Purpose

Players practice stickhandling at half and full speed.

Setup

  • Players set up anywhere on the ice.
  • Each player has a puck.
hockey stickhandle drill

How it Works

  1. Coach blows whistle.
  2. Players skate half speed for 20 seconds while stickhandling in a confined space.
  3. Coach blows whistle again.
  4. Players now skate full speed for 20 seconds while stickhandling in a confined space.
  5. Drill continues with players alternating between half speed and full speed skating for 2 minutes.

Coaching Tips

  • Proper skating and stickhandling fundamentals are essential. Players should have heads up, hips bent in athletic fashion, top hand a glove’s length from body, puck should stay in front of body, dribble puck with back heel of blade, front toe of blade moves back and forth in windshield wiper fashion.