Russian Figure 8's

It was said that Wayne Gretzky could do figure 8’s in a phone booth. Probably the greatest lateral skater ever, Gretzky used his ability to do a tight glide turn to create space by separating himself from defenders and to make passes that created scoring chances. This is a great drill to learn and practice tight glide turns and how to use them to create opportunities in games. The name comes from the fact that this is a drill commonly used by Russian teams in their practices.

Explanation of the Drill

A very simple but challenging drill which will improve agility skating and puck skills. Player #1 takes their gloves off and places them on the ice about 12-15 feet apart. Player #1 then stands in the middle of the gloves about 10 feet from a line drawn between the gloves with a puck. Player #2 skates figure eights around the gloves. Player #1 passes the puck to Player #2 every time player #2 comes around a glove and player #2 has to pass it right back to player #1 before going around the next cone. Switch the players after one minute.

Options

The more advanced the player the tighter (closer together) the gloves should be. Put Player #1 (the passer) on their backhand so that they are always making backhand passes.

Next, have player number one receive the pass on their backhand, but move the puck to their forehand before making the next pass to player #2.

Next, try putting a stick down on the ice just in front of player #1 and both players use saucer passes throughout the drill. Put the passer (player #1) on their forehand and then on their backhand for a really challenging option!

Move the passer closer to the cones to make the distance between player #1 and player #2 shorter.

The closer the players are together, the more challenging it is to complete good saucer passes. Next have player #1 through the passes into the feet of player #2.

This is a very challenging drill. Player #2 has to come out of a tight turn and receive a pass that is in his or her feet and not look down, get the puck to their stick and return the pass to player #1 before executing a tight turn around the next glove!

Another option is to have player #2 always face player #1 and do a “forward to forward” transition around each cone.

This a great drill for wingers to practice coming back into the defensive zone and “opening” up to receive a pass. Mix it up so that player #2 receives the pass and then moves laterally across to the other cone before returning the pass.

This is a terrific drill for your defence to practice their lateral movement with a puck and making and receiving passes while moving laterally.

Coach's Tips

Ask your players to match up with someone of their ability so that, as a pair, they might be able to progress through the different options.

Remember that the tighter you make the cones and the closer Player #1 and player #2 are together, the more challenging the drill is. Give your progressions different level numbers and challenge your players to strive to progress through the different "levels."

Find two players that are really doing the drill well and use them as examples to teach the technical skills that are required to do the drill.

You can use a drill like this as a “transition” in your practices between other full ice drills. While you are setting up cones or moving pucks to get ready for the next full ice drill, the players can be doing Russian figure 8’s and practicing their skating and puck skills.

Tips for Players

To maximize your glide in a tight turn, keep your top hand away from the body on the backhand and through the body on the forehand.

Hands are always forward. Push the inside knee forward into and through the turn.

Drive with a heel push on the back skate. Both skates are on the ice around the cone and you are on a “flat blade” on the turn. Head is always up.

Back is straight with a forward body lean and knees are bent. The first thing to go around the cone is the blade of the stick and the next thing is the inside knee.

With your hands forward, you are ready to receive a pass coming out of the turn. Rotate the top hand to angle the blade of your stick so that you can cup the pass and then cup the puck prior to returning the pass.

This is particularly important on the backhand. Receiving a strong pass on your backhand coming out of the turn is a very challenging skill to master.

Always sweep the puck and pass the puck flat unless you are using a saucer pass. When using saucer passes sweep the puck for longer passes and open the blade up and snap the puck with shorter passes.

With the saucer pass, the puck starts at the heel and comes off the blade towards the toe. The hands are moved into the body to give the puck the proper rotation in the air, like a saucer, to ensure that it lands flat.

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