Skating is the backbone of hockey. Whether chasing down a puck, defending your zone, or going for a breakaway goal, the quicker and smoother you can move on the ice, the greater an advantage you realize yourself. If you really want to become a decent skater, you will, however, want to include drills that focus on building speed, agility, and precision control. In this article, we are going to cover some of the best hockey drills to help you improve your skating, particularly in terms of edgework, crossovers, and other pointers.
Why Speed and Agility Even Matter?
Prior to talking about the drills, let's consider why it is so important to be speedy and agile in hockey. Fast skaters can beat opponents, create scoring opportunities, or recover in defense quickly. Especially, agility allows players to accelerate in either direction, avoid checks, or maintain buoyancy on tight turns. All of this, when integrated, provides such players with an advantage on the ice.
Improving your skating is thus never just about top-end speed; it is more about movement control, quick reaction to the play developed on the other side, and balance of the skater in tight situations. The right sort of hockey drills will contribute toward enhancing your game and turning you into a better player.
Drill 1: Forward Sprints for Speed
Despite being one of the simplest hockey drills, forward sprints are very effective in enhancing speed: this drill aims at developing explosive power and quick acceleration.
How to do it:
Stand still at one end of the rink.
Skate as hard as you can to the other end, concentrating on powerful strides.
Rest for 30 seconds, repeat.
5-10 sprints in one session.
Tip: Bend the knees and aim for long strides for maximum power. This drill builds not only speed but also endurance training.
Why it works: Forward sprints simulate the quick bursts of speed used in games, for example, chasing a loose puck or breaking away from defenders. Doing these kinds of drills consistently develops that burst of explosive power that you can draw upon to overpower your opponent in skating.
Drill 2: Edgework Drills for Agility
Edgework is the act of positioning the edges of one's skates with the aim of movement control. Once mastered, edgework will allow for much higher agility and balance in a skater.
How to Do It:
Skate in a straight line, then practice shifting your weight to one edge of your skate.
Lean inwardly on your edges to aid you in making sharp turns.
Practice skating a figure 8, using your edges to pivot smoothly.
Tip: Start with a snail's pace, concentrating on the drill's quality. Improve your speed as you get the hang of it. This drill is great for the development of your crisis curbside and the ability to change directions in a hurry.
Why: This will help improve edgework control and allow you to perform sharp turns and cuts without losing your balance. This will really help you when you have that defender coming at you at high speed or when you're skating through traffic on the ice.
Drill 3: Crossovers for Speed and Control
Crossovers are an essential ability for maintaining speed while turning. They allow you to build velocity and maintain balance throughout abrupt curves.
Skate around the face-off circles, crossing one foot over the other as you make each spin.
Keep your knees bent and your upper body stable.
Alternate directions to practice both left and right turns.
Tip: Use your arms to maintain balance and generate power. This drill is ideal for increasing your speed and control around tight curves.
Why It Works: Crossovers are necessary for keeping momentum during turns, which is important for both offensive and defensive plays. By doing this drill, you'll gain confidence and efficiency when turning at fast speeds.
Drill 4: Cone Weaving for Agility
Cone weaving is a classic hockey drill that enhances agility and quickness. It's especially useful for forwards and defensemen who need to navigate through traffic.
How to Do It:
Set up 5-10 cones in a straight line, spaced about 10 feet apart.
Skate through the cones, weaving in and out as quickly as possible.
Focus on tight turns and quick footwork.
Tip: To imitate game circumstances, keep your head up and place your stick on the ice. This workout improves your ability to sidestep opponents while keeping possession of the puck.
Why it works: Cone weaving requires swift, controlled movements, which transfers directly into gaming conditions. It's an excellent approach to boost your ability to move through tight spaces and avoid checks.
Drill 5: Backward Skating for Defensive Agility
Backward skating is crucial for defensemen, but it's also a valuable skill for all players. This drill focuses on improving speed and agility while moving backward.
How to Do It:
Start at one end of the rink and skate backward to the other end.
Use crossovers to turn while moving backward.
Practice quick stops and starts to simulate defensive plays.
Tip: To stay in balance, have your weight centered and knees bent. This exercise is beneficial to enhance defensive agility.
How it works: Defensemen need powerful backward skating abilities, but forwards who must backcheck or quickly transition are aided by them, too. This drill enables you to walk securely in any direction.
Drill 6: Lateral Shuffles for Quick Direction Changes
Lateral shuffles are a great way to improve your side-to-side agility, which is crucial for avoiding checks and staying in position.
How to Do It:
Start in a low stance with your knees bent.
Shuffle sideways across the ice, keeping your feet close together.
Alternate directions and increase your speed as you get more comfortable.
Tip: Focus on quick, controlled movements. This drill is excellent for improving your ability to react quickly to plays.
Why It Works: Lateral shuffles help you develop the quick, precise movements needed to stay in position and react to plays. This is especially important for defensemen and players in penalty-killing situations.
Drill 7: Puck Control at Speed
Combining skating with puck control is a must for any hockey player. This drill helps you maintain control of the puck while moving at high speed.
How to Do It:
Skate across the rink and stickhandle the puck from side to side.
Try making it just a bit harder by adding cones or a defender.
When conducting this drill, remember to keep your head up and work on smoothing your movements.
Tip: Change up the speeds at which you perform the drill. It will enable you to develop control in different game situations.
Why It Works: Puck control at speed is critical for creating scoring chances and keeping possession of the puck. Hence, this drill develops coordination for quick yet effective puck handling between movements.
Drill 8: Stop-and-Go for Explosive Speed
A change of pace and speed is a game-changer in hockey. This drill is done to develop a win-the-competition type of explosive speed.
How to Do It:
Skate ahead slowly, and then stop short using a hockey stop.
Immediately push off to full speed.
Once again, alternate between stops and starts.
Tip: Always use your edges to stop suddenly and with control. This technique should help you hone the skills required for quick reactions to plays and changes of direction.
Why It Works: These drills mimic the quick direction changes during a game. Drilling this will enhance your reaction speed and control on high-speed plays.
Conclusion
It is about practice and being patient to get better at skating, but having the right hockey drills will really assist you. By adding these exercises to your training regimen, you will become a more confident, faster, and more agile skater. If you are practicing edgework, crossovers, or backward skating, each drill gets you closer to mastering the ice. Lace up your skates, get on the ice, and start practicing—your game will be awesome! Keep in mind that consistency is the key. Spending time doing these hockey drills regularly will result in tremendous gains in your speed, agility, and overall game. As a new player or an older player, these drills will take you to the next level.
