand and backhand.
-Escape moves backward with the puck and tight turns each way.
-Fake a shot and go left then right. Spin on backhand.
-Touch each knee while skating. – Yo-yo the puck give it and take it away. – Toe drag fake inside and pull the puck back while sliding back. – Bring the puck from behind to in front through the skates on forehand. – Bring the puck from behind to in front through the skates on backhand. – Skate fake inside and go outside.
A200 – Puck Handling Big Moves Exercises – Finland
A200 – Puck Handling Sequence – Russian Olympic Coach – Jursinov
A200 – Skating and Puck Handling – Yashin and Finnish HS
A200 – Big Moves Led by 3 Players – Jasper Camp
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