Ian Taylor is the Executive Director of the OMHA and former Director of Hockey Development. A proud hockey dad of two, Ian has over 25 years of instructional and coaching experience.
Completing a pass to a teammate can be tough when the defender has their stick blocking the passing lane. Like any skill, it takes practice and a certain softness to get the puck exactly in the spot you want it to end up.
In this edition, we look at the Slip Pass - a pass placed between the defender’s stick and skates – and why this pass is a valuable problem-solving skill and an alternative to the saucer pass as defenders aim to limit time and space of attacking players.
Welcome to OMHA Video Coach where we review a video clip from game action and then break down the sequence into frames identifying key skills, individual and team tactics, strategy and hockey IQ. Video is a great teaching tool that can be used by both players and coaches.
The slip pass in this sequence is a simply executed 10 foot pass – but the ability to identify the 2v1, control skating, attack open ice and manipulate the defender provide the special blend of skills to create a scoring opportunity and in this case, a goal.
To execute this skill players will need to use speed and deception to create time and space for themselves. Coaches should focus on good, flat tape-to-tape passes, speed when entering the zone and game-like intensity. In both drills, the slip-pass is the ideal skill to be used to beat the defender, however, players should read the situation and how the defender is playing the situation and choose alternative options if that pass it not available.
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Ian Taylor is the Executive Director of the OMHA and former Director of Hockey Development. A proud hockey dad of two, Ian has over 25 years of instructional and coaching experience.