Below are a few key tips that will provide you a head start. To add to or improve upon the advice on this page, let us know. We are keen for instructions on how to produce the perfect, accurate slap shot!

Like any sport, you may enjoy it, you may want to play and you may even know how to play, but all that will be wasted if you face any form of psychological barrier to achieving your true potential. The solution to this threat is not to become too concerned about the ability of those around you. Even the very best player can become intimidated knowing they are playing with or against better players. So if you're a rookie, worrying about other better players can be devastating. As they say in the US of A, just believe in yourself and be the best you can be.

Whether it is ice or inline, the most important skill to learn is skating. If you can skate well, everything else will become second nature and your game will be less of a struggle. Skate as much as you can. Skate to work, skate to the video store and skate to hockey! There is no better incentive to force you to make that quick curve than speeding along the pavement only to have an old lady jump out in front of you - Chihuahua in tow.

There are pre-recorded videos featuring professional skaters available from some high street and online skate shops.

Next priority is to be aware of your environment. This is not just to avoid cars, old ladies and lamp posts when on the street but know the position of other players when on the rink. Good hockey players will constantly rotate (skate around) to maintain a good flow and make it harder for the opposition to block them. By keeping your head up you can 'track' your fellow players and ensure you provide a well timed accurate pass or be ready to receive.

Getting the puck or ball to move a long way is easy. Getting it to arrive where you want is not, in particular if you try too hard. Let your instinctive brain do the work, that's what the remaining unused 90% of it is for. If you have ever been mountain biking and cycled along a 10 inch wide path wrapped around the side of a steep hill, you may have been trained to keep your eyes on the path ahead and not to look left or right. The reason is that your brain will automatically ensure you steer your bike where you are looking. And as long as that is not down a 200 foot ravine, you'll stay on the path. Try it! It is the same with passing and shooting in hockey. As long as you have learned how to skate and hold your stick, then keeping your eye on the target - whether it's the curve of your team mates stick blade or that small exposed gap between the goalies leg and the post - you stand a greater chance of making a good shot.

A controversial technique practiced by some athletes and sports stars in the US. It is best to simply search the web to learn more about this subject, but the crux is to close your eyes, relax and visualize your various 'plays' before applying them. Of course, you will need to react instinctively to upsets in your planning - such as being intercepted by an opposing player. There is a direct link between confidence and visualisation.

Like anything, the only way you will get better is to play a lot. Hockey can be expensive, so if you have made that investment in gear, you may as well make it pay off and have fun at the same time.

• Contact the qualified instructors listed on the Links page
• Visit the NHL clinic.
• Watch plenty of ice hockey live or on TV