Off-Ice Stickhandling Drills You Can Do at Home
- Sep 3, 2025
- 2 min read
Stickhandling is one of the most important skills in hockey, and the great news is—you don’t need to be at the rink to improve it. With just a stick, a ball or puck, and some open space, you can develop the soft hands, quick reactions, and creativity that translate directly to on-ice performance. Below are some simple but effective off-ice drills you can do right at home.
1. Basic Ball Control
Start with a golf ball, stickhandling side to side while keeping your head up. The small size of the ball forces you to use soft hands and better precision. Focus on control, not speed at first, then gradually increase your tempo.
Coaching Tip: Try to look forward or watch TV while you do this—training your hands to work without your eyes glued to the puck.
2. Wide Reach Drill
Spread your feet shoulder-width apart and practice pulling the puck (or ball) as far to your forehand and backhand sides as you can. This mimics the reach you’ll need to protect the puck against defenders.
Progression: Add a weight shift, leaning onto your outside leg as you extend, to simulate real game movement.
3. Figure Eight Patterns
Set up two objects (like water bottles or cones) about a stick-length apart. Stickhandle the ball in a figure-eight pattern around them, alternating forehand and backhand control.
Variation: Use three cones in a triangle and weave through in continuous patterns to challenge your footwork and hands together.
4. Quick-Touch Drill
Set up a small area (2–3 feet wide) and try to make as many quick stickhandling touches as possible without losing control. This builds speed and hand quickness—key for in-tight situations near the net.
Challenge: Time yourself for 20–30 seconds and try to beat your own record.
5. Obstacle Course Creativity
Use household items—shoes, water bottles, books—to create an obstacle course. Stickhandle through while keeping control and staying light on your feet. This simulates weaving through traffic in real game situations.
Bonus: Mix in toe drags, pullbacks, and fakes as you go through to work on creativity.
6. One-Handed Control
Practice maneuvering the ball with just one hand on your stick (both forehand and backhand). This helps strengthen your wrists and develops confidence when you’re fending off defenders with your free arm.
7. Wall Bounce Drill
Pass the ball or puck against a wall and catch it on your forehand or backhand. Focus on cushioning the puck as it comes back to improve your first touch.
Progression: Increase the pace and add in quick dekes after each catch.
Final Thoughts
Off-ice stickhandling drills don’t just make you better with the puck—they also improve your confidence, creativity, and ability to keep your head up in games. If you commit to 10–15 minutes a day, you’ll see real progress by the time you hit the ice again.
Consistency is the key—make these drills part of your daily routine, and you’ll start to separate yourself from the competition.
