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Acceleration / On ice

Three-push launch

Make three alternating starting pushes, settle into a glide, and stop with room to spare.

6U · 8U · 10U · 12UBeginner5 minutes1–4 players
Original drill diagram
Three-push launch: player positions and movement 12StartFinish
1 takes three pushes from Start, glides toward Finish six meters away, and stops in at least four meters of clear runout. 2 represents the waiting group. The lower arrow is the outside return after stopping; arrows do not mark individual strides. 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. Place Start and Finish cones beside a three-meter-wide lane, six meters apart. Reserve at least four meters beyond Finish for stopping and widen the space if needed. One skater works; up to three wait beside Start, clear of the outside return route.
  2. For 6U–12U players already able to glide and stop, the coach demonstrates a small V-shaped skate position at Start. Do not force the feet into a prescribed angle.
  3. On “go,” make three short alternating pushes: left-right-left or right-left-right. Then glide on two feet. The third push need not happen at any particular cone.
  4. Begin the familiar stop early enough to stop safely in the runout beyond Finish. Do not add pushes to reach Finish; a shorter attempt is fine. Return outside the lane after stopping.
  5. Use the five-minute station for demonstration and up to four attempts each, alternating the first pushing foot. Reset fully between attempts; the coach releases the next player only after the route clears.

Key teaching points

  • Cue: “Three small pushes.” Early steps alternate quickly without a long glide between them.
  • Cue: “Feet low.” Recover each skate close to the ice rather than lifting the knee high.

Common mistakes

  • First step reaches far ahead and stalls. Try: reduce the step size and practice just the first two pushes.
  • Player keeps striding through Finish. Try: count the three pushes aloud and rehearse the glide before another start.

Make it fit the player

  • Easier for newer 6U/8U: use two gentle pushes, then a glide; remove the demand for quickness.
  • Harder for confident 10U/12U: start on a raised-hand signal while retaining the three-push limit and the same stopping space.
Research context & source notes

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

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