Figure-eights around two pucks

The figure-eight makes you handle the puck on both sides of your body, with your forehand and your backhand, and teaches you to steer it around something in your way.

How to do it

1. Place two pucks or small cones on the floor about 60 cm (2 ft) apart.
2. Carry your puck in a figure-eight around them: forehand around one marker, then backhand around the other.
3. Keep the puck close to your blade the whole way. Go slowly for one minute, then reverse direction.
4. Do three sets of one minute each way.

Coaching points

• Cup the puck on the turns so it doesn’t slide wide.
• Turn your shoulders as you go around each marker, but keep your feet still.
• Push the puck around the marker; don’t drag it behind you.

Common mistakes

• Hitting the markers. Make the figure-eight wider until you’re clean, then tighten it.
• Rushing the backhand side. Slow down there; it’s where most players lose the puck.

Make it harder

Move the markers closer together, speed up, or keep your eyes up the whole time. In Sudden Shift, dangle zones only fill while you keep changing direction inside the ring, so figure-eights fill them fast.