Although I call this a defenseman's drill -- because it does help enhance some blueliner-specific skills, I actually have all of my players work at it. And, although I've placed this in the Puckhandling section, this drill really does help improve skating mobility, mobility with the puck, as well as passing and receiving skills.
-- Dennis Chighisola
Defenseman's Figure-8
While skating and puckhandling... I initially have individual players practice this drill on their own, learning to skate the figure-8 pattern, and to carry a puck with them as they move through that pattern. (Younger players might attack these skills separately at first, initially learning the skating portion, then later trying to carry a puck along.) As stated above, this really is an awesome drill for skating mobility and for moving in numerous ways with the puck.
As the above sketch shows, a player places his gloves about 8' apart, and then moves in a figure-8 pattern around those gloves. The challenge to this particular drill, however, is that the skater must face one side of the rink at all times, thusly having to execute numerous pivots -- from forward to backward to forward, etc. -- as he moves around the gloves.
For skating, puckhandling, passing and receiving... I ultimately turn this into a passing drill, positioning two players with their gloves arranged parallel, and the two players facing each other.
One player performs the skating and puckhandling part of the routine first, as his partner rests and gives a target for a pass. After about 8-seconds, the puckhandler passes the puck to his partner, whereby the two players switch roles. (To see the drill in action, just click on the photo below.)
Now, I ask you: Is this a pattern defensemen frequently have to skate (and handle a puck through) in a game? You bet!
PS: There is one little technical matter required to make this drill work well... As players stickhandle around, they must move forward through the middle of their gloves and backward around the outsides. This makes it a little easier for them to make a pass moving down through the middle and towards their partner. Oh, and it wouldn't be a bad idea to have the players change direction each time they do the drill.
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Do you like this drill? Will it prove helpful to YOU? Please let me know in the Comments box below.
