Hockey players and figure skaters are competitive athletes who depend on their skating ability to succeed at their sport. While hockey players must find a way to put the puck in the net, it's their skating ability that will give them the opportunities to do so. Figure skaters must have the endurance and athletic ability to perform leaps and jumps, and it's their skating ability that allows them to execute these moves with confidence.
Endurance Drill
Start off at the end line and skate to the near blue line, then back to the starting point. Skate to the center ice red line and then return. Skate to the far blue line and back. Finally, skate from one end line to the other. Do this drill twice to start your workout and twice at the end of the workout. This drill helps hockey players, figure skaters and recreational skaters build endurance and technique.
Drag/Touch Drill
Power skating coach Laura Stamm emphasizes this drill to give skaters more on-ice agility and speed. Push off the ice, extend your pushing leg and drag the first two or three inches of the pushing edge on the ice. Drag the heel of that skate back so that it touches the heel of the other skate as it pushes forward. This is called the "V-position." Repeat with the opposite leg, making sure you make the V-touch -- back tip of blades touching -- on every stride.
Mohawk Snake Drill
Place four athletic cones every 30 feet on the right side of the ice and four more in a similar position on the left side of the ice. This drill can help hockey players, figure skaters or any recreational skater who wants to improve. Start off on the right side of the ice and skate up ice, going to the right side of the first cone, the left of the second, the right of the third cone and the left of the fourth. Skate to the left side of the ice and skate back up the ice around the far set of cones. Do this twice, take a one-minute break and repeat the set.
Line Jumps
Have all skaters line up at the end line. Skate to the near blue line and use a one-foot jump to get over it. Keep skating to the red line and jump over it with a two-foot jump. Skate to the far blue line and jump over it. Skate as fast as you can to the far end line and return to the starting point, making sure to jump over each line. This builds agility and coordination on the ice.
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