Agility is one of the most overused, and misunderstood, words in athlete development (on-ice and off-ice). Most players think agility means having “quick feet" or performing "tight turns". Many coaches think it can be improved by adding “edgework" drills. But agility is something far more complex and far more valuable than most people realize.

In hockey, understanding the difference between agility and a simple change of direction can completely change how us as coaches plan skill development sessions. It allows us to improve skill to transfer into real games.

Agility vs. Change of Direction: The Truth

Agility is: “The ability to change direction in response to a stimulus.”

That last part—response—is what almost everyone misses.

Agility is not just being fast and having efficient edges. It’s the combination of:

1. Perception – picking up cues (pressure, sticks, and open ice)

2. Decision-making – choosing the right skill solution

3. Execution – applying the skating skill to escape, attack, or create space

This means agility is actually a game-speed thinking skill, not just a skating skill.

Change of Direction (COD)

COD is different. COD is pre-planned movement. The athlete knows exactly where they’re going before they start. We have all seen, and propbably used these types of drills. 

Examples:

• Cone patterns

• Pre-set edgework drills

• Figure-8s

• Weaving through a known route

COD involves:

• Edge quality

• Acceleration and deceleration mechanics

• Strength, power, posture

• Mechanical efficiency

COD builds the physical tools, but not the game instincts and reads they use.

Agility

Agility only happens when a player must react to something.

Examples:

• A defender cutting off the lane

• A teammate suddenly becoming open

• Pressure arriving from a blind spot

• A stick entering a lane

Agility involves:

• Scanning and awareness

• Pattern recognition

• Anticipation

• Problem-solving under pressure

• Transfer of skating skills into game situations

This is why some players look amazing in skills sessions but disappear in games. They have great COD … but lack agility.

Why should we care?

Hockey is chaos. The best players aren’t the ones who simply have the best edges, they’re the ones who perceive and react the fastest.

If you only train pre-planned patterns, you’re improving movement but not game transferability.

To truly develop players, coaches need to include:

• COD work to build the mechanics

• Agility work to connect mechanics to decisions

This is where real development happens.