Ice Push-Up Power Starts
Strength & Power
Legend
- player
- coach / parent
- movement path
How it works
Build lower-body explosive power for skating through a fun on-ice falling and power-up starting drill.
What you need
- hockey stick
- ice
Your focus
On-ice power development at young ages uses the child's own body weight and the ice surface to create resistance. Learning to push up from a fall on ice develops the leg and hip strength that directly powers the skating stride. The playful format removes fear of falling while building the explosive lower-body capability needed for faster skating.
Practice falling safely to one knee on the ice at low speed first.
From the kneeling position, push up explosively using one leg and sprint 3 strides forward.
Fall to the other knee and repeat.
Complete 8 push-up starts; aim for a more powerful explosion off the ice each rep.
Goal
You've got it when you push up and accelerate immediately, no pause at the top, no hesitation, just an explosive burst forward.
Helpful cues
- Push from your whole leg, ankle, knee, hip all extend together
- Be explosive, jump off that ice, do not slide
- First stride after the push is your most powerful, use it
Adjust the challenge
Make it easier
Strip it back
Allow players to use the stick as a balance aid during the push-up.
UpLVL it
Add the next challenge
Add a puck to carry from the first stride after each explosive start.No account needed
Build a practice plan
Add drills, keep the plan in this browser, then share a link with your staff or parents.This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.
This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.After every practice, UpLVL automatically surfaces the drills each player needs to work on most. See it for yourself.