Butterfly Warm-Up Skating Drill

Title: Butterfly Warm-Up Skating Drill Category: Skating Age Tags: U7, U9, U11, U13, U15, U18+ Skill Tags: Edgework, Skating, Warm Up, Conditioning, Crossovers Purpose: Warm up skating mechanics and edge control in a continuous flow while preparing players for practice. Setup: Place one cone on each faceoff dot in both end zones. Players line up on the goal line. Coach calls out skating tasks at the blue lines. Drill Steps: • Player skates up the middle of the ice toward the far end. • Player performs the coach-called skating task at the blue line. • Player skates around either cone on the far end faceoff dot. • Player skates back along the boards toward the near end. • Player performs the coach-called skating task at the blue line. • Player skates around the cone on the near end faceoff dot. • Player skates back up the middle and continues the loop. Coaching Points: • Maintain strong knee bend and proper posture. • Keep head up while skating. • Use proper edges when turning around cones. • Stay balanced and controlled. • Focus on smooth skating throughout the drill. Variations: • Perform drill while carrying a puck. • Alternate cone sides each repetition. • Perform inside edges, outside edges, or crossovers at blue lines. • Increase speed as players warm up. Time: 5–10 minutes