Improving Your Skating Technique: Tips And Drills For Developing Skating Skills and Agility

Hockey players at all levels who want to stay ahead of their competition will benefit from improving their skating skills and agility.

Not only does it enhance your overall performance, but it also helps prevent injuries and improves your ability to maneuver quickly on the ice. Here are some key tips and drills designed to help you boost your skating and agility.

Skating Drills

Strides and Glides

Focus on performing long, powerful strides followed by a glide. This drill helps build speed, endurance, and leg strength.

To execute a slide and glide, begin at one end of the rink in a ready stance with knees bent. Push off with one foot, extending your leg fully to generate power. Glide on the opposite foot.

Alternate between legs, maintaining a steady rhythm and ensuring each stride is strong and controlled. Keep your upper body stable and avoid excessive arm movement.

You can incorporate cones or other markers into this drill to help you stride at a consistent rhythm.

Crossovers

Crossovers involve crossing one skate over the other while turning. This drill improves your agility, turning ability, and balance.

Start by skating in a large circle. Cross the outside skate over the inside skate while turning, maintaining a low, balanced stance.

Practice doing crossovers in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions. Make sure to keep your head up and your eyes looking in the direction of the turn for best results.

Use the faceoff circles on the rink as your guide or set up a track using cones.

Quick Feet Drill

Set up cones in a straight line and weave through them using quick, short strides. This drill is designed to improve overall agility and foot speed.

To practice quick feet, place cones about a meter apart in a straight line. Skate through the cones, using quick, short strides to maneuver around them.

Increase the difficulty by shrinking the distance between the cones. Stay low with your knees bent to maintain balance.

Have a coach or partner time you with a stopwatch to track your progress.

Edge Control Drills

Practice gliding on one edge at a time, switching between inside and outside edges. This drill enhances edge control and balance.

To start, stand in a ready position. Glide on the inside edge of one skate for a few meters, then switch to the outside edge.

Repeat the drill on both skates, alternating between inside and outside edges. Keep your core engaged to maintain stability.

Backward Skating

Skate backward using C-cuts or crossovers. This drill strengthens backward skating skills and agility.

Begin at one end of the rink facing forward. Push off backward using a C-cut motion or crossovers. Focus on maintaining a low, balanced stance.

Practice both C-cuts and crossovers to build versatility. Aim to stay low with your weight centered to maintain balance and control.

Mastering the Fundamentals

Mastering the fundamentals of skating is essential for any hockey player looking to improve their performance on the ice. By focusing on a proper stance with bent knees, distributing your weight evenly, strengthening your core, and enhancing your flexibility, you build a solid foundation for effective skating.

Practicing edge work and incorporating various skating drills, such as strides and glides, crossovers, quick feet, edge control, and backward skating, can significantly boost your agility, speed, and control on the ice.

Consistent practice and dedication to these techniques will enhance your overall skating ability and give you a competitive edge. Keep pushing your limits and refining your skills to become a more dynamic and proficient skater with the help of Lowry Sports.