Hockey Skating Drills

A hockey game will likely have these common elements: players cover gaps defensively, race to loose pucks, and make bold offensive plays. What powers each of these movements? Skating.

Skating is the foundation behind hockey. Players who skate well can move with agility to close gaps, accelerate faster to reach loose pucks, and change directions seamlessly to create offensive play opportunities.

This blog covers hockey skating drills that improve speed, agility, endurance, and power. Each drill is simple for coaches to set up and straightforward for players of all ages & skill levels to follow. Let’s dive in! 

Power Skating Drills

Push & Glide

Set up:

• Line up 8 players on the goal line.

• Players will start in an athletic stance- knees bent, chest slightly forward, weight centred over the balls of feet.

Execution:

• On your whistle, players will skate to the opposite goal line.

• Starting on one side, players use the inside edge of their skate to push off sideways, fully extending their leg for maximum power.

• After each push, players shift their full body weight onto the glide skate (aka the opposite skate), keeping the gliding knee bent & stable.

• Upon gliding for a few seconds, players bring the pushing skate beneath their hips and prepare the opposite leg for the next push.

Tip: Push wide, glide long is the motto here!

Start & Stop

Set up:

• Line up 8-10 cones along the length of your ice.

• Depending on your preference, 2-3 stations can be set up.

• Divide up your players, having them form single-file lines behind the goal line.

• *Before taking their turn, the first player in each line will begin in an athletic stance: knees bent, chest slightly forward, weight centred over the balls of feet.

Execution:

• On your whistle, the first player in each line explodes forward, powerfully pushing off the outside edges of their skates.

• Players will execute powerful strides (while staying low with bent knees) toward the first cone.

• At the cone, players will stop and hold until the next whistle.

• The next player in each line gets into an athletic stance, ready to skate to the first cone on your whistle. 

• Repeat this start & stop cycle until every player has completed two laps.

Tip: This drill focuses on a combination of power & speed. Players should aim to reach the next cone quickly, but execute long & strong strides (over choppy ones) for maximum power.

Acceleration Skating Drills

 
Time-Interval Sprints

Set up:

• Set up three cones along the width of the ice, spaced evenly apart.

• Depending on your space/preference, 6-8 stations can be set up.

• Divide up your players equally among the stations.

• *Before taking their turn, players will begin in an athletic stance- knees bent, chest slightly forward, weight centred over balls of feet.

Execution:

• On your whistle, the first player in each line will skate at 50% speed to the first pylon.

• On your next whistle, players will skate at 75% speed to the second pylon, stop and wait, and then sprint at full speed to the last pylon.

• After the first player has completed each sprint, the next player will take their turn.

Tips:

• 50% speed- Focus on long & smooth strides. Keep arms moving naturally;

• 75% speed- Increase stride frequency and power (aka push through the outside edge). Lean slightly forward to engage glutes & quads for more speed.

• 100% speed- Explode off every stride, pump arms with intensity, maintain a strong forward lean, and stay low.

Figure 8 Skating

Set up:

• Use cones to set up a ‘Figure 8’ pattern on each half of the ice along the faceoff circles.

• Divide up players and have them form a single-file line just outside the blue lines at the center of the faceoff circles.

Execution:

• On your whistle, the first player in each line will skate in a Figure 8 pattern through the cones.

• *As the objective of this drill is speed, players should aim for short & quick strides through the turns and push explosively off the outside edge through the straight sections.

• Once they return to their starting position, they will return to the back of the line.

• The next player will take their turn.
  

Conditioning Skating Drills

Circle Endurance

Set up:

• Divide up players equally among the 4 faceoff circles.

• Players will form a single-file line just outside each circle.

Execution:

• On your whistle, the first player in line will take their turn.

• Each turn will last 1–2 minutes. However, at any time, you will call out a direction for them to follow.

  • Forward/backward crossovers

  • Inside/outside edgework

  • Forward/backward transition – players will skate half circle forward, open up & pivot backwards to skate the 2nd half 

Skating Tag

Set up:

• Line up 6-8 players along the goal line.

• Have 3 designated “taggers” on & in between the faceoff circles.

• For beginner levels: No equipment needed

• For advanced to intermediate levels: Each player will have a puck and a stick.

Execution:

• On your whistle, players will begin skating to the opposite goal line while staying away from the taggers.

• If a player is tagged, they will skate off the ice.

• *Assign a time limit to this drill of 45-60 seconds to keep it more challenging. This will make skaters/taggers skate with more speed and power.

Agility Skating Drills

Crossover circle

Set up:

• Divide up players equally among the 4 faceoff circles.

• Players will form a single-file line just outside each circle.

Execution:

• On your whistle, the first player in line will begin gliding on the outside edge of the skate for ¾ of the circle. On the last ¼ of the circle, the player will perform crossovers.

• *When the player performs the drill again, they will start by gliding on the inside edge of their skate.

• Players will alternate between inside and outside edges until the whistle signals a change (approximately 1 minute).

Single Skate Weave

Set up:

• Line up pylons in a straight line.

• Each pylon should be 6-8 feet apart for advanced players and 8-10 feet apart for beginner players.

• Set up two stations along the length of the ice & divide your players between the stations.

Execution:

• Starting on their left leg, the first player in each line will glide on the inside and outside edges of their skates to weave between pylons.

• After reaching the end of the pylons, they will turn and repeat the weave using their right leg.

Looking For an Easier Way to Evaluate Hockey Players?

Using SkillShark, you can easily score hockey players on your smartphone or tablet. Once your evaluation is complete, instantly gain access to player reports. Review player data and draft teams on the same day!