A little more confidence. A little more fun. Free to use.
PRACTICE BARNHOCKEY DRILLS & PRACTICE PLANSBuild a practice
Home / Drill library / Crossovers
Crossovers / On ice

Lateral crossover box

Move sideways across a short box with controlled crossover steps, then recover a balanced stance before reversing.

10U · 12U · 14U+Intermediate6 minutes1–1 players
Original drill diagram
Lateral crossover box: player positions and movement 1
1 faces the top of the box throughout. The upper arrow is the rightward crossing; the lower arrow is the return, offset for readability. 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. Mark a box 8 feet across and 6 feet deep. Begin at the middle of its left side, facing the far side rather than the direction of travel.
  2. Move right with one crossover step, placing the left skate across the right. Bring the right skate out again to recover the starting width.
  3. Use a second step only if needed to reach the right side. Pause on two feet for one count while still facing the same way.
  4. Return left with the opposite skate crossing in front. Complete four crossings, rest, and repeat for three sets within six minutes.
  5. Count crossings that end with a balanced pause inside the box. If the player needs extra steps to stop, reduce the distance or pace.

Key teaching points

  • Cue: “Across, uncross, settle.” Finish the recovery before starting another crossing.
  • Keep the chest facing the far edge of the box so the action stays lateral.
  • Start with a low step that clears the other skate; speed comes after consistent placement.

Common mistakes

  • Player turns and skates forward. Try: keep a fixed visual target across the box.
  • Skates remain tangled after crossing. Try: pause after moving the second skate back out.
  • Player drifts beyond the box. Try: take one smaller crossover and settle sooner.

Make it fit the player

  • Easier: use side steps without crossing until the player can pause at either edge.
  • Harder: call left or right after each pause so the next direction is not predictable.
Research context & source notes

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

Keep building

More crossovers drills · Development guides