The Lines skating drill – Hockey Resource

The lines drill is a basic skating drill used at every level of play and often used in conditioning camps, it works on skating speed, acceleration, stopping and endurance. Two different variations of the drill exist. The Red-Blue-Blue-Red drill is the initial drill with more focus on stopping and accelerating. The Sequential lines drill focuses more on top speed and conditioning. Each of these drills can be done with variations that increase the level of difficulty (see variation section at end of article). The drills should be done as described for the lower skill levels until the players can skate reasonably well.

Although these drills are aimed at skating, pucks can be given to the players in order to practice puck handling while skating and stopping. This may be motivation for younger players but should be avoided for higher levels as it will distract them from skating at maximum capacity.

Red-Blue-Blue-Red skating pattern

This version is an easier/quicker that is usually the first introduction of this drill, focus is on stopping and accelerating.

• Start at the goal line, skate until the red line and stop.
• Skate back to the blue line you just crossed stop.
• Skate to the other blue line stop.
• Skate back to the red line stop.
• Skate to the opposite goal line

Sequential lines skating pattern

This version is a bit more lengthy with increasing interval distances, focus is on top speed and endurance.

• Start at the goal line, skate until the near blue line and stop. Skate back to the goal line
• Skate red line stop and skate back to the goal line
• Skate to the far blue line stop and skate back to the goal line
• Skate all the way down to the far goal line
  • Variation is to skate back to the starting goal line

You can also add in the ringette lines (not on this diagram but at the top of the circles) into the mix.

Drill variations

• Have the players face the same direction for the entirety of the drill (ie skate forward, stop skate backward).
• Have the players always face the same side when stopping (they will have to stop on each side). Most players favour one side when stopping so this can get them more comfortable with both sides
• Double each step (ie. goal line to blue line twice before next step) or immediately run the drill again to focus even more on conditioning.