The W Drill is used to teach proper skating transitions and pivots. Encourage players to have a deep knee bend to minimize loss of speed while transitioning.

Description

Coach lines up 5 cones in a staggered pattern across the ice.

Players line up along the boards in the corner of the area.

When the coach says go the first player skates to the first cone and performs a pivot to go backwards.

They then skate backwards to the next cone where they transition forwards.

The players repeat this pattern at the next set of cones until they are on the other side of the drill.

Players wait there for all other players to finish.

When the first player passes the third cone the next player may go.

Key Points

Encourage players to skate fast through the cones

Ensure players use proper backwards technique:

• Large C-cuts
• No swivelling hips
• Foot recovery
• Extending the same arm and leg.

Reinforce proper pivot technique:

• Back of shoulders lead
• Deep knee bend
• Crossovers out of the pivot

When transitioning forward player should load hips and push off the back leg to move forward into a start.

Ensure to do drill in both directions.