Equipment Needed
- Skates
- Open ice
Sharp edges make this drill work
Freshly sharpened skates give players the confidence and edge control backward skating depends on.
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- Skaters line up along the boards or at one end of the ice.
- Coach demonstrates the C-cut push pattern before skaters attempt it.
Instructions
- Start in an athletic stance facing backward, knees bent, weight centered.
- Push one skate out in a C-shaped curve, transferring weight to the gliding leg.
- Bring the pushing skate back under the body and repeat with the opposite leg.
- Continue the alternating C-cut pattern across the length of the ice, staying under control.
Coaching Points
- Keep the knees bent and the chest up — leaning too far forward or back both disrupt the balance needed here.
- The C-cut shape of the push is what generates power; a straight-back push loses most of its effectiveness.
- It's normal for backward skating to feel much less natural than forward skating at first — expect a slower learning curve.
- Keep the head up and eyes forward (over the shoulder) even while skating backward, just like in a game.
Variation
Add a partner skating forward alongside for a mirror drill once backward skating is comfortable, or introduce backward stops.