Dual-Blade Stickhandling Tool with Adjustable Cross Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Young hockey players face challenges in stickhandling due to a tendency to focus on the puck rather than maintaining control of their body and awareness of surroundings, which is exacerbated by the complexity of multitasking in hockey games.
Innovation Solution
A stickhandling tool comprising two hockey stick blades connected by a structural part with a cross member that defines a ball or puck receiving cavity, allowing for improved control and awareness by securing the tool to a hockey stick and varying the lateral separation distance between the blades for different configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional stickhandling training aids (pucks tethered by strap, devices mounting to blade) are used, then players can practice stickhandling, but players still tend to focus on the puck rather than maintaining body control and situational awareness
Solution Approach 1:
The training device segments the stickhandling practice into two distinct components: the primary hockey stick blade for controlled manipulation, and a secondary parallel blade that serves as a visual reference. This segmentation allows the player to focus on the puck with one blade while using the other blade's position as a spatial marker, thereby maintaining both stickhandling control and situational awareness simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The parallel blade acts as an intermediary element between the player and the environment. It provides a visual reference that mediates the player's spatial awareness without directly interfering with puck control. The blade serves as a mediator that helps the player maintain body orientation and situational awareness while focusing attention on the puck.
2Ease of manufacture
If fixed configuration training aids are used, then setup is simple, but they cannot adapt to various user sizes and skill levels
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates adjustable spacing mechanisms that allow the distance between the primary blade and parallel blade to be dynamically changed. This enables the training aid to adapt to players of different sizes and skill levels, while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that does not require complex manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The lateral separation distance between the blades can be varied as a key parameter to accommodate different user needs. By changing this geometric parameter, the device adapts to various player sizes and skill levels without requiring fundamental redesign or complex manufacturing processes.
3Reliability
If complex training drills are used to improve stickhandling, then skill development is comprehensive, but the complexity of multitasking in hockey games is exacerbated
Solution Approach 1:
The device extracts the essential element of spatial awareness from complex multitasking drills and isolates it as a separate, manageable training component. By providing a visual reference through the parallel blade, it separates the cognitive load of spatial orientation from puck manipulation, allowing players to practice stickhandling without being overwhelmed by the full complexity of game-like multitasking.
Data Source
AI summary
A stickhandling tool has a first hockey stick blade, a second hockey stick blade, and a structural part with a cross member that connects to and laterally separates the first hockey stick blade and the second hockey stick blade to define a ball or puck receiving cavity between the first hockey stick blade and the second hockey stick blade.