As a coach or a parent, one of the best ways to support young athletes is by helping them sharpen their stickhandling skills. This not only boosts their confidence but also sparks creativity and enhances their control on the ice.
Stickhandling goes beyond just making flashy moves; it’s crucial for puck protection, smart decision-making, and maintaining composure under pressure.
Here are 20 skill-specific drills, organized into three main categories:
- Fundamental Drills – Focus on essential puck control and mechanics
- Competitive Drills – Mimic game pressure, speed, and decision-making
- Team Drills – Foster puck control in group or game-like scenarios
Fundamental Stickhandling Drills
These drills are perfect for beginners, skill stations, or even training at home. They lay the groundwork for the mechanics and confidence that stickhandling relies on.
1. Stationary Puck Control
Objective: Develop foundational hand movement and puck feel
Focus: Forehand/backhand dexterity, control while stationary
Players remain still and alternate moving the puck side-to-side in front of their bodies. Once they’re comfortable, encourage them to progress to figure-8 movements while keeping their heads up.
2. Figure Eights
Objective: Enhance tight turns and edge handling
Focus: Hand positioning, smooth transitions
Players weave the puck in a figure-eight pattern around two cones. Stress the importance of a low stance, wide knees, and maintaining control throughout the entire movement.
3. Cone Weaving
Objective: Mimic in-game navigation
Focus: Agility, lateral puck movement
Set up a row of cones and have players weave through them, make tight turns around them, and practice transitions while stickhandling. Start at a slow pace and gradually increase speed, finishing with a quick shot if there’s space.
4. One-Handed Stickhandling
Objective: Strengthen top-hand control
Focus: Arm strength, finesse
Using only their top hand, players control the puck side to side. Begin stationary and then progress to skating slowly with the puck. This drill is fantastic for building independence and wrist strength.
5. Backhand Control Drill
Objective: Boost confidence in backhand play
Focus: Blade awareness, puck positioning
In this drill, players practice sliding the puck back and forth using just their backhand. Encourage them to make quick pulls, execute toe drags, and finish with a backhand shot to help them apply these skills during games.
6. Jump and Slide Stickhandling
Objective: Enhance body-puck coordination through explosive footwork
Focus: Lower-body agility, upper-hand control, timing
To start, players should stand with their feet shoulder-width apart and execute short lateral jumps from side to side. It’s important to land softly while transferring the puck to the opposite side of their body after each jump. So, when jumping to the right, keep the puck on the left, and vice versa. As they land and glide, players should stick-handle quickly, using tight and controlled movements.
This video clip comes from Coach Jari Byrsky’s hockey skills course. For more drills, check it out HERE
7. Stickhandling with a Ball (On-Ice)
Objective: Enhance precision and quickness
Focus: Hand-eye coordination, hand speed
Switch things up by using a ball instead of a puck. The smaller, lighter ball challenges players to develop quicker hands and more accurate blade contact. It’s perfect for training in the garage or driveway.
8. Circle Stickhandling
Objective: Sharpen control while moving on edges
Focus: Curved stickhandling patterns, footwork
Players stickhandle around a small circle, alternating directions. Challenge them to stay low and speed up their hands as they navigate those tight angles.
9. Puck on a String
Objective: Build eyes-up habits
Focus: Feel-based puck control
Using a tether puck or string, players need to keep their eyes up and rely on their feel while moving the puck. This drill helps shift their focus from just watching the puck to scanning the ice for opportunities.
10. Stickhandling in Motion
Objective: Link hands and feet
Focus: Puck control while skating
Players skate forward, backward, and laterally while keeping control of the puck. Incorporate direction changes and transitions (from forehand to backhand) to mimic real game scenarios.
This video clip comes from Coach Jari Byrsky’s hockey skills course. For more drills, check it out HERE
Competitive Stickhandling Drills
These drills crank up the intensity, introducing pressure, unpredictability, and urgency—just like in a real game.
1. Knockout Puck Protection
Objective: Master puck protection under pressure
Focus: Stickhandling under duress, body positioning
In this drill, one player controls the puck while the other tries to steal it. If the puck gets taken, that round ends, and the next pair steps in. Players must rely on quick hands, tight turns, and solid body positioning to maintain control.
2. Rapid Fire Stickhandling
Objective: Boost speed under pressure
Focus: Hand speed, recovery
Set a timer for 30 seconds and challenge players to count how many quick stickhandling touches they can make without losing control. This drill is perfect for warm-ups and tracking progress.
3. The Gauntlet
Objective: Enhance composure under defensive pressure
Focus: Stickhandling in traffic
Players navigate through cones while teammates or a coach try to poke the puck away. The puck carrier needs to protect, recover, and keep control as they make their way through the gauntlet.
4. Stickhandling with Pressure
Objective: Mimic real-time defensive stress
Focus: Reactive control, poise
Players stickhandle while a partner mirrors their movements and applies light pressure with their stick. This drill reinforces tight control, quick decision-making, and recovery skills.
5. Keep-Away Game Drill
Objective: Develop decision-making with heads-up puck control
Focus: Agility, reaction, pressure handling
Players skate freely in a designated area while one or more defenders try to knock the puck away. If a player loses the puck, they either exit the zone or sit on the blue line.
This video clip comes from Coach Guy Gadowski and Coach Patrick Burke’s
Hockey Drills & Tips Video Library course. For more drills, check it out HERE
6. Shadow Stickhandling
Objective: Improve anticipation and coordination
Focus: Visual tracking, movement synchronization
In pairs, one player leads while the other mirrors every movement, keeping control of the puck. Introduce head fakes and quick changes to challenge their reaction skills.
7. Puck Relay Race
Objective: Combine speed and control in a team environment
Focus: Competitive puck movement
Split into teams and race through an obstacle course while stickhandling. This drill emphasizes maintaining control at full speed and boosts energy during practice.
Team-Based Stickhandling Drills
These drills are all about teamwork, sharing the puck, and honing control while moving as a group. These drills also try to emulate real game scenarios.
1. Partner Passing and Stickhandling
Objective: Enhance coordination and puck awareness
Focus: Quick hands and a smooth pass-and-move rhythm
Players pass the puck back and forth while stickhandling in between. This helps them learn to manage the puck while on the move and juggle multiple tasks at once.
2. Obstacle Course
Objective: Combine various puck skills into one drill
Focus: Adaptability and creative stickhandling
Split the team into groups and create a course using cones, sticks, gloves, or anything else you have on hand. Players navigate through the obstacles, adjusting their movements and blade angles as they go. Add passes or relay legs throughout the course to incorporate teamwork.
3. Tight Space Stickhandling
Objective: Master puck control in tight areas
Focus: Quick touches and control under pressure
Players are restricted to a small square or circle and must stickhandle quickly without losing the puck. This drill is fantastic for teaching puck protection in crowded situations.
4. Game Situation Stickhandling
Objective: Translate puck control into real-game scenarios
Focus: Deception, playmaking, and setting up for scoring
Set up 1v1 or 2v1 situations. Players need to use their stickhandling skills to create opportunities for passing or shooting. Emphasize the importance of decision-making, commitment to fakes, and keeping the puck moving.
At-Home Stickhandling Guide for Players
You don’t need to hit the ice or invest in fancy gear to sharpen your puck skills. Just dedicating 10 minutes a day at home can significantly boost your stickhandling, control, and overall confidence. Here’s a straightforward routine that any player can easily follow:
Daily 10-Minute Stickhandling Plan
Time Needed: 10–12 minutes
Space Needed: Garage, basement, driveway, or any smooth surface
1 Minute – Stationary Forehand/Backhand Control
Quickly move the puck side to side, keeping it close to your body.
1 Minute – Wide Reach Stickhandling
Extend your arms and shift the puck from side to side to enhance your range and control.
2 Minutes – Figure 8 Around Objects
Use cones, water bottles, or even shoes. Keep your head up while you weave through them.
1 Minute – One-Handed Control (Top Hand Only)
Focus on building strength in your top hand and improving your blade awareness.
2 Minutes – Toe Drags and Pull-Backs
Practice short, controlled toe drags and lateral pull-backs across your body.
1 Minute – Eyes-Up Stickhandling
Stickhandle while reading signs, calling out numbers, or looking ahead—train your vision to stay off the puck.
2 Minutes – Freestyle Creativity
Mix up your moves, challenge yourself, and have fun experimenting with new patterns.
Even a brief, consistent routine like this can give players a significant advantage when they return to the ice.
Mastering stickhandling isn’t something that happens in a flash. With the right drills, steady practice, and a sprinkle of creativity, players can really start to see improvements in no time. Whether you’re on the ice during practice or working at home, honing your puck control boosts your confidence, sharpens your decision-making skills, and leads to more scoring opportunities—and ultimately, more Ws on the ice. Keep things straightforward, stay committed, and enjoy the journey of getting better each day.
