I have to admit that when I was playing at the highest level, my slapshot was average. I got my shot off very quickly and hit the net (most of the time), but the power of it definitely didn’t strike fear into the hearts of my opponents. 

 

Since I started coaching and teaching shooting technique to young players - and breaking down every component of the slapshot from the hand position, to puck position, to hip turn, to weight transfer - I see exactly where I went wrong with my slapshot.

 

I don’t want you to make the same mistakes I made, so I made a short “SLAPSHOT SECRETS” video sample for you to watch. Your slapshot should be the deadliest weapon in your shooting arsenal, but your power and accuracy will always be limited if you don’t address your technique first.

 

Click on the link below to watch that 3 minute Slapshot Secrets sample now:

http://totalfemalehockeyclub.com/video-sample/slapshotsecret/

 

Enjoy - and feel free to pass it along to any friends, teammates, parents, and coaches who might enjoy this information too.

 

Work Hard.  Dream BIG.  Take Action.

 

~ Kim
 

PS - There are only 8 weeks left until the season starts and you need every advantage you can get to make sure that you start the season off with a bang.  Get started with the Elite Shooting and Stickhandling Video Series today and you’ll have a personal plan to take your stick skills to the next level in time for September.  You’ll get 16 different videos sent to you for the next 8 weeks with 16 step-by-step shooting and stickhandling routines that you can follow to take your game to the next level.

 

Remember - the special introductory price goes up after Friday night at midnight and will stay up permanently.

 

Click Below To Get Started Today:

http://totalfemalehockeyclub.com/products/elite_shooting_stickhandling/

 

 

 

 

I’m not sure exactly when this happened, but sometime within the last 10 years, the toe drag became the “move to have” when it came to getting around the opposition. I have to admit that I’ve been toe-dragged around more than a few times in my career, but the best toe drag I ever saw belonged to former US Olympian Krissy Wendell.  Her toe drag was so fast and deceptive that she turned players inside-out with it game after game.  We all knew that she was going to do it, but we fell for it almost every single time.

 

While I think you need to have many moves in your stickhandling arsenal in order to create separation between yourself and the opposition, the toe drag can be extremely effective when done with the right technique at the right time. There are 2 video lessons on the toe drag technique and tricks in the Total Female Hockey Elite Shooting and Stickhandling Video Series and I wanted to share a sample clip from those videos with you today.

Click on the link below to watch the Toe Drag Tricks Video:

http://totalfemalehockeyclub.com/video-sample/toedrag/

 

 

Enjoy and feel free to pass this along to any friends, teammates, parents, players or coaches that you think might be interested.

 

 

Your friend and coach,

 

Kim

 

PS - The Elite Shooting and Stickhandling Video Series is only available at the low introductory price of $27 until Friday night at midnight.  After that, the price goes up permanently.  Don’t miss out on your chance to get the 16 shooting & stickhandling videos that will take your
stick skills from good to great over the next 8 weeks so that you have a huge advantage over the competition at the start of the season.

Click on the link below to get started today:

http://totalfemalehockeyclub.com/products/elite_shooting_stickhandling/
 

 

 

 

Last week, I was at a six-day Hockey Canada high performance coaching course that involved evaluating players trying out for Team Ontario Under 17.  I have to admit it’s been a long time since I sat and evaluated a boys’ game, but it didn’t surprise me that the coaches in the men’s game were looking for the exact same things from these young players as we do in women’s hockey (except in a 6 foot 2, 220 lb package). Players were evaluated on all sorts of criteria on and off the ice, but I want to focus on what I believe are the 4 most crucial attributes all elite players need.

 

Here are my top 4 - in order of importance:

1. SKILLS:  Skating, Shooting, Stickhandling, Passing, Checking
2. SPEED:  Can You Do All Of The Above At Top Speed?
3. SMARTS:  Can You Make The Right Decisions With & Without The Puck?
4. HEART:  Are You Willing To Do Whatever It Takes?

 

You might argue that heart is the most critical because it’s the one that’s hardest to teach.  Smarts are crucial too because that’s what separates good practice players from the true “gamers”.  Speed kills - but only if you have a strong foundation of skill first.

 

When it comes to skills, your ability to skate the game with and without the puck is the first thing scouts at the college and national team level are looking for.  The reality is that if you can’t skate the game, there aren’t going to be many opportunities for you at the next level.

 

The next most important thing after skating is your INDIVIDUAL SKILL WITH THE PUCK.

 

Having elite shooting and stickhandling skills gives you a serious advantage over the competition.  The truth is most female players only have average individual puck skills.  If you have a great shot and great 1-on-1 moves,  it will make you standout.

 

Most girls’ don’t go out and work on their stickhandling and shooting in the off-season.  And if they do, it’s usually just firing a bunch of random pucks without any sort of plan.

 

To become an elite player, you need to practice with a purpose.  To develop those elite shooting and stickhandling skills that will get you noticed out on the ice, you need to have a plan.

 

To help you get started with taking your individual puck skills to the next level, I have created the brand-new Total Female Hockey Elite Shooting & Stickhandling Video Series.  This is an 8 week step-by-step personal plan for taking your stick skills to the next level without having to step on the ice.  And with the start of the season only 8 weeks away, now is the time to gain every advantage you can get over the competition.

 

With the Elite Shooting & Stickhandling Video Series, you will learn the TECHNIQUES & TRICKS I teach to all the players I coach at the elite level - all in the comfort of your home.

You’ll get 16 different videos covering everything from:
:: Wrist Shot - the most critical shot to perfect at a young age
:: In Tight Stickhandling - the key to coming out with the puck in battles
:: Snap Shot - the quick release you need to score more goals
:: Toe Drags - making you a “shifty” and “slippery” out on the ice
:: Backhand - the most dreaded shot for goalies to stop
:: Feet To Stick Skills - the key to winning 1v1 battles on the boards
:: Slapshot - the most powerful shot in your shooting arsenal
:: Fakes - the ability to beat players and goalies 1-on-1

 

Not only do you get 2 training videos from me every week, but you get a step-by-step training plan that shows you the exact exercises to do to make sure you stay on track.  After using this 8 week video series, you’ll have the confidence to know that you’ve got the shots and moves to excel in every situation on the ice.

 

You can get the Elite Shooting & Stickhandling Video Series for the low introductory price of $27 - but only until Friday July 16th at midnight.  After Friday, the price goes up permanently.

Click on the link below to get started with taking your skills to the next level:

http://totalfemalehockeyclub.com/products/elite_shooting_stickhandling/
 

 

You’ve got 8 more weeks to gain a serious edge on the competition. Take advantage of it.  Work Hard, Dream BIG, Take Action.

 

Your friend and coach,

 

Kim

 

Kim McCullough, MSc, YCS
Director, Total Female Hockey

Girls’ Hockey Director, PEAC School For Elite Athletes

 

 

 

 

 

When Wayne Gretzy was a kid, his dad Walter wouldn’t let him go outside and practice without a purpose.  So Wayne learned from a very young age how to set little goals every day that would move him closer to his big dreams.

Wayne would work on SPECIFICS.  He would spend countless hours out on his backyard rink working on building the foundation for all his future success.

I really like the idea that the best player ever didn’t just got out and go through the motions during practice.  I like that he took the initiative to think about the parts of his game that he really needed to work on and zoned in on those specific areas so that he could take his game to the next level.

He wasn’t worried about being FANCY.  He was building his FOUNDATION.   The reason he could do the fancy stuff so well was because he had a great foundation in place first.

This is a really critical concept when it comes to female hockey player development.

Too many players focus their time and efforts learning the latest shootout move they saw on Youtube, instead of working on their backhand.  They spend hours working on some fancy new toe drag, instead of reinforcing the basics of stick-handling. Don’t get me wrong - developing a great shootout move and a wicked toe drag are things that will make you stand out on your way to the next level…

BUT…

You need to make sure your FOUNDATION of skill is cemented in place before you worry too much about the fancy stuff - especially when it comes to shooting and stickhandling.

Ever since I started Total Female Hockey, people have been asking me to help them with their shooting and stick-handling.  You may have seen one of the really quick YouTube videos I’ve posted about the push-pull of the wrist shot or the importance of hand position when stickhandling.

These videos were all about teaching you the basics and now I’ve created 16 new shooting and stickhandling videos that will not only help you reinforce your foundation but help you with the fancy stuff too.

I created 2 quick samples of these new videos for you - one for stickhandling and one for shooting - that you can check out by clicking on the link below:

http://totalfemalehockeyclub.com/video-sample/shoot_handle/

Enjoy and please feel free to pass this message along to any player, coach, parent, friend or teammate who you think might benefit from it.

Your friend and coach,

~ Kim

PS - My brand new Shooting & Stickhandling video series is coming soon and includes 16 “how to” videos that show you step-by-step how to take your stick skills to the next level.  They cover everything from wrist shots, backhands, snap shots and slap shots as well as dribbling, toe drags, fast feet drills and fakes.

More information on this brand-new product will be coming your way next week.  In the meantime, you can watch two video clips about the key factors in effective shooting and stickhandling by clicking on the link below:

http://totalfemalehockeyclub.com/video-sample/shoot_handle/

Kim McCullough, MSc, YCS

?Director, Total Female Hockey
Girls’ Hockey Director, PEAC School For Elite Athletes