The first touch off the wall can determine the entire possession.

Wall pickups happen constantly throughout a game. Rims, chips, reverses, breakouts and loose pucks all require players to collect pucks cleanly along the boards while processing pressure around them.

The best players don't simply retrieve the puck. They scan before the puck arrives, understand where pressure is coming from, collect it in stride and use their first touch to create the next play.

Working on wall pickups develops:

• Pre-puck awareness and scanning
• Clean forehand and backhand collections
• Body and feet positioning
• Maintaining speed through the pickup
• Puck protection and deception
• The ability to get off the wall and attack space

At higher levels, there isn't much time after possession is established. A clean pickup can create the extra half-second needed to escape pressure, find support or turn a routine rim into offense.

Scan. Collect. Get off the wall. Make the next play.