10 Best Hockey Drills for Your Next Tryout

1. Analyze an athlete's strengths & weaknesses

2. Identify new talent

3. Understand players' skill level

These are just a few of the many reasons hockey tryouts take place, and with every tryout comes a series of hockey drills that coaches need to run.

This blog outlines the 10 best hockey tryout drills to evaluate your players, whether you are a Little League or high school coach. Covering the core skills from passing to tackling, these drills will provide you with the insights needed for making team placement decisions.

How to Run Successful Hockey Tryouts

Hosting a successful hockey tryout starts well ahead of time, long before players step onto the ice. Here are some tips below:

1. Plan Ahead: Set tryout dates, drills, and evaluator assignments at least 2–3 weeks in advance.

2. Set Evaluation Criteria: Use standardized scoring sheets or apps like SkillShark to ensure consistent feedback and objectivity.

3. Use Position-Specific Drills: Craft drills for tackling, passing, and catching.

4. Prioritize Safety and Flow: Set up stations ahead of time to avoid dead time and ensure proper spacing between drills.

5. Provide Feedback: Discuss with your team ahead of time the best method(s) for providing athlete feedback (to both players and parents).
   

Hockey Goalie Drills

1. Butterfly Drill

• The goalie will start standing in the center of the net.

• Drop down to the butterfly position.

• T-push to the right side (while in the butterfly position).

• Stand up and skate over to the center.

• Repeat for 10-15 reps, alternating sides each time.

2. T-Push Drill

• The goalie will start by standing beside the left post.

• T-push forward to the center of the crease (in a diagonal line).

• T-push backward to the right post (in a diagonal line).

• Repeat for 20-25 reps, alternating starting from the left and right posts.

Note: This T-push drill will be in the triangle formation.

Hockey Shooting Drills

3. Around-the-Cone & Shoot

Set up: Place two cones 2 inches behind the blue line, spaced 6 feet apart.

Execution:

• Position 6-8 players in a single-file line behind each cone.

• Player 1 skates in a clockwise circle around the cone and toward the goal.

• As Player 1 is nearing the net, Player 2 passes the puck to Player 1.

• Player 1 receives the puck and shoots.

• Player 1 goes to the back of the line (on the opposite side).

• Player 2 now skates around the cone. Player 3 will pass the puck to them as Player 2 approaches the net.

• Player 2 receives the puck and shoots.

• Rotate through players, running through this drill for 6-8 minutes.
  

Around-the-Cone & Shoot Drill

4. 3-Shot Drill

Setup: 3 players will stand in a single-file line in one corner of the ice.

Execution:

• Each player will take turns skating the outlined route and attempt to make a shot.

• After those 3 players have performed the drill, swap out with 3 new players (until everyone has had at least three turns).
  

3-Shot Drill

Hockey Skating Drills

5. Overspeed Drill

Setup: Have 3 players line up on one corner of the ice in a single-file line.

Execution:

• On the coach's whistle, Player 1 will skate the outlined route with a speed starting at 75% and then increasing their speed to 100%

• Player 2 and Player 3 will follow the designated route after.

• After the first 3 players complete the drill, rotate in 3 new players.

• Run the drill until each player has had at least 3 turns.

Overspeed Drill

6. Figure 8

Set up:

• Place two pylons about 6 feet apart from each other.

• Set up two of these stations on the ice.

• To start, one player will be placed at each station.

Execution:

• Progression #1: Players will skate with both legs (inside edge).

• Progression #2: Players will skate with their right leg only, transitioning from the inside edge to the outside edge.

• Progression #3: Players will repeat progression #2 on the left leg only.

• After both players have done all 3 progressions, rotate in the next 2 players (until everyone has had a turn).

Figure 8 Drill

Hockey Defense Drills

7. Backwards Crossovers

Set up: 

• Set up two pylons on opposite ends of the ice, about 3 feet away from the boards.

• To begin, have players line up in a single-file line behind one pylon.

Execution:

• Player 1 starts facing the boards, pushes off with the toe of their left skate, and skates backward.

• As they are skating backwards, Player 1 will cross their left foot over their right foot and glide in that position for 2-3 seconds.

• Player 1 uncrosses their left foot and quickly crosses their right foot over, gliding in that position for 2-3 seconds.

• They will repeat this process across the ice, alternating the cross-over foot each time.

• The next player will run through this drill until each player has had one turn.

8. Backwards Edge Work

Set up:

• Set up two pylons on opposite ends of the ice, about 3 feet away from the boards.

• 3 players will start on one end of the ice, about 12 feet apart from one another, facing the boards.

Execution:

• Starting on their left foot, all three players will use the inside and outside edges of their skates to generate momentum and power while skating backward.

• While focusing on edge work, players will simultaneously work on stick handling, transferring the puck from the exterior to the interior of their sticks.

• Once players reach the end of the ice, they will turn around and repeat this drill on their right foot.

• The next three players will take their positions and execute this drill.

Hockey Passing Drills

9. Two-Player Passing

Setup: Place four cones on the face-off dots in the middle of the ice.

Execution:

• Select two players to first run through this drill (for 2 minutes straight).

• Players will move back and forth laterally between the cones, making both straight and diagonal passes to each other without stopping.

• Note: Passes should be timed. I.e., Player 1 should time the pass to reach the cone just as Player 2 arrives.
  

Two-player passing drill

10. Pass Around-the-Clock

Setup:

• Have 5 players stand an equal distance apart around two red circles.

• The coach will stand in the middle of one circle, and an assistant coach will stand in the middle of another circle.

Execution:

• The coach/assistant coach will start by passing the puck to any player in the circle.

• The receiving player will have to properly cushion the puck. They will then pass the puck across the circle to another player at random.

• Run through this drill for 5-7 minutes before rotating in new players.
  

Pass Around-the-Clock Drill

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