Multi-Directional Skating Drills ...
Drills that focus on players learning to move in various directions. Players' ability to transition from forward to backward, backward to forward, or laterally is an essential skill for players to develop to become more elusive and develop good puck protection skills.
1. Multi-directional skating, carrying the puck, and taking a shot
Drill Description: Set two lines in the corner for all players. Players start skating forward with the puck in a diagonal line. Set two long pads forming a diagonal, parallel channel (illustrated above by black rectangles). As players approach the first pad, they transition from skating forward with the puck to backward. In between the pad channel, they skate backward with the puck until they get to the end of the pads. At that point, they will transition from skating backward to skating forward and then accelerate around the upper arc of the face-off dot using quick feet (overspeed) and finish by driving towards the net and firing a shot. If you have a goalie, great; if not, instruct players with each repetition to hit a specific spot on the net. Making players focus their shots on a particular spot on the net, if you do not have a goalie for practice, forces the shot to have a purpose instead of being an afterthought in the drill.
Note: Start this drill without the puck for several repetitions to focus on the skating, then use the pucks and the shots as the next progression. Have players alternate lines to concentrate on developing edge symmetry from both sides instead of always working their strong sides.
2. Forward to backward to forward transitions