Often taught as 'head on a swivel,' the term scanning is the specific habit of surveying the ice, without the puck, for pressure, layers, lanes, and opponents. Scanning separates good players from the elite. Players must practice their scanning off the ice while training and cross training, in practice, and in game scenarios in order to really make it an effective tool.

Scanning is all about being efficient on the ice, knowing how our brains work best, and being willing to multitask at the right moments. This is not just an injury prevention method, it is a major competitive advantage for offense. 

How does it work? 

Simply put, more information means better decision making. Plays develop and change quickly. Options are opened or taken away, space closes, and opportunities can be capitalized. Good scanners take more information sooner, meaning they scan the ice before the puck is in their possession, and can use this information to move the puck quickly, skate to newly open space, have shots that create chances, and avoid dangerous areas with too much pressure. 

Scanning also creates the illusion of options. Nothing is harder to defend than a puck carrier who can skate, deke, pass, and shoot all with their head up. From the defender's perspective, the puck carrier can see something that they themselves cannot see and therefore need to give them respect. Give it a try! Walk up to a buddy, confidently look over their shoulder and say, 'hey, what's that?' They will look every time! Scanning works the same way. If I can use my eyes to communicate to the defender that I know something she doesn't know, she will naturally hesitate to attack me at full speed which just might give me the time and space to make a play that adds to the offensive sequence. 

Biologically, our brains can sense stimuli closer to us with more efficiency than farther away. So, excellent scanners look far first, then look near so they can be the most efficient while taking in important information. When retrieving the puck, look to the secondary layers first, then the primary layers to make the most out of every play. 

When do I scan?

Scan when the puck is on a known trajectory/location: 

Players have seen the same passes, wraps, chips, and flips thousands of times in their careers. They know that a wrapped puck will careen around the boards, sticking to the base board until it is touched by a stick or a skate. Therefore, if the puck inevitably end up in a predictable spot, the player does not need to watch it all the way. Instead, the player can use the time it takes to get to its end-point to skate there and scan the ice at the same time. This is especially important for players who are getting pinched along the wall in the defensive zone. 

Scan before exiting turn: 

In many puck retrievals, players will be wholly focused on establishing puck position and turning up the ice to initiate an offensive sequence. If players practice their puck retrieval and change-of-direction skills enough, they will be able to use that time to multitask establishing possession, turning up ice, and scanning to take in more information sooner. This also threatens more options which will force forecheckers to hesitate. 

Scan during puck battles: 

Even in an NHL game, the puck is along the boards on average for over 85% of the game. This means that puck battles, also known as scrums, are a frequent and important part of the game. In a typical puck battle, players are jockeying for body position and fighting to control the puck. The puck can be stuck in the scrum because of skates, sticks, the wall, and even bodies on the ice. This is a great time for players to do extra scans up the wall, down the wall, and in the middle of the ice. When the player is able to exit the scrum with possession, they will have more information about how to position their body and the puck to initiate or add to an offensive sequence. 

How to practice scanning? 

Off the ice, scanning can be an everyday habit when walking around school, home, the street, or at the rink. Moving in one direction and looking around, especially when using one's hands to pass items or accomplish simple tasks, can help make scanning on the ice easier to establish as a habit. Also, purposefully scanning during dryland training like sprinting, ladders, pushups, and sit ups will help make important connections for the brain. 

On the ice, especially during practice, check over your shoulders before retrieving every puck even when there is no pressure; practice scanning before you come out of your turns even in a skill drill without additional choices to make; and practice looking around the ice while a pass or a wrap is coming your way (known trajectory). 

When we practice these habits and know why they are effective and important, we will be able to see more information on the ice and make quicker, more creative, and more effective decisions with the puck. 

Please reach out to marty.rubin@sjha.com if you have questions!