Are you struggling with receiving passes on your backhand side during hockey games? If you’re like most players, you’ve probably been taught to perform a heavy corral movement to receive the puck. But what if this technique is actually limiting your effectiveness on the ice? In this article, we’ll explore a more efficient approach that can dramatically improve your reaction time, positioning, and overall playmaking ability after receiving a backhand pass.
The Traditional Problem with Backhand Reception
For years, I was taught—like many players—that corralling the puck on my backhand was the proper technique. Coaches would emphasize the importance of sweeping my stick to cushion and control incoming passes. While this seemed logical in theory, I found myself constantly struggling in game situations. After receiving the pass, I noticed I was often pulled out of position, my body turned awkwardly, and my options severely limited.
The frustration would mount during games when, after receiving a pass on my backhand, I’d find myself vulnerable to defensive pressure and unable to quickly transition to a shot or return pass. This split-second delay was costing my team valuable opportunities and putting me in compromising positions on the ice. If this fundamental skill remained unimproved, it would continue to be a weak point in my game regardless of how much I developed other aspects of my play.
When My Technique Failed Me
During an important tournament game, I received a perfect pass on my backhand in a prime scoring position. As I had been taught, I attempted a big, sweeping corral motion. The result? My body rotated away from the goal, my head turned from the play, and by the time I recovered my position, the defensive player had closed the gap. What should have been a scoring opportunity ended with me losing possession and my team losing momentum. This pattern repeated itself in various game situations, and I knew something had to change.
Finding a Better Approach
Working with an advanced skills coach changed everything for me. Instead of the traditional corral technique, they taught me to focus on stopping the puck flat in a position that made sense for my next move—typically somewhere near my feet. The key insight was understanding that the corral motion, especially on the backhand side, pulls your body and head into positions that aren’t conducive to dynamic play.
This new approach was superior because it kept my body facing the play, maintained my field of vision, and positioned me to immediately execute my next move—whether that was a shot, forehand pass, or backhand return. The technique also facilitated better weight transfer, allowing me to load and fire passes back with more accuracy and power.
The Game-Changing Results
Implementing this technique transformed my backhand reception completely. Instead of being a weakness in my game, it became a strength. In practices, I could receive passes and transition immediately to my next move without the awkward repositioning that had previously slowed me down. During games, I found myself able to maintain possession under pressure and create plays that weren’t possible before.
My teammates noticed the difference too. Several adopted similar techniques after seeing how effectively it worked for me. Our power play efficiency improved as we could maintain possession and move the puck more quickly in tight situations—all starting with this simple adjustment to receiving backhand passes.
How You Can Improve Your Backhand Reception
If you want to implement this more effective approach to backhand pass reception, here are the key steps to follow:
- Position yourself with your stick blade flat on the ice rather than angled for a sweeping corral
- Focus on stopping the puck in a position near your feet that allows for immediate next actions
- After receiving the pass, pull the puck slightly and then load your weight for your next move
- Practice the weight transfer from left to right (for left-handed players) to add power to your return passes
- Keep your head up and body facing the play throughout the entire reception process
By making these adjustments to your backhand reception technique, you’ll eliminate a common weakness in your game and gain a significant advantage in maintaining possession and creating scoring opportunities.
