Explanation of the Drill

This drill is designed to be a full ice drill.

All of the players on the ice are divided into two groups, each group working on half the ice, with the two groups overlapping in the center circle.

Each of the two groups is further divided in half, with half the players starting in a line at the hash marks on the boards near the corner and half the group starting on the red line.

The first player at the hash marks skates the nearest circle counter clockwise. As soon as this player goes half way around the circle, the next player in line leaves.

After skating completely around the first circle, the player cuts across in front of the net and skates the far circle in the same end clockwise.

After skating around this circle completely, the player skates to the center circle and skates completely around this circle clockwise, overlapping with the group doing the same drill on the other half of the ice.

The player then comes off the center circle and goes into a line at the red line against the boards, facing the end where the player started. Once the player is at the start of the line, and the player in front of him or her goes around the last cone and in on net, the player leaves with a puck.

He or she skates down the boards before cutting to the middle, around the last cone in the high slot and in for a shot on the net at the end where the player started.

The player then joins the line in the corner to start the drill again. The drills on each half of the ice are mirror images of each other so that the players skate the middle circle in the same direction.

In total there should be four even lines, two at opposite ends at the hash marks and two at opposite sides at the red line, to start the drill.

When the players are on the drill they are working on their “hard skills” (forward crossovers with and without a puck, backwards crossunders with and without a puck, pivots, puckhandling, shooting etc.) as well as their “soft” skills. (timing, anticipation, the ability to read and react, etc.)

Options

The players can progress on this drill through several levels depending on their age and ability.

The players can start skating the circles without a puck and then pick one up when they get to the red line.

When they do this well, send them backwards around the circles without a puck and they can turn and go forwards with a puck once they get to the red line.

Next, have them carry a puck for the whole drill. Send them forwards with a puck and then backwards with a puck around the circles. Then try adding pivots every half circle with the players turning from forwards to backwards and backwards to forwards, first without and then with a puck.

Now try putting a coach between the red line and the blueline, and have the players coming off the redline deke to their forehand and their backhand to go around the coach before cutting to the middle and attacking the net.

Finally, remove the first circle, start the line at the hashmarks on the boards of the second circle, shift the net along the goaline so that it is even with the dot of the first circle and run one on ones and two on ones down the side from the red line. It is the responsibility of the players skating the circles to avoid the one on ones and two on ones.

Coach's Tips

Skating the circles with or without the puck offers an opportunity to teach players proper technique including proper hand and stick position while crossing over going forward and while crossing under backwards.

The blade of the stick is always on the ice in front of the player between the shoulders. This means that the blade is always on the circle when skating around a circle.

The top hand has to be moved away from the body on the backhand and through the body on the forehand. This is crucial for proper skating position and for puck control.

The blade of the stick is on the circle, not pointed toward the dot in the middle of the circle. Players need to learn proper stick position to increase their glide, and their speed on the circles and to handle a puck in proper position while skating forwards and backwards.

When the player is skating the circles backwards he or she is not doing crossovers. The outside skate stays on the ice and the inside skate reaches in, draws the ice and crosses under the outside skate. Thrust is created with the ball of the foot and using an ankle extension wth the inside skate after it crosses under the outside skate.

In this drill players learn to start themselves on the drill. Whistles are not required, which frees up the coach to teach while the players are on the drill.

One coach should skate the center circle clockwise continually to ensure that all of the players, coming onto this circle from both ends are skating in the same direction.

Tips for Players

This is a great drill to work on lateral skating techniques-forward crossovers and backwards crossunders.

When skating, the blade of your stick is always on the ice and always between your shoulders. This means that it will be on the circle itself, not pointed towards the dot in the middle of the circle.

When skating forwards to your backhand , push the top hand away from your body and rotate the top hand to cup an imaginary puck.

When skating forwards to the forehand, push your top hand through your body and rotate the top hand to cup the blade of your stick.

Conversely, when skating backwards, the top hand is pushed away or through and the top hand is rotated to cup the blade as if carrying a puck. Proper hand position will help you develop speed and glide. It will also help you to control and protect the puck. This means that when you are pivoting on the circles, the top hand will be pushed out and through quickly in the transitions from forwards to backwards.

Remember that when you are skating backwards on the circles you are not doing crossovers. The outside skate stays on the ice and the inside skate reaches in, draws the ice and crosses under the outside skate.

Thrust is created with the ball of the foot and using an ankle extension with the inside skate after it crosses under the outside skate. The push is with the outside edge of the inside skate. This crossunder technique is also used to develop thrust with the inside skate when doing forwards crossovers.

When skating forwards on the circle, stay low, gave a good knee bend and a forward body lean. Push with both feet, the inside edge of the outside skate and the outside edge of the inside skate!

As you attack the net, use your peripheral vision to see the players coming off the circle and across your path. You may have to adjust your speed or deke the player before shooting.

This will help you to develop timing and your ability to anticipate and to read and react, skills that can contribute to game sense and make such a difference to your performance.

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