Bandy Training Tips for Aspiring Players

Start on the ice three times a week. Focus on what actually moves the ball forward in games instead of copying highlight reels.

Skating comes first

Good bandy players win most battles because they arrive at the puck or ball a split second earlier. Build that edge with short, repeated skating drills.

• Do 8 laps of the rink at 70 percent speed, then rest 60 seconds. Repeat four times.
• Practice tight turns around cones placed 5 meters apart. Keep your knees bent and push off the inside edge.
• Skate backward for two full lengths after every forward set. Most new players skip this and get burned in matches.

One player I trained with added 15 minutes of edge work before every session. Within six weeks he started winning 1-on-1 duels he used to lose.

Ball and stick work

Once your skating feels steady, add the ball. Keep sessions short so you stay sharp.

1. Stand 3 meters from a wall and pass the ball against it for 3 minutes straight. Focus on quick releases, not power.
2. Then move to 6 meters and mix in one-touch returns. Count how many clean touches you get in a row.
3. Finish with 20 shots from the top of the circle. Aim for the bottom corners only.

Day	Focus	Time
Monday	Skating + wall passes	45 min
Wednesday	Turns + one-touch	50 min
Friday	Full ice with shots	60 min

Track your clean touches each session. When the number stops rising, add a defender or increase speed.

The Role of Bandy in Asian Winter Games History

Bandy entered the Asian Winter Games as a team sport that uses a ball and sticks on large ice surfaces. It gives countries with strong hockey traditions another way to compete. You see it most often when the host nation already has rinks and clubs in place.

When Bandy First Appeared

The sport joined the program in 2011 at the Astana-Almaty Games in Kazakhstan. Organizers added it to fill out the schedule with an outdoor team event that fits cold climates. Since then it has returned only when the host can supply proper bandy fields.

Earlier editions focused on skiing and skating. Adding bandy shifted the mix toward games that need bigger team rosters and longer matches.

Countries That Have Taken Part

Kazakhstan fields the strongest side most years because many players come from established clubs in Almaty and Astana. Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan send smaller squads that rely on speed and quick passes rather than set plays.

• 2011: Kazakhstan won gold after beating Mongolia in the final.
• 2017: Kazakhstan defended the title on home ice again.
• Other nations such as China and Japan have sent observers but have not yet entered full teams.

How Matches Are Run

Games last two 45-minute halves on a field close to soccer size. Eleven players per side move a small ball with curved sticks. Referees stop play only for fouls or when the ball leaves the ice.

Teams warm up on the same surface they use for the match, so conditions stay consistent. You notice fewer substitutions than in ice hockey because the larger rink lets players spread out and recover while still moving.

Year	Gold	Silver
2011	Kazakhstan	Mongolia
2017	Kazakhstan	Kyrgyzstan

Keeping Track of Future Events

Check the official Asian Winter Games site two months before opening ceremonies for the exact bandy schedule. Local federations in Kazakhstan often post live streams on their own channels.

1. Look for the bandy section under team sports.
2. Note which days include the group stage and knockout rounds.
3. Follow the national bandy federation accounts for score updates during matches.