Crossovers are essential for maintaining speed through turns. This guide breaks down the technique and helps you master them on both sides.

Why Crossovers Matter

What Crossovers Do

Crossovers allow you to: - Maintain speed through turns - Generate power in corners - Change direction quickly - Skate tight circles - Execute defensive plays

Without crossovers: - You slow down in turns - Wide, inefficient circles - Can't keep up with play - Limited agility

Game Applications

Where crossovers actually show up, by position:

Forwards use crossovers to	Defensemen use them for	Everyone needs them for
Turn on forecheck	Gap control	Warm-up skating
Circle in offensive zone	Defensive zone coverage	Position-specific movements
Curl for passes	Pivoting on opponents	Transitions
Tight turns with puck	Zone exits	Speed maintenance

The Mechanics

What's Happening

In a left turn (counter-clockwise): 1. Right leg crosses over left leg 2. Left leg pushes underneath with outside edge 3. Weight shifts continuously 4. Body leans into turn 5. Repeat rhythmically

Key principle: Outside leg provides power, inside leg stabilizes and pushes.

Body Position

Lean: - Whole body leans into circle - Not just upper body - Ankles, knees, hips all angled - More speed = more lean

Head: - Up and looking forward - Facing direction of travel - Not looking down

Arms: - Slightly out for balance - Inside arm lower - Outside arm helps momentum - Natural pumping motion

Knees: - Bent throughout - Deeper than regular skating - Power comes from knee bend - Never straighten completely

Step-by-Step Technique

Turning Left (Counter-Clockwise)

Starting position: 1. Skate forward 2. Begin gentle curve to left 3. Knees bent 4. Body starts leaning left

The crossover motion:

Step 1: Lift right leg - Outside (right) leg lifts - Knee stays bent - Bring leg across body - Hip opens up

Step 2: Cross over - Right foot crosses over left - Lands on inside edge - In front of left foot - Creates X pattern when viewed from above

Step 3: Left leg pushes - As right crosses, left pushes - Uses outside edge - Pushes underneath and out - Generates power

Step 4: Recover left leg - Left leg comes back - Returns to starting position - Ready for next crossover

Step 5: Repeat - Continuous rhythm - Right crosses, left pushes - Smooth, flowing motion - Build speed

Turning Right (Clockwise)

Same mechanics, opposite legs: - Left leg crosses over right - Right leg pushes with outside edge - Lean right into circle - Mirror image of left turn

Common Mistakes

These are the five I see most often, and what to do about each one.

Mistake	What happens	Solution
Not crossing over	Just stepping beside, not crossing Feet stay parallel No power generation Inefficient turn	Actually cross one leg over the other Create that X pattern Hip must open Exaggerate initially
Looking down	Loss of balance Can't see where going Poor body position Slowing down	Force head up Look at boards across rink Trust your feet Peripheral vision for feet
Straight legs	No power Can't lean properly Unstable Slow	Deep knee bend Stay low Never straighten legs Imagine sitting
Not leaning	Can't turn tight Off balance Feet slide out Wide, slow turns	Commit to the lean Whole body angles More speed = more lean Trust your edges
Rushing	Choppy motion Loss of rhythm Tripping over own feet Frustration	Start very slow Focus on smooth Rhythm over speed Speed comes with comfort

Learning Progression

Week 1: Understanding the Motion

Off-ice practice: - Walking crossover pattern - Standing and crossing legs - Get the feeling - Build muscle memory

On-ice: - Very slow circles - Exaggerate the motion - Focus on form - One direction at a time

Week 2-3: Building Rhythm

On-ice work: - Moderate speed circles - Continuous crossovers - Counting rhythm (1-2-3) - Starting to feel natural

Drill: - Circle faceoff dots - 5 laps one way - Rest - 5 laps other way

Week 4-6: Adding Speed

Progressive speed: - Start slow, add speed each lap - Maintain form at higher speeds - Tighter circles - More lean

Challenge: - Figure-8s around two circles - Forces both directions - Quick transitions - Real application

Month 2-3: Both Directions

Equal practice: - Don't neglect weak side - Spend more time on harder direction - Both need to be functional - Weak side will always feel worse initially

Ongoing: Refinement

Continue improving: - Tighter turns - More speed - Better lean - Smoother transitions

Practice Drills

Drill 1: Slow Circles

Setup: - Use faceoff circle - Start at top

Execution: 1. Skate around circle slowly 2. Continuous crossovers 3. Focus on form 4. 5 laps each direction

Focus: - Smooth motion - Full crossovers - Proper lean - Rhythm

Drill 2: Figure-8s

Setup: - Use two faceoff circles - Or create two markers

Execution: 1. Crossover around right circle 2. Transition through center 3. Crossover around left circle (opposite direction) 4. Continuous figure-8 5. 3-5 minutes

Focus: - Quick direction changes - Both crossover directions - Maintaining speed - Smooth transitions

Drill 3: Increasing Speed

Setup: - One faceoff circle

Execution: 1. Lap 1: Very slow 2. Lap 2: Slow 3. Lap 3: Moderate 4. Lap 4: Fast 5. Lap 5: Maximum speed

Focus: - Maintaining form as speed increases - Deeper lean at higher speeds - Not falling apart under speed

Drill 4: Tight Turns

Setup: - Small cone or marker - Or use goal crease

Execution: 1. Crossover around tight marker 2. As tight as possible 3. Slow speed 4. Maximum lean 5. Both directions

Focus: - Edge control - Maximum lean - Very tight radius - Balance

Drill 5: Crossovers with Puck

Setup: - Circle with puck

Execution: 1. Stickhandle while doing crossovers 2. Start very slow 3. Maintain puck control 4. Build up speed

Focus: - Coordination - Puck control during crossovers - Game application - Head up

Weak Side Development

Everyone Has a Weak Side

It's normal: - One direction feels terrible - Everyone experiences this - Takes longer to develop - Never feels as good as strong side

But it must be functional: - Games require both directions - Can't avoid it - Practice weak side MORE - Accept it will be harder

Weak Side Strategy

Time allocation: - 60-70% practice on weak side - 30-40% on strong side - Strong side maintains easier - Weak side needs more reps

Mental approach: - Celebrate small improvements - Compare to own baseline, not strong side - Be patient - Stay consistent

Troubleshooting

Find the complaint that sounds like you.

Problem	Cause	Solution
"I keep tripping over my own feet"	Timing is off	Slow down significantly Exaggerate lift of crossing leg Count rhythm: "Cross-push-recover" Practice without forward motion first
"I can't lean enough without falling"	Fear or poor edge control	Bend knees more Start with very gentle leans Gradually increase lean angle Trust your edges Practice one-foot glides on edges
"My inside leg keeps sliding out"	Weight too much on inside leg	More weight on outside (crossing) leg Inside leg just supports and pushes Don't fight the crossover Let outside leg carry weight
"I can do it slow but not fast"	Form breaks down under speed	Progressive speed increases Don't jump to fast too soon 10% speed increase each session Form always comes first

Final Thoughts

Crossovers take time to develop. Most beginners need 3-6 months to get comfortable crossovers on their strong side, and 6-12 months for weak side.

Key takeaways: - Start slow, focus on form - Lean into the turn - Outside leg crosses, inside leg pushes - Practice weak side more - Be patient with progression

Crossovers are a fundamental skill you'll use every single time you skate. Invest the time to learn them properly.