Coaches Wrap: Scorers Born or Taught?

My team just cannot score goals. We get plenty of chances every game, but just can never seem to put the puck in the net. Are scorers born, or can it be taught?
--Bill T., Pee Wee Coach

A little of both. Some players just seem to have the natural ability to score. Others have to really work at it. The really productive goal scorers are a combination of both. Shooting ability is a big part of scoring, with a quick release, accuracy and velocity playing a big role in whether a puck gets past the goalie or not. Be sure to spend a lot of time in practice on shooting and progress from stationary shooting to shooting off of a pass to shooting on the move to shooting in different situations. Players love to shoot and you can never do enough shooting drills. If your players are Pee Wee age or above, design your drills to begin with a shot on goal, then to end with another shot on goal. Be sure your players are aware of "the eyes of the puck", meaning what they see in terms of open net/shooting angle is different from where the puck is positioned. There will be more room to the far side and less to the near side than what it looks like. Changing the angle of the shot by drawing it closer to the skates before releasing it also makes it tough on goalies. Teach your players to get a goalie to move, either across the net or out or back, and then take advantage of the openings created. To focus more specifically on teaching scoring, work on rebounds as simple math will tell you that most goalies stop 85-90 percent of shots, and in most cases, they stop the first shot. Most goals are scored on rebounds. Other skills to teach and develop in practice are backhands, wraparounds, breakaways, one-timers, deflections, driving to the net, and shooting on the move, while moving across the front of the net, and while moving toward the goalie. Be patient. It takes time, and a big part of scoring is confidence.