Diane Ness
Refining technique
- Details
- Last Updated on Sunday, 27 May 2012 23:31
By Diane Ness
At the end of a long season you may notice that most players’ skating technique begins to suffer. Minor things like a skater’s stride getting choppy or a skater not bending his/her knees is most evident.
While most teams work on power play, penalty kill, breakouts and forechecks during the season, there leaves little room for skating and skill development. As spring and summer are upon us, it is time once again to take a step back and revisit technique.
Form skating and refining technique is essential. Being able to focus on a stride slowly, as well as concentrating on a deep knee bend, are crucial in continuing to progress as a skater.
Crossover starts
- Details
- Last Updated on Sunday, 27 May 2012 23:31
By Diane Ness
When I have my skaters work on our quick starts, we will spend a lot of time working on the basic straight ahead start. However, there are many situations in which the skater is facing the play and has to do a crossover start to get going.
Whether its getting started from a breakout position against the boards or moving around in the slot (like the photos), skaters will use this start all the time. I prefer the straight ahead quick start but learning the crossover start is a must.
Learning the hockey stop
- Details
- Last Updated on Sunday, 27 May 2012 23:31
By Diane Ness
Stopping is one of the first real challenging skills that any young hockey player will learn. Actually, every skater should learn a snow plow stop first before they can tackle the much more difficult hockey stop.
Most young skaters will always favor one side over another. The challenge is to try to get each skater comfortable while performing a hockey stop both left and right side alike.
Practice makes permanent
- Details
- Last Updated on Sunday, 27 May 2012 23:31
By Diane Ness
In skating, one of the main areas of concern is getting every skater’s center of gravity lower to the ice. This means getting your knees bent, your ankles flexed, and your butt down. This does not come with a few repetitions of drills, rather countless hours of an actual concentrated effort.
Skaters should focus on training in an uncomfortably low position. Once the skater is able to do this, every skating skill becomes easier. It’s very simple, the lower you train, the eventually the more comfortable you will become in that position.
Changing speed
- Details
- Last Updated on Sunday, 27 May 2012 23:31
By Diane Ness
One of the most important skills that we can work on is changing our speed. Whether we go from slow to fast or fast to slow, changing speed allows you to create space and never allows your opponent to get a beat on you.
We like to call it having an “extra gear” with or without a puck. This is a skill that can be improved upon and should be worked on consistently.
