Skating

4 Dot Skating Drills

PURPOSE

Technical skating working on balance, edge control, controlling/gaining speed, and transitions.

HOW TO

Use 4 dots to work on skating. Can also use 4 cones to adjust spacing of drill.

VARIATIONS

Always forward and working around the dots. Skate to the first dot and power turn from the inside out focusing on edge drive of the inside skate, leading with the head and hands. Proceed to next dot in same manner. After a few, switch to go the other direction.
Always backwards working around the dots. Skate backwards to the first dot and power turn from the inside out, focusing on edge drive, crossing out to gain/maintain speed, leading with the hip and head. Proceed to next dot in same manner. After a few, switch to go the other direction.
Forward to backward transition working around the dots. Skate forward to first dot and transition from the inside of the dot to backwards and then quick stepping out (opening up, mini-mohawk) to lead to next dot. Proceed to next dot in same manner. After a few, switch to go the other direction.
Backward to forward transition working around the dots. Skate forward to the first dot, quick transition to forward with mini-mowhak, the transition back to backwards with a cross over – essentially always facing the dot your are transitioning around. Proceed to next dot in same manner. After a few, switch to go the other direction.
Forward starts and stops in a ray pattern. Skate out to first dot, stop, come back. Repeat to far corner dot, then dot at 90 degrees from start.
Backwards starts and stops in a ray pattern. Skate out to first dot, stop, come back. Repeat to far corner dot, then dot at 90 degrees from start. Players will want to transition and take a few steps forward before transition back to backwards. This drill is to help build muscle memory and quick cross-unders to make the 180 turn. This is an advanced variation for many skaters.
Forwards to backwards starts and stops. Skate out to first dot, stop, come back. Repeat to far corner dot, then dot at 90 degrees from start. Focus on the cross under to get from F to B and good T-stop position to drive out of the backwards stop.
Backwards to forwards starts and stops. Skate out to first dot, stop, come back. Repeat to far corner dot, then dot at 90 degrees from start. Focus on the cross under to get from F to B and good T-stop position to drive out of the backwards stop. This may look/feel the same as the above, but you’d be surprised how many players struggle with this once they start backwards.

FOCUS

Balance
Edge control
Proper body position to set themselves up for the next move
Crossing over vs crossing under.

Gretzky Curl

PURPOSE

This technical skill is great for building hockey sense around finding and creating space and using your options.

HOW TO

Player 1 at half board and player 2 at center ice. Player 1 starts with puck, loops out of zone. At the same time, 2 retreats a little, and receives pass from 1.
1 continues through neutral zone while 2 makes a short step out to the opposite direction creating a better passing lane.
1 carries puck low and wheels around face off circle while 2 drive to the high slot. 1 passes to 2 for the shot.
1 skates around the bottom of the other circle, opens up and gets a breakout pass from the coach, while 2 loops through the high part of the circle, transitions to backwards.
1 and 2 pass back and forth till the blue line.
1 curls inside and heads to the net, 2 transitions board side and passes to 1 for the shot in the slot.

FOCUS

Getting open and being a good passing option
Clean, crisp passing since there is no pressure

Half Ice Mirror 1v1

PURPOSE

This drill works on technical skating while also reinforcing concepts of stick mirroring and defensive containment.

SKILLS

Skating – edges, crossovers, transitions
Puck handling
1v1 and body containment

HOW TO

Players start in corner. First corner skates with puck forward around the outside of the first circle and inside the second circle.
Second player will mirror them with keeping their chest facing forward/toward player 1. So, they will skate forward on the inside of the first circle, transition to backwards to the second and transition back to forward outside the second circle.
Player 1 transitions to backwards at the hash mark to face player 2. Two players pass back and forth to the blue line.
Player 1 transitions back to forwards, Player to to backwards and two players go 1v1 to the net.

Bull In The Ring

PURPOSE

V1 is a body contact drill as well as a skating/edge drill. V2 is much more about power drive and edge work.

SKILLS

Good body position
Balance
Strength and edge control
Competition

HOW TO

Two players enter a face off circle
On go or whistle, they sumo-style battle each other to try to push the other out of the circle
Allow players a minute or two and if it is a stale mate, swap out for the next pair

Three pucks on the edge of the circle in a triangle, 3 players inside a bit rope ring.
On go or whistle, all three players have to tug of war against the other 3 to get to their puck first

FOCUS

Getting low and into their edges with knees bent and chest up. This is critical for edge drive and safety in both variations

VARIATIONS

V1: Add cones that the players have to touch. They score a point for their team for each one and they must touch the one opposite from them. This teaches not only body contact, but containing space and heads up hockey sense – do you attack for the cone or play defense?
V2: Have the players in the ring tag the hand of a teammate. This can be safer, but also opens doors for cheating so make sure the players stay outside the circle.

For skaters, this is a quick shooting, rebounding and skating drill with ample opportunities for variations. For goalies, this is a great drill for tracking movement coming from the corners, working on post lock-ups (and recovering to/from posts), and controlling/tracking rebounds.

SKILLS

Passing in transition mimicking board play in OZC and PP/PK situations
Working on net-front presence for a quick scoring opportunity
For goalies, working on post lock and drive situations

HOW TO

Player 1 starts backwards and passes to next player in line (2) and gets puck back. They transition to forwards around cone between blue and top of circle, drives to high slot for shot.
Then player 1 gets in position to rebound for player 2’s shot.
Immediately after player 1 shoots, player 2 starts backwards passing to next person in line (3), receives puck back, transitions to forwards around middle cone, then drives net to shoot.
Player 2 then goes to the front to rebound for 3.
Immediately after the shot, player 3 drives around low cone and either shoots or passes to one of the players in front.
Goalie should focus on tracking puck through shot and quick game-like recovery back to their post to track the next shot.

FOCUS

Player 1 should look to take a mid-range shot, not drive too low or look to deke the goalie out of their pads. This is a shooting drill not a stick handling/deke drill!
Player 2 needs to focus on the shot, not look for the backside read. They are looking to either score on their SHOT (again, not a deke drill) or create a juicy rebound.
Player 3 is looking for options. If the goalie gives short side by cheating to the slot, then take that shot, otherwise look for the options out front. Emphasize with players to not be selfish, even though that short side, top shelf goal may look pretty.
For goalies, post lock ups and recovery is the focus. Be sure to pace the drill correctly so that goalies can get back to their post between reps. This is as much a player shooting drill as it is a goalie drill.

VARIATIONS

Add a rebounder for player 1 to work on adjusting the shooting angle in the slot.
Add a defender
For goalies, have them only use certain save selections or movements like butterfly slides, lateral adjusts, or stay on feet 100%.

Double Regroup

PURPOSE

Work on regrouping patterns with D, creating and managing space through movement, and entering the zone with speed.

SKILLS

Passing in motion and opening up to receive a pass in motion
Regrouping with defense
Being creative but controlled in the neutral zone
2v2 play

HOW TO

Players split into 4 groups – one at each blue line. Two D set up just inside each zone. Pucks at 1 & 3 (or where coaches designate).
On whistle 1& 2 skate towards opposite D, 1 makes the pass to the near D who swings to the other D. 1 & 2 “loop” to re-group and head to the other end.
Second D makes a decision on who is best option to receive puck on the re-group. Once forward (1 or 2) receives puck they head toward the other set of D and repeat.
After the second re-group, they go in 2v2 to the other end.

FOCUS

Creating good passes and good passing lanes.

Encourage the D to pass to the player with the best speed, passing angle and stick target. If they need to swing a second time, they can.

VARIATIONS

Have both sides go at the same time to create confusion and have to pick heads up to read their play.
Have D change gaps by moving forward or backward in the zone, switching sides, or not swinging the puck.
Have forwards post up instead of crossing loops

Neutral Zone Angling 2v2

PURPOSE

Quick up to 2v2 focusing on reading play and angling players wide to prevent shot.

SKILLS

Transitional Rush
Angling and attack-zone defense recognition

HOW TO

**Drill will be run out of both sides, but only illustrated on one to ease diagram confusion.**

Groups of players at boards. For this purpose, A will be on offense and B will be on defense. Have all players run both offensively and defensively. Coach in the zone on the same side near the has marks.
On whistle, players drive towards the opposite zone and coach plays puck to one of the A players. They turn up ice. B players transition to defense. Play goes into zone nearest where they started.
On next whistle, play begins from the other side.

FOCUS

Good passing angles
Speed and movement through neutral zone
Not being selfish with the puck but taking the lane or shot if they have it
Defensively, angling to force players wide an deep to turn over or reduced shot angle

VARIATIONS

Change the number of players – 3v3, 3v2, 1v2, 1v1, etc.
Add additional rules like passing limits or location of shots

Advanced Escape Wheel

PURPOSE

Extend principles of the escape wheel and build on escape skating and stick handling skills. This is a great drill for building power play wall technique and low zone cycling.

SKILLS

Power skating
Cycling
Board work to create space
Quick shooting

HOW TO

Three players start in the neutral zone.

Coach throws puck into corner.

Player 1 retrieves the puck. Player 2 reads, delays, and supports in the corner, player 3 becomes defender in the circle.

Player 1 runs normal pattern as Escape Wheel – skates to top of circle, hits breaks, goes back down wall, power turns towards boards shielding puck and then goes back around circle. Player 1 has option to bump off boards to player in the corner or carry around the top of the circle for a high give ‘n’ go.

Even though player 2 is not an engaged player initially, they need to keep themselves an option, supporting the puck carrier and calling for the bump if the defender is pushing high, or shifting passing angle to be a better option if they carry.

Player 2 passes back to player 1 for the shot.

FOCUS

Quick passes and movement
Reading and timing plays
Defensively, it works on deciding when then attack and when to gap and contain.

Continuous Breakout/Forecheck

PURPOSE

Simulate breakout with pressure and line change.

HOW TO

This looks more confusing than it is and is really just a variation of a 5v3/3v2 breakout drill.

A pair of D and a line of forwards line up on one blue line (A) with another line of forwards (B) a few feet back. Another set of D are ready on the opposite blue. Remaining players (C) on boards out of the way.
Puck is dumped into the zone. For this illustration it is put into the left corner.
D retreats and group A sets up for breakout while group B forechecks them. The goal is for group A to break out and gain the red line. Group B will back check with minimal pressure to the neutral zone.
If group B gains possession, they can try to score. If they score or the puck is covered, reset and do it again.
Once group A gains the red, they will dump the puck into the other zone and head to the boards.
Group B now becomes the break out group and group C will come in for the forecheck from the boards and continue the pattern the other way.

FOCUS

Accurate passing on the breakout

Proper breakout and DZC coverage positions

Low on boards, curling to create and contain space

2 per zone (2 on the puck) funneling outside in for the forecheck

VARIATIONS

There are unlimited variations depending on creativity and skill level of the team. You can leave the breakout options open, or tell them they have to use a strong/weak side board, center curl, D give N go, reverse behind net, etc.

Shield Drill

PURPOSE

Stick handling drill to work on shielding the puck from an opponent and adjusting shooting angle of a deflection or quick pass

HOW TO

Players start in corner with puck.
Skate up and around each of the cones, shielding away from the cone with their body as if it were a defender
After the third cone, player makes pass off rebounder, adjusts shooting angle, and takes quick shot
Adjusting shooting angle: opening up to shot, quickly moving from backhand to forehand or vice versa, etc.
Repeat on other side

FOCUS

Puck protection! The players may have an innate want to just skate around the cones like a normal weave. Really try to get them to draw the puck wide, lean in and shield with the body
Off rebounder, try to make sure it is a quick corral of the puck and shot. The rebounder should function like a tip off skates or even rebound in the slot. They should not corral the puck then skate way around – corral, pull, shoot.

VARIATIONS

Add in players instead of cones so there is a more realistic “defender” to shield
Add in a player or coach to pass with
Change depth of cones or angle of rebounder