Guide: Master Your Forward Crossovers

From: Brandon Rubeo of the Hockey Players Club and Quest Hockey.

Why Develop Forward Crossovers:

Crossovers are a crucial skating skill in hockey!

A properly timed crossover accelerates you out of a tight turn or pivot.

Consecutive crossovers help us build speed during wider turns.

Linear crossovers are particularly effective on the rush. Properly timed, they create deception, time, and space.

With practice, our progressive 13 Forward Crossover Drills will help you take your game to the next level. 📈

Common Shortcomings to Effective Forward Crossovers:

• Underdeveloped outside edge competence.

• Poor knee bend, sometimes due to lack of flexibility.

• Unengaged upper body, i.e. not engaging your upper body in the direction of your crossover.

• Not embracing the work outside of your current comfort zone.

How to Use This Guide:

• This list of 13 forward crossovers drills isn’t intended to be performed consecutively — although you’re welcome too. Instead, pick out 2-5 drills to work on each time you’re on the ice with the most benefit coming from practicing the drills you currently execute poorly.

• If you’re just starting out, get confident performing drills 1-3 before moving on.

• If you’re a more seasoned skater, use one or multiple drills from 1-3 to warm up before performing 2-5 of the other crossover drills listed.

*Full drill descriptions and tips below the video.

VIDEO: 13 Forward Crossover Drills

13 Drills to Master Forward Crossovers

1. Isolated Crossover Steps

Begin in a low hockey position, both knees bent and all toes facing forward.

In a slow and controlled manner, step/cross one skate over the other and hold the crossed position for a brief moment, before stepping in the same direction with the skate that has been crossed over in order to return to your low hockey position with skates uncrossed.

Repeat.

You can take these steps consecutively in the same direction, as demonstrated in the video above, or alternate each way.

Drill Tips:

• Aim to initially land on the outside edge of the skate that is stepping/crossing over the other.

• Maintain a knee bend.

• Keep your toes facing forward.

2. Toe Extension With Puck

Stand alongside the boards, preferably in front of a bench for more open dasher to hold, with your nearest hand holding the boards.

While stepping on a puck, drive your inside skate away from the boards at a slight backward angle in order to slide the puck behind and beyond your stationary outside skate and pause.

Return the puck to its starting position and repeat.

Drill Tips:

• Begin with and maintain a deep bend in your stationary outside knee.

• Begin with a deep knee bend with your inside skate before fully extending it behind your outside skate.

• Isolate the extension and recovery movement, staying as still as possible otherwise.

3. Outside Edge Crossover Steps

Starting in a low hockey position with your toes pointed forward, begin alternating crossover steps repeatedly down the ice without allowing your skates to recover to an uncrossed position.

 *You don’t need to hold your arms out like a robot, like my demonstration in the video above. 🤦‍♂️

Drill Tips:

• Land on your outside edge.

• Keep your toes faced forward.

• Maintain a knee bend.

• Keep your stick on the ice.

4. Outside Edge Half Circles

While in a low hockey position, stride forward to create momentum, lift your outside skate, lean on the outside edge of your inside skate, and turn towards your inside skate, initiating the turn with your upper body including your head, shoulders, and core.

Complete a half-circle with your isolated outside edge before crossing your lifted skate over and onto its outside edge in order to perform a turn the other way.

Repeat down the ice.

Drill Tips:

• Point your lifted toe down and across the skate on the ice.

• Challenge yourself to keep your outside skate lifted and controlled in order to complete the entire half-circle on the isolated outside edge.

• Maintain a deep knee bend.

• Keep your stick on the ice.

5. Crosby Pushes Around Circle Using Inside Edge of Outside Skate

Line up next to a face-off circle (not to be confused with a face-off dot) in a low hockey position and stride outward with the inside edge of your outside skate.

Repeat around the circle.

Drill Tips:

• Maintain a deep bend of the inside knee.

• Begin with a deep bend before fully extending the outside knee.

• Rotate your upper body in towards the face-off dot.

• Keep your stick on the ice.