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Forward swizzle ladder

Create forward motion by moving both skates outward and inward together, without lifting either foot.

6U · 8UBeginner5 minutes1–1 players
Original drill diagram
Forward swizzle ladder: player positions and movement 1
1 moves left to right through the lane. The paired curves represent the two skate tracks during three swizzles, not two players. Both blades remain down. 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. Place four cones at the corners of a lane 15 feet long and 6 feet wide. Leave 10 feet beyond the finish. One player begins at the near end with no stick or puck; basic standing balance and a familiar stop are prerequisites.
  2. Begin with heels near each other and toes slightly apart. Bend the knees, press both skates outward, then guide the toes gently inward so the feet return close together without touching.
  3. Repeat the open-and-close motion three times. Pause on two feet after the third cycle, then continue if room remains. Keep both blades on the ice throughout.
  4. Use the familiar stop beyond the finish and walk or skate back outside the lane. Complete four trips with short rests within five minutes.
  5. Count complete cycles that move the player forward without a marching step. Three small cycles are the goal before increasing travel distance.

Key teaching points

  • Cue: “Open, close, glide.” Each pair of curves creates motion rather than steering a two-foot turn.
  • Allow the knees to bend as the feet move apart; avoid locking the legs at the widest point.
  • Close the feet only to a comfortable gap, ready for the next cycle.

Common mistakes

  • Player marches instead of sliding. Try: begin with one small outward-and-inward cycle and pause.
  • Feet spread too wide to return. Try: halve the width of the opening.
  • Player squeezes the toes together and stops. Try: straighten the blades before they meet.

Make it fit the player

  • Easier: begin with a gentle forward glide, then add one open-and-close cycle.
  • Harder: link five small cycles with a consistent rhythm instead of increasing the opening width.
Research context & source notes

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

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