Start Training at Home – The Essential Gear Every Hockey Player Needs

If you want to improve stickhandling, shooting, and passing, you will benefit a lot from practicing at home. In order to practice at home you will need a little bit of equipment first. In this article I break down what I feel is the essential training equipment for hockey players to improve their skills at home.

Stickhandling Gear

Shooting Gear

In order to work on your stickhandling, shooting, and passing you need a smooth surface. This surface will serve as your “ice” at home, and will allow you to practice a lot of different skills. You need a smooth surface for a few reasons

• This will prevent your stick blade from being scraped away and breaking
• It will be a low-friction environment which will help you get faster hands
• It will be more like the ice, giving you an easier transition from practicing off-ice to on-ice
• It can be use for shooting, stickhandling, and passing all essential hockey skills

Pro Sized Shooting Pad	Dryland Flooring Tiles	Roll-up Shooting Pad
Product Page: Pro Sized Price: $99.95 ($89.95 with coupon) Dimensions: 30 inches x 60 inches Advantages: Thicker material is better on uneven surfaces. Very easy to move	Product Page: Training Tiles Price: $11.95 per tile Dimensions: 1.5 foot per tile Advantages: Recommended for indoor use. Very sturdy, can be used to create a very large training area	Product Page: Roll-up Pad Price: $119.95 ($109.95 with coupon) Dimensions: 4 feet x 8.5 feet Advantages: Very large size which is great for practicing a lot of moves. Thinner material is recommended for smooth hard surfaces.

HockeyShot coupon code: HOWHCKY001

Pucks are great on the ice, but off the ice they don’t slide so well. I still recommend using a puck sometimes to practice with, but to really work on your hands you will need some other items. I strongly recommend getting one of each of the following. I recommend these products because they can be used almost anywhere and allow you to improve your stickhandling and co-ordination.

Green Biscuit	Wooden Ball	Stickhandling Ball
Product Page: Green Biscuit Price: $12.95 Dimensions: Same as puck Weight: 4.4 ounces Advantages: The best off-ice puck Two piece design will prevent it from flipping and rolling like most pucks Awesome to use on almost any surface	Product Page: Wooden Ball Price: $3.50 Dimensions: About 2 inch diameter Weight: Around 1.6 ounces Advantages: Very light ball which is nice for practicing very fast hands and moves. Wood material is soft and easy to stickhandle with.	Product Page: Stickhandling Ball Price: $10.95 or $7.95 for the HS ball Dimensions: 2.1 inch diameter Weight: 5 ounces Advantages: The SmartHockey ball is designed to feel just like a puck. Soft outer shell, and weight has a good feel The HockeyShot Ball is a few dollars cheaper, but feels a little stiffer to handle

There are a few options for shooting, personally I like a net the most, but I will mention the other options as well. With something to shoot at you can work on many different types of shots and different shooting techniques that you can then fine tune while on the ice.

Golf Net	Hockey Net	Shooting Tarp
Product Page: Various options Price: $45+ Dimensions: 10′ x 10′ + Advantages: Most affordable option. Can be used for multiple sports. Large area means it can be used as a backstop if you get a regular hockey net later.	Product Page: EZ Goal Price: $119.95 ($109.95 with coupon) Dimensions: 4 x 6 (regulation) Advantages: Has 2 inch posts, folds up for easy storage. Regulation size. Comes with targets. Will withstand shots up to 60MPH. Harder shots will dent posts.	Product Page: Shooting Tarp Price: $209.95 ($199.95 with coupon) Dimensions: 7 feet x 16 feet Advantages: Very large size protects everything behind it. Targets give you something to aim at. No posts for ricochets and flying pucks Can be used in garage or basement.

Shooting pucks is fun, searching for pucks is not fun. I like using a backstop because it allows you to spend more time shooting, and less time hunting for pucks. A backstop will give you more confidence to aim for the corners (not worried about missing), allow you to shoot more, and keep you from losing pucks! The first link also allows you to use it for other sports!

Fishing Net / Golf Net	EZ Goal Backstop
Product Page: Various options Price: $45+ Dimensions: 10′ x 10′ + Advantages: Most affordable option. Can be used for multiple sports. Larger area gives you more room for error. Not attached to the net which gives you some more creativity with the net. Permanently installed makes it easier to set up and take down your net. Good option if you want a permanent shooting area	Product Page: EZ Goal Backstop Price: $89.95 (Save $10 on order over $100) Dimensions: 10 x 6 Advantages: Fits perfectly onto any regulation sized net (6 x 4). Bolts onto the EZ Goal hockey net. Side panels can be moved when shooting from an angle. Side meshing may get holes in it with hard shots!

Now this is not a necessity, however I do strongly recommend it. This is an awesome training aid to show you how well you are shooting, motivate you to keep improving, and give you instant feedback on every shot you take. This is a great tool to have after you are set up with the basics explained above.

HockeyShot Radar	SpeedTrac Radar
Product Page: HockeyShot Radar Price: $99.95 ($89.95 with coupon) Advantages: Most affordable radar. Works well for hockey (unlike others I have tested) More consistent from close range	Product Page: SpeedTrac Radar Price: $139.95 ($129.95 with coupon) Advantages: Durable (I’ve dropped it and hit it with pucks a few times and it still works) Consistent readings from all distances

This is the most important tip in this article. If you buy these products but don’t use them, you won’t get any better! So what are you supposed to do? Well luckily I have a lot of tips for shooting and stickhandling that you can pour over and use. Make sure you are subscribed to this website (box in the left sidebar) and our Youtube Channel to be notified of new skills videos that we release.

Start Training at Home – The Essential Gear Every Hockey Player Needs

If you want to improve stickhandling, shooting, and passing, you will benefit a lot from practicing at home. In order to practice at home you will need a little bit of equipment first. In this article I break down what I feel is the essential training equipment for hockey players to improve their skills at home.

Stickhandling Gear

Shooting Gear

In order to work on your stickhandling, shooting, and passing you need a smooth surface. This surface will serve as your “ice” at home, and will allow you to practice a lot of different skills. You need a smooth surface for a few reasons

• This will prevent your stick blade from being scraped away and breaking
• It will be a low-friction environment which will help you get faster hands
• It will be more like the ice, giving you an easier transition from practicing off-ice to on-ice
• It can be use for shooting, stickhandling, and passing all essential hockey skills

Pro Sized Shooting Pad	Dryland Flooring Tiles	Roll-up Shooting Pad
Product Page: Pro Sized Price: $99.95 ($89.95 with coupon) Dimensions: 30 inches x 60 inches Advantages: Thicker material is better on uneven surfaces. Very easy to move	Product Page: Training Tiles Price: $11.95 per tile Dimensions: 1.5 foot per tile Advantages: Recommended for indoor use. Very sturdy, can be used to create a very large training area	Product Page: Roll-up Pad Price: $119.95 ($109.95 with coupon) Dimensions: 4 feet x 8.5 feet Advantages: Very large size which is great for practicing a lot of moves. Thinner material is recommended for smooth hard surfaces.

HockeyShot coupon code: HOWHCKY001

Pucks are great on the ice, but off the ice they don’t slide so well. I still recommend using a puck sometimes to practice with, but to really work on your hands you will need some other items. I strongly recommend getting one of each of the following. I recommend these products because they can be used almost anywhere and allow you to improve your stickhandling and co-ordination.

Green Biscuit	Wooden Ball	Stickhandling Ball
Product Page: Green Biscuit Price: $12.95 Dimensions: Same as puck Weight: 4.4 ounces Advantages: The best off-ice puck Two piece design will prevent it from flipping and rolling like most pucks Awesome to use on almost any surface	Product Page: Wooden Ball Price: $3.50 Dimensions: About 2 inch diameter Weight: Around 1.6 ounces Advantages: Very light ball which is nice for practicing very fast hands and moves. Wood material is soft and easy to stickhandle with.	Product Page: Stickhandling Ball Price: $10.95 or $7.95 for the HS ball Dimensions: 2.1 inch diameter Weight: 5 ounces Advantages: The SmartHockey ball is designed to feel just like a puck. Soft outer shell, and weight has a good feel The HockeyShot Ball is a few dollars cheaper, but feels a little stiffer to handle

There are a few options for shooting, personally I like a net the most, but I will mention the other options as well. With something to shoot at you can work on many different types of shots and different shooting techniques that you can then fine tune while on the ice.

Golf Net	Hockey Net	Shooting Tarp
Product Page: Various options Price: $45+ Dimensions: 10′ x 10′ + Advantages: Most affordable option. Can be used for multiple sports. Large area means it can be used as a backstop if you get a regular hockey net later.	Product Page: EZ Goal Price: $119.95 ($109.95 with coupon) Dimensions: 4 x 6 (regulation) Advantages: Has 2 inch posts, folds up for easy storage. Regulation size. Comes with targets. Will withstand shots up to 60MPH. Harder shots will dent posts.	Product Page: Shooting Tarp Price: $209.95 ($199.95 with coupon) Dimensions: 7 feet x 16 feet Advantages: Very large size protects everything behind it. Targets give you something to aim at. No posts for ricochets and flying pucks Can be used in garage or basement.

Shooting pucks is fun, searching for pucks is not fun. I like using a backstop because it allows you to spend more time shooting, and less time hunting for pucks. A backstop will give you more confidence to aim for the corners (not worried about missing), allow you to shoot more, and keep you from losing pucks! The first link also allows you to use it for other sports!

Fishing Net / Golf Net	EZ Goal Backstop
Product Page: Various options Price: $45+ Dimensions: 10′ x 10′ + Advantages: Most affordable option. Can be used for multiple sports. Larger area gives you more room for error. Not attached to the net which gives you some more creativity with the net. Permanently installed makes it easier to set up and take down your net. Good option if you want a permanent shooting area	Product Page: EZ Goal Backstop Price: $89.95 (Save $10 on order over $100) Dimensions: 10 x 6 Advantages: Fits perfectly onto any regulation sized net (6 x 4). Bolts onto the EZ Goal hockey net. Side panels can be moved when shooting from an angle. Side meshing may get holes in it with hard shots!

Now this is not a necessity, however I do strongly recommend it. This is an awesome training aid to show you how well you are shooting, motivate you to keep improving, and give you instant feedback on every shot you take. This is a great tool to have after you are set up with the basics explained above.

HockeyShot Radar	SpeedTrac Radar
Product Page: HockeyShot Radar Price: $99.95 ($89.95 with coupon) Advantages: Most affordable radar. Works well for hockey (unlike others I have tested) More consistent from close range	Product Page: SpeedTrac Radar Price: $139.95 ($129.95 with coupon) Advantages: Durable (I’ve dropped it and hit it with pucks a few times and it still works) Consistent readings from all distances

This is the most important tip in this article. If you buy these products but don’t use them, you won’t get any better! So what are you supposed to do? Well luckily I have a lot of tips for shooting and stickhandling that you can pour over and use. Make sure you are subscribed to this website (box in the left sidebar) and our Youtube Channel to be notified of new skills videos that we release.

Challenge – Improve any skill in 30 days – Action plan included

The off-season is here and you have every good intention of working on your shot, or practicing your dangles every day (okay maybe at least a few times a week) but lets be honest, it’s going to be just like last year. The new season will roll up on you, and you’ll look back and think “damn, I didn’t practice anything!” Well, I’m here to help with an action plan!

How you can improve any skill in 30 Days

The reason most plans fail, is because they are usually more like wishes. You don’t have a good goal, you don’t know how to achieve it, and you have no real plan on how to actually make it happen. Watch the video below to learn how to set and accomplish your goal, a S.M.A.R.T Goal!

What you need to do TODAY

1. Come up with a goal, it has to be realistic, measurable, and specific
2. Figure out what needs to be done to achieve your goal
3. Plan out your step by step action plan to get from where you are now, to completion of your goal
4. Be accountable, tell some friends and family members that you are going to achieve your goal
5. Have a VERY good reason why you NEED to achieve your goal, you can tell this to yourself on the days you don’t feel like following your action plan
6. Think of any excuse that might prevent you from following your plan, and then think of ways to overcome those excuses. Now when any excuse creeps up you will be armed with a solution.
7. Report back in 30 days and let me know how you did!

Is your goal to improve your shot?

If you plan on taking a lot of shots to improve accuracy, power, or a quick release I recommend my iSnipe training app! It’s available for Apple and Android and has gotten very good reviews. The app includes a shot tracker, 16 training videos, and two cool quick release and accuracy training modules, plus a journal so you write down your accomplishments and records to beat.

Challenge – Improve any skill in 30 days – Action plan included

The off-season is here and you have every good intention of working on your shot, or practicing your dangles every day (okay maybe at least a few times a week) but lets be honest, it’s going to be just like last year. The new season will roll up on you, and you’ll look back and think “damn, I didn’t practice anything!” Well, I’m here to help with an action plan!

How you can improve any skill in 30 Days

The reason most plans fail, is because they are usually more like wishes. You don’t have a good goal, you don’t know how to achieve it, and you have no real plan on how to actually make it happen. Watch the video below to learn how to set and accomplish your goal, a S.M.A.R.T Goal!

What you need to do TODAY

1. Come up with a goal, it has to be realistic, measurable, and specific
2. Figure out what needs to be done to achieve your goal
3. Plan out your step by step action plan to get from where you are now, to completion of your goal
4. Be accountable, tell some friends and family members that you are going to achieve your goal
5. Have a VERY good reason why you NEED to achieve your goal, you can tell this to yourself on the days you don’t feel like following your action plan
6. Think of any excuse that might prevent you from following your plan, and then think of ways to overcome those excuses. Now when any excuse creeps up you will be armed with a solution.
7. Report back in 30 days and let me know how you did!

Is your goal to improve your shot?

If you plan on taking a lot of shots to improve accuracy, power, or a quick release I recommend my iSnipe training app! It’s available for Apple and Android and has gotten very good reviews. The app includes a shot tracker, 16 training videos, and two cool quick release and accuracy training modules, plus a journal so you write down your accomplishments and records to beat.

Colt Hockey Stick Review

About a month ago I met with the guys from Colt Hockey to take a look at the new Colt Hockey stick. This is the stick that has been dubbed “unbreakable” (more on the later) so naturally I was very interested in doing a review! I drove to their factory in Toronto with a handful of questions and the feeling I’m sure would be similar to a kid going to a candy factory. All my questions were answered honestly, and I left with one brand new Colt Stick. I will be using this stick in nearly every video from here on out, so stay tuned for updates on it’s performance and durability.

In case you haven’t heard about the Colt Stick

Why is it so special? – It’s a one piece composite stick, with a twist. The bottom half of the stick is dipped in nano-steel – very light, yet very strong metal – which should make this stick very, very durable.

Is the Colt Stick heavy? – In relation to other sticks it’s somewhere in the middle. Their website boasts a weight of 465 grams, however on my kitchen scale at home it weighed in at 495. Most top end sticks weigh in at under 475, which puts the Colt stick in the same category as sticks in the $150-$200 price point. Colt is working to deliver a sub 460 gram stick.

What is the Balance like on the Colt? – This was a big concern to me, I thought that with the metal coating it would mess with the balance of the stick. What Colt has done is used less composite material for the bottom of the stick, and used it to reinforce the top portion, then when it is dipped the stick is balanced. I tested it at home and it has the same balance point as the Graf I used to use.

Will the Colt Hockey Stick Break?

Yes it will, it is not “unbreakable” and for good reason, that would not be safe, however it is designed to be much more durable than any other stick on the market. Check out my two reviews below for more information.

Some Detailed Info about the Colt
In this video I pass on some information I got while visiting the guys at the factory.

On Ice Colt Stick Review

In this review of the Colt stick I test out the stick on the ice and give you my overall opinion of it. I have some cool slow-mo shots and comparisons

Where to Buy the Colt

Right now it’s only available on the Colt Hockey website. If you use coupon code: HOWTOHOCKEY you will save $10!

My Overall Thoughts on the Colt Stick

Overall I liked the stick, and it will actually change the way I play now. I’m pretty frugal and usually spend less than $100 on a stick, even then I don’t like breaking them. Normally I like to get in front of the net and cause trouble, however the other team does not like this and I get too many hacks to my stick, so being frugal I tend to float around the perimeter. I can’t afford having some tool chop my stick in half! Well, that’s going to change. I’m going to try to get these guys to slash my stick, and then laugh when theirs explodes!

Colt Hockey Stick Specs and my opinion on the feel

Performance – The performance of the stick is good, but not outstanding. I would relate it to the feel of a mid-level stick.

Flex – I got the 75 flex stick, and I’m glad I did. On the ice it felt more like an 85. Testing with slow-mo revealed similar flex to my 85 flex stick, so if you like a really whippy stick you might have to wait until the next gen Colt.

Weight – The weight of my stick was 495 grams. It’s light, but obviously not the lightest on the market.

Curve – I got the Sakic style curve and liked it, my accuracy and shots were spot on.

Balance – The balance of the stick was great, mentally you expect the stick to be blade heavy, however with my tests it was the same balance as my regular sticks

Durability – While this is something I can only test with time, this is where the Colt should be leaps and bounds ahead of every other stick. I will report back later.

Price – The Colt is not cheap, but also not the most expensive twig on the market. It currently retails for $269 but with Colt Hockey coupon code HOWTOHOCKEY you will save $10

Recommendations – I would recommend the stick to guys who take a lot of slashes, like to play in the corners and in front of the net, and want a stick that will last.

Colt Hockey Stick Review

About a month ago I met with the guys from Colt Hockey to take a look at the new Colt Hockey stick. This is the stick that has been dubbed “unbreakable” (more on the later) so naturally I was very interested in doing a review! I drove to their factory in Toronto with a handful of questions and the feeling I’m sure would be similar to a kid going to a candy factory. All my questions were answered honestly, and I left with one brand new Colt Stick. I will be using this stick in nearly every video from here on out, so stay tuned for updates on it’s performance and durability.

In case you haven’t heard about the Colt Stick

Why is it so special? – It’s a one piece composite stick, with a twist. The bottom half of the stick is dipped in nano-steel – very light, yet very strong metal – which should make this stick very, very durable.

Is the Colt Stick heavy? – In relation to other sticks it’s somewhere in the middle. Their website boasts a weight of 465 grams, however on my kitchen scale at home it weighed in at 495. Most top end sticks weigh in at under 475, which puts the Colt stick in the same category as sticks in the $150-$200 price point. Colt is working to deliver a sub 460 gram stick.

What is the Balance like on the Colt? – This was a big concern to me, I thought that with the metal coating it would mess with the balance of the stick. What Colt has done is used less composite material for the bottom of the stick, and used it to reinforce the top portion, then when it is dipped the stick is balanced. I tested it at home and it has the same balance point as the Graf I used to use.

Will the Colt Hockey Stick Break?

Yes it will, it is not “unbreakable” and for good reason, that would not be safe, however it is designed to be much more durable than any other stick on the market. Check out my two reviews below for more information.

Some Detailed Info about the Colt
In this video I pass on some information I got while visiting the guys at the factory.

On Ice Colt Stick Review

In this review of the Colt stick I test out the stick on the ice and give you my overall opinion of it. I have some cool slow-mo shots and comparisons

Where to Buy the Colt

Right now it’s only available on the Colt Hockey website. If you use coupon code: HOWTOHOCKEY you will save $10!

My Overall Thoughts on the Colt Stick

Overall I liked the stick, and it will actually change the way I play now. I’m pretty frugal and usually spend less than $100 on a stick, even then I don’t like breaking them. Normally I like to get in front of the net and cause trouble, however the other team does not like this and I get too many hacks to my stick, so being frugal I tend to float around the perimeter. I can’t afford having some tool chop my stick in half! Well, that’s going to change. I’m going to try to get these guys to slash my stick, and then laugh when theirs explodes!

Colt Hockey Stick Specs and my opinion on the feel

Performance – The performance of the stick is good, but not outstanding. I would relate it to the feel of a mid-level stick.

Flex – I got the 75 flex stick, and I’m glad I did. On the ice it felt more like an 85. Testing with slow-mo revealed similar flex to my 85 flex stick, so if you like a really whippy stick you might have to wait until the next gen Colt.

Weight – The weight of my stick was 495 grams. It’s light, but obviously not the lightest on the market.

Curve – I got the Sakic style curve and liked it, my accuracy and shots were spot on.

Balance – The balance of the stick was great, mentally you expect the stick to be blade heavy, however with my tests it was the same balance as my regular sticks

Durability – While this is something I can only test with time, this is where the Colt should be leaps and bounds ahead of every other stick. I will report back later.

Price – The Colt is not cheap, but also not the most expensive twig on the market. It currently retails for $269 but with Colt Hockey coupon code HOWTOHOCKEY you will save $10

Recommendations – I would recommend the stick to guys who take a lot of slashes, like to play in the corners and in front of the net, and want a stick that will last.

Coach Bennett and Union Win NCAA National Championship

Just want to congratulate Coach Bennett and his Union Dutchmen on their national championship success. Coach Bennett has helped me and my team with defensive zone coverage and skills and we won a championship. Obviously his techniques are pretty solid, helping him guide his team to their first national title. Our site has had input from a few of the coaches who took their teams to the Frozen Four tournament and we want to thank all of them for their willingness to help other coaches, while at the same time guiding their teams to great success. Once again, congratulations to Coach Bennett from my Jr Flyers team and all the coaches who use this site, we appreciate how special your accomplishment was today.

Contributing D1 Coaches Win Conference Championships

I just wanted to offer a quick note of congratulations to two head coaches who contribute content to our site for winning their conference championships over the weekend.
First up is Derek Schooley (@DerekSchooley) for Robert Morris University. RMU scored five goals in the third period to take down Canisius 7-4 in the Atlantic Hockey final. Next is Mike Eaves and his Wisconsin Badgers (@BadgerMHockey). Trailing 4-2 to OSU with under seven minutes to play the Badgers scored two goals in 28 seconds to tie the score at four. In OT, the Badgers scored the winning goal at the 7:48 mark to take the Big Ten championship. Great job by both coaches getting their teams to the final game and winning the championship. To both men, thanks for your continued support of our site and congratulations on your teams conference championship.

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Turning: How to turn better in Hockey

Turning is one of the fundamental skills that every hockey player needs to learn. Sure you might be able to turn, but how well can you do it? There is a big difference in a slow gradual and off balance turn VS a quick, tight, sharp turn. In this video and article we are giving you the information you need to start performing better turns.

How to Turn in Hockey

The Basics of a good turn

For a good turn you want to use both skates. Sure you can still turn with only one skate on the ice, but with two blades on the ice you will be more balanced, and be able to turn at higher speeds. Below is a breakdown of the turn

• If you are turning left, lead with your left foot. If you are turning right, lead with your right foot
• With a staggered stance, most of the weight will be on the outside leg, and your inside skate will be there for extra balance and to help you get lower (and a tighter turn)
• With both feet on the ice you can use both edges, rather than just one
• When you are coming out of the turn, use a few crossovers to accelerate out and keep your speed.
• Throughout the turn you should maintain balance, you can do this by staying low, and having a good base (feet are not too close together)

NHL Examples

Matt Duchene is performing a nice tight turn, he has a good base and a staggered stance. This staggered stance helps Duchene get a better turn, but also protect the puck from the defender!

Here is Pavel Datsyuk in the NHL Skills Competition. Notice how the hands are away from the body, the stick leads Datsyuk through the turn, and he is nice and low with both blades on the ice. As Datsyuk completes this turn he can execute crossovers from this position and keep his speed.

Here is a tight turn with the puck on the forehand. Notice the nice wide base for balance and strength (hard to knock off the puck). Karlsson has his hands away from his body so that he can cup the puck even more and perform a tighter turn. With his feet like this he can keep on pushing with the outside leg and drive wide while pushing on the opponent.

Want more? Check out our Learn to Skate Series and don’t forget to subscribe to our blog (box to the left)

Proper Transitions: Turning backwards and Turning Forwards

So far in our skating series we have covered the basic hockey stance, the forward stride, stopping, turning, edges, and balance. You should have a pretty good grasp on skating by now but what about transitions?

This is when you are skating forwards and need to switch to skating backwards, or you are skating backwards and need to turn and go forwards. This happens a lot in hockey (especially if you play defense) so you want to make sure you are doing it properly.

Two methods for each transition

There are actually ways to do each transition (or turn). The first method is fine for beginners because it helps them stay balanced and get used to the motion, however once they get better they will need to learn the more advanced transitions. In the video below we outline both ways to turn from forwards to backwards and turn from backwards to forwards.

Transition Techniques for Hockey Players

The Beginner Method

When you first start out, we just want to get you used to turning around from forwards to backwards or backwards to forwards while moving. To do this you can keep both feet on the ice. Essentially all you need to do is rotate the hips a bit, push one foot around in front and bring the other foot around behind you.

The only problem with this method is that your blades are on the ice the entire time, which means at some point they will be perpendicular to the direction you want to go, and that will cause a lot of resistance on the ice (you will momentarily be in the hockey stop position while turning this way)

The Advanced and Preferred Method

In this method the blade that is on the ice is ALWAYS pointing in the direction you want to go. You basically point one foot down the ice, lift the other and turn it around nearly backwards and plant it, then lift and rotate the other foot and rotate it around so now both are planted on the ice and you should now be facing in the opposite direction (or flat on your face if you didn’t do it right)

Forwards to Backwards Transitions

With the forward to backward transition there are three simple steps. Remember to always pivot towards the play. In this scenario I am rotating to my left

1. Weight is first placed on my right leg
2. I glide momentarily on my right skate while lifting my left leg and rotating it around, almost going heel to heel
3. Now I place my weight on my left leg (which is now going backwards) and rotate my right leg around so now both feet are facing backwards (and so am I)
4. To do this in the other direction you just start with the weight on your left leg and rotate in the other direction.

Backwards to forward Transition

The backwards to forwards transition is a little easier then the forwards to backwards. It follows a similar system of transferring weight. In this example I am rotating / opening up to my right. Remember to always turn towards the play (chest is always facing the puck)

1. While skating backwards transfer your weight to your left leg (right leg if you are rotating the other way)
2. Take the weight off your right leg and rotate it around (open up the hips) you will almost be in a heel to heel position
3. Now plant your weight on the right foot and bring your left leg around so you are now going forwards.

To see this move in action you can watch our forwards to backwards transition video embedded above.