Pivot Mirror at the Dots

Objective: Forward-backward pivots with a live read — the mirror partner makes footwork game-real. Setup: Pairs in the neutral zone: a forward leader and a backward mirror, two lanes running at once. Execution: Leader zig-zags dot to dot at half speed; mirror skates backward keeping a stick-length gap. Every direction change by the leader forces a backward-to-backward pivot from the mirror. Swap roles at the far blue line; leader goes full speed on round three. Coaching points: Mirror's eyes on the leader's chest — hips and hands lie, the chest doesn't. Pivot on an arc and keep the feet moving; a stopped mirror is a beaten defenseman. Gap is the score: end the lane still a stick-length away and you won.