A tight turn changes direction without slowing down. The body leans into the turn like a motorcycle. The inside skate edge holds the curve. Players who can do this beat opponents to loose pucks and shake defenders in tight spaces.
What you need: Full gear, ice rink, four cones.
Setup: Cones at four spots forming a 10-foot square at center ice.
How to run it:
- Skater starts at one cone, sprints forward.
- At the next cone, executes a tight 180-degree turn. Body leans, inside edge holds.
- Sprints to the next cone. Tight turn the other direction.
- Continue around the square. Do 3 laps.
- Last lap at full speed.
What to watch: The lean. Without a lean, the turn is wide. With a lean, the turn is sharp. Tell them: “Drop your inside shoulder toward the ice.”
If they’re struggling: Bigger square (15 feet). More room for the turn.
If they’ve got it: Add a puck. Tight turn while controlling the puck. Or shrink the square to 8 feet.