How to Block a Shot in Ice Hockey

Ice hockey is a game that is about speed and grace, but it is also about pain and sacrifice. When it comes to playing defense, it is all about effort and courage. Lack in either one of those categories will allow your opponent to garner a boatload of scoring opportunities. Shotblocking is perhaps the most essential ingredient in displaying that defensive courage.

Instructions

1. Know your position on the ice. Once you enter your team's defensive zone, realize that your opponent can fire off a dangerous shot on goal at any point. Experience will tell you who your opponent's most dangerous shooters are but that is not always essential. If player "A" has a 90-mph slap shot but is back at the point and the goaltender has a clear view of the shot, it can be an easy shot to save. However, if an average player has the puck at the top of the faceoff circle and is ready to fire, that shot is far more dangerous and a defenseman has to be ready to block it.

2. When your opponent is getting ready to shoot, make the commitment to block the shot. This is done by sliding your lower legs on to the ice about 8 to 12 feet in front of the puck. If the offensive player follows through and does not fake the shot, your legs will absorb the sting and punishing power of a shot that is blasted at full speed. Your legs re protected by shin guards and padding, but it takes a fearless player to make such a move.

3. Timing is the most essential ingredient besides courage when blocking a shot. Move too soon and your opponent will fake the shot and step around you for a much better opportunity. Move too late and you won't be on the ice soon enough to block the shot. The best advice for developing timing--besides game experience--is watching your opponent. As he begins the backswing of his slapshot, start your slide to the spot where you anticipate the shot will travel. Once he reaches the top of his backswing and goes forward, extend your legs in front of the shot.

4. Watch as much videotape as possible so you learn your opponent's tendencies. Experienced players will fake a slap shot, curl the puck on the toe of their stick and then make a pass instead of shooting. This renders the shot block ineffective. Use the shot block technique in the late stages of close games to help your team keep the opponent from scoring.

Tips & Warnings

• Spend at least 15 minutes per day in practice working on your shot-blocking technique. Not only do you want to get in the optimum spot when blocking a shot, you want to be able to stand up as quickly as possible to get back into the play. Realize that you will get faked out on some occasion. Do not let this deter your from blocking a shot because this talent will help your team's overall defense dramatically.

• Going to the well too often and trying to block every shot will cause more harm than good. Your opponents will know you go after everything and fake you out of position regularly.

• Blocking shots is a very tough and potentially painful part of the job. While you are wearing significant padding on your legs, an errant shot could fly into a less protected part of your body and cause serious injury.