Mite Shooting Practice

Question
I am setting up a hockey area in the basement for my son, he is starting his 3rd year of mite hockey.  He is 7.  He has a goal with a target outlining the 5 corners.  I want to mark a few positions on the floor for him to practice shooting from.  How far from the net should he be shooting from?

Thanks,

Answer
Hi Mike...

As a mite - your first objective is for him to HAVE FUN!!  So you want him to "succeed" - hit his targets and find FUN in the process.  So to start out you might want him to be fairly close.  There is an unwritten rule that 1500 perfect reps of an action will create perfect muscle memory.   So have him count the times he hits his targets.  Maybe have a chalkboard or score sheet where he can keep track.   Have him do some additions and maybe even some divisions if he is up to it to figure out averages - this will also help his math...  and many young boys actually all get fired up by this and end LOVING match!!!  (THIS IS A GREAT THING!!!)...

If you can create some sort of graph - like showing how many times he hits target for every 25 shots - it will also motivate him to keep IMPROVING.

Once he reaches a certain level of mastery - like hitting his target 90-100% of the time - back him up a few feet and do it again.  

You catching on?   FUN is #1!  This is FUN!

Confidence is #2.  If he hits it - he will build confidence.

#3. is ACCURACY.   Remind him it's not how hard he hits his targets --  it's ACCURACY first.
(Later you can add power and speed - but that's probably for when he's a little older...)  

#4. Will be speed of release --  again later - as he masters accuracy...  then you can add a timer - to see how fast he can still hit all targets!!  Where speed of doing the shots with quick hands and quick releases can be measured.  

#5. Will be power - (You may have to get a laser speed gun when he is older... to help measure that).  

BOTTOM line - is to measure your "play" - thus making it fun and maybe even helping out with Math on top of that!

MAKE SENSE?

Now how can it get better than this eh?

Feel free to ask any follow up questions.

Remember - you too as Dad can have FUN!

Good luck with the PUCK!

Martial