Why balance is so important?  

Obviously, you need to have good balance to be able to perform well at any sport.  Balance is one of those things that most people just take for granted.  But, when balance goes on you it becomes a big problem fast!  Have you ever seen and elderly person who needs to hold on to everything around then and watch their feet just to walk in a straight line?  In fact, falling is one of the biggest safety hazards for the elderly because their balance starts to go on them. 

Just like the elderly, falling is a safety hazard for athletes.  Balance helps to stay upright and navigate your body around obstacles in your way (ie., other players).  Training yourself to have good balance helps to immunize your from body checks and other parts of the game that might push you off your feet.  Strong balance equates to strong performance.  Doing specific drills can improve your balance quickly.