Drills for Developing Skating Agility

Agility is a key component of being an effective skater. Whether you are a hockey player or a speed skater, you must learn to keep your balance while your feet are moving at a high rate of speed. Engaging in some drills in your spare time to improve your agility will help you develop into a more well-rounded skater.

  1. Figure Eights

    • Lay two hockey sticks down on the ice. Make sure that the ends of the sticks are touching so that they form a straight line that is the length of both sticks. Start at the end of one of the sticks and begin to skate figure eights around and over them. Keep your turns compact and close to the sticks. Also, when crossing over the hockey sticks, take an angle that will keep you skating almost parallel to them. This drill helps to improve footwork and speed as you must stay compact and quick in your motions.

    Slides

    • Place two hockey sticks on the ice so that the ends are touching each other. The sticks should form one long stick. Start at one end of the sticks and face the other end. The sticks should be to your side about 2 feet from your skates. Push off your outside foot and slide towards the sticks. When you get to the sticks, hop over them in one quick motion. Once you hop over the sticks, quickly stop yourself and push off with the other foot sliding towards the sticks. Again, hop over the sticks when you approach them. Repeat this drill until you have traveled the length of the sticks. This drill helps to improve your balance.

    Crossovers

    • Place two hockey sticks on the ice so that the ends are touching each other and forming a line the length of two sticks. Start at one end of the sticks and face the other end. Your feet should be shoulder width apart and your inside foot should be about 12 inches from your inside skate. Push off on your inside skate towards the sticks. As this is happening, bring your outside foot across your inside foot and plant it on the other side of the sticks. Bring your other foot and rest of body behind this outside foot. Your outside foot has now become your inside foot. Repeat this drill until you have traveled the length of the sticks. This drill helps with balance, foot speed and change of direction.