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Forward-backward pivot lane

Change from forward to backward travel and back again without abandoning the original direction of travel.

10U · 12U · 14U+Intermediate7 minutes1–1 players
Original drill diagram
Forward-backward pivot lane: player positions and movement 1StartPivotEnd
Travel remains left to right. The middle cone marks the first pivot; the second occurs before the finish. Arrows indicate forward, backward, then forward travel in the same 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

  1. Set three cones along the side of a 30-foot lane: start, midpoint at 15 feet, and finish. Leave 8 feet of width. Begin 6 feet before the start cone without a puck.
  2. Skate forward toward the midpoint at walking speed. Just before it, turn the head and shoulders toward the chosen side and rotate the feet into backward travel.
  3. Continue toward the finish backward for two or three pushes. Turn back to forward travel before the finish and coast out beyond it.
  4. Return outside the lane. Make three trips turning through the left side, then three through the right; rest briefly between trips.
  5. Count a successful trip when both changes happen without stopping or leaving the lane. Use seven minutes including a slow demonstration and one correction between sets.

Key teaching points

  • Cue: “Same road, new facing.” A pivot changes body orientation; it does not send the player back toward the start.
  • Make room for the feet to turn by using a modest glide, not a long stretched stride.
  • Keep the two transitions separate so the second begins only after backward balance is established.

Common mistakes

  • Player makes a U-turn. Try: point to the finish throughout the demonstration to show the intended travel.
  • Feet catch during the rotation. Try: reduce speed and widen the transition area.
  • Player rushes the second pivot. Try: count two backward pushes before turning forward.

Make it fit the player

  • Easier: practice only the forward-to-backward change and finish backward.
  • Harder: move the midpoint cue a few feet between trips so the player adapts the timing.
Research context & source notes

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

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