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Backward-glide return pass

Receive and return a forehand pass while continuing a controlled backward glide, keeping the passing target available in front of the body.

10U · 12UIntermediate8 minutes2–2 players
Original drill diagram
Backward-glide return pass: player positions and movement 12
1 faces left while gliding right backward; 2 faces right and follows forward. Solid arrows show travel, not body facing. The two dashed arrows are one feed and one return at successive moments, not two pucks. Corner cones bound the lane. Original schematic; not to scale. Circles with numbers or letters mark players. Other markers and arrows are explained in the caption; some diagrams show puck or ball movement instead of skating. Red arrows show shots. Follow the written setup for spacing.

How to run it

Equipment: Skates, Hockey protective equipment, Cones, Stick, Pucks

  1. Mark a 20-foot-long, 10-foot-wide lane with four corner cones. Player 1 starts 8 feet ahead of player 2, facing player 2; both travel toward the same far end. Player 2 starts with one puck. Leave 15 feet of clear runout beyond the lane.
  2. Player 1 checks the empty route behind, takes two gentle backward pushes, and coasts. Player 2 follows slowly forward, preserving the 8-foot gap.
  3. Once player 1 shows a forehand target, player 2 sends a flat pass. Player 1 cushions it and returns it during the same backward glide, without turning forward or stopping to pass.
  4. Both continue to the end, coast into the runout, and stop. Complete only one exchange per trip so the backward skater can check the route before the next attempt.
  5. Return outside the lane, trade roles, and take four trips each with rests. Count exchanges completed while player 1 remains moving backward and the partner receives within reach.

Key teaching points

  • Cue: “Glide through the catch and return.”
  • Show the blade before the feed; use a short return motion in front of the body.
  • Match travel speeds so the partner does not crowd the backward skater.

Common mistakes

  • Receiver stops before returning the puck. Try: begin with a longer gentle glide and a slower feed.
  • Puck is passed behind the following partner. Try: look at the partner’s presented blade before release.
  • Gap collapses. Try: reduce the forward skater’s pace and restart with the full spacing.

Make it fit the player

  • Easier: player 2 stays stationary while player 1 backs away for a single catch-and-return.
  • Harder: complete two exchanges per lane while preserving spacing and a clear backward route.
Research context & source notes

Background sources for this drill’s skills and teaching principles.

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