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One-foot glide lane

Balance briefly on either skate while traveling straight, then put both feet down before stopping.

8U · 10U · 12UBeginner5 minutes1–4 players
Original drill diagram
One-foot glide lane: player positions and movement 1StartLiftEnd2
1 starts; 2 represents the waiting group off the route. Lift briefly after the middle cone, put both skates down before End, stop in the clear space to the right, then return along the lower outside route. Start–Lift and Lift–End: three meters each; stopping room: at least four meters. 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: Cones, Skates, Hockey protective equipment

  1. Set three low cones beside a lane about three meters wide: Start, Lift three meters ahead, and End another three meters ahead. Leave at least four more meters for stopping; enlarge this if needed. Cones sit beside, not in, the skating path.
  2. For 1–4 players, send only one at a time. Others wait beside Start, outside the return route. The coach stands beside End. Use this 8U–12U task only after the child can glide on two feet and stop independently.
  3. From Start, take gentle strides to Lift. Briefly balance on one skate for a count of one; set the other down before End. Do not try to reach End on one foot.
  4. Stop beyond End using the stop already taught. Return along the outside of the lane only after stopping. Start the next player when the entire route is clear.
  5. Alternate supporting feet on successive attempts. In the five-minute station, include a demonstration, four attempts per child if time allows, and rest while others skate.

Key teaching points

  • Cue: “Knee over skate.” Keep the supporting knee bent and weight above that skate.
  • Cue: “Tiny lift.” The free blade only needs to clear the ice; place it down as soon as balance changes.

Common mistakes

  • Foot swings outward. Try: shorten the lift to a quick tap up and down.
  • Glide bends away from the lane. Try: reset on two feet; ask the coach to check alignment before extending the lift.

Make it fit the player

  • Easier, especially newer 8U: keep both blades down and briefly make one foot light.
  • Harder, ready 10U/12U: hold for two counts on each side on separate attempts; keep the same low speed and straight route.
Research context & source notes

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

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