SHOT ACCURACY

Shooting the ball accurately and consistently is a tough task. To become a sniper, one must be aware of their body and how it affects the trajectory of a shot. Here are some helpful pointers to think about.
  • Your legs are the foundation of a hard, well placed shot. Without a strong base, you will not have the needed foundation. So make sure you have a balanced, steady base while shooting. When balance fails, so does everything else.
  • Make sure you’re momentum is always bringing you towards the goal, rather than falling away from it.
  • Your bottom hand dictates the height of your shot. If it is high, then the ball will go high and visa versa. If you find that your shot is missing above the goal, try bringing your top hand down, and see what happens.
  • Your top hand controls the lateral movement of the ball. For example, if the stick is in your right hand, and your top hand is tucked in, close to your body, the ball will shoot to the right. So if you find you are missing the net wide left, try bringing your top hand in closer towards you.
  • Another factor to think about is your "release point". What do we mean by release point? It is the point at which the ball leaves your stick. If you find you are missing your target low, try releasing the ball earlier. Conversely, if you are missing your target high, try holding onto the ball for a split second longer, and you will notice the problem should be resolved.

CATCHING

Catching the ball is not as easy as it looks from far away. Here are some tips that might help.
  • Keep your eye on the ball. From the moment it leaves your partners stick, see the ball all the way into your stick.
  • Realize that the higher your top hand is to the throat of your head, the easier it will be to catch the ball. This simple adjustment gives you more control of your stick.
  • Give your partner a target and show them where you want the ball. This will help your partner in giving you a more accurate pass.
  • Receive the ball as it comes at you. Pretend you are catching an egg as you want to catch it with soft hands.