07/14/2025
The five senses have the potential to play an important role in skill development and on-ice performance.
Sight, or in the context/language of hockey - vision, allows players to scan the ice, track movement of players and the puck.
Hearing supports verbal communication (ex. A player calling for a pass) and non-verbal communication (ex. A player tapping their stick on the ice.) As well as awareness during on-ice play (ex. A player hearing an opponent skating behind them.)
Touch helps with puck control, stick handling, and shooting. As well as, play without the puck (ex. sensing where an opponent could be coming from when retrieving a puck.)
This can also be done with sight/vision. For example, we could try to restrict a player’s sight by putting other players or objects in-between the puck carrier and the potential pass receiver.
Another senses we as coaches can challenge is touch. We could do this by asking players to use pucks with different weights, or apply opposing pressure to them while they are performing a drill.
As coaches, we also have the potential to take away senses. An example of this would be telling the player receiving a pass in a drill not communicate with the player carrying the puck. Or, not allowing the pass receiver to put their stick down until they feel the time is right - forcing the puck carrier to hold on to the puck for longer or find a different solution.
By engaging or taking away different senses within a drills, we as coaches, can to attempt to improve skill development or acquisition.
All of this, when used properly, has the potential to challenge players, in hopes that it will develop their playing ability and help improve their performance on the ice.