Every player, no matter what position he or she plays, needs to know how to skate backward.
How to Skate Backwards in Hockey
Backward Stride
As in the forward stride, it is important to emphasize power, which is achieved by using your skate edges, leg muscles and body weight.
Ready Position Stride
Take your bottom hand off the stick.
Your skates should be shoulder-width apart.
Get in a sit position with your knees bent and chest up.
Backward Stride
Start in ready position, head up, knees bent, and your back straight and shoulders erect.
Skate with one hand on your stick. Keep the top hand on the end of the stick, with your elbow tucked inward.
Start by pointing the heel of your front foot out to the side.
Dig in and push off from the heel to the toe, making half circles (C-Cuts) on the surface.
After reaching a full extension, bring your leg back under your hip and repeat with the other leg.
Keep the knee of the glide leg bent while the other leg is striding.
Maintain balance Ð you should be able to skate backward in a straight line from end to end.
The keys to a good stride are power, length and recovery Ð players with poor strides don't often recover their stride, which causes poor balance.
Finally, players must be able to stay low while skating backward. This will help maintain a long stride, which creates speed.
Common Errors
Wiggling too much from the hips. This limits the thrust power of your legs.
Bending forward too much at the waist. This throws your balance off, reduces your knee bend and limits your power and stride.
Skates too far apart that limits the length of your stride, which effects the amount of power you can generate.
C-Cuts
C-Cuts are an important part of skating backward. It is how you generate speed, using your thrust leg to drive the skate into the ice to generate maximum power. The C-Cut is divided into four parts Ð pivot, push, re-pivot and return. Keep the entire blade of both skates on the ice.
On Ice Drills
Resistance Drill
A good drill that forces a backward skater to practice the use of knee bend, inside edges and full recovery:
Pair up, with each player holding one end of a stick with one hand.
One player skates backward using C-Cut thrusts to pull the resisting skater across the ice.
Be sure to aim the gliding skate straight backward while executing each C-Cut.
The forward skater should do a two-foot snowplow to resist the movement.
One-Leg C-Cuts
Line up along the boards.
Using only your right leg to execute a C-Cut, glide across the rink.
Try to make it across in four or five C-Cuts.
Return using only your left leg.
Keep your glide skate pointing straight back for maximum distance and glide.
One variation of this drill would be to alternate feet.
Off-ice Drills
Hip Or Leg Movement
Run backward, keeping both feet as close to the ground as possible. Swing your hips in a backward swivel motion to simulate the hip movement used in skating backward. A take off on this drill is to bring each leg directly behind your body. This is another method of skating backward.
Leg Extensions
Standing in the ready position with your knees bent, thrust your right leg out in a backward C-Cut motion. Swing your leg out and around and back together with your other leg. Then switch to your left leg. This will allow you to simulate a backward stride on the ice.
One-on-one Drill
One player moves forward, attempting to get by the second player, who is moving straight backward. The object is for the defender to skate straight backward (no crossovers) and not allow the forward to catch and pass him or her. This is a good drill for both ice or inline players
Stickhandling is very important in hockey. Learn the proper way from the start; learn the proper way to stickhandle, and how you can control the puck in any situation. This video explains how a player should be able to control the puck and shows a few quick drills you can use to practice being a better stickhandler.
There is more to stickhandling than moving the puck back and forth. Improve keeping your head up and not losing the puck as much.
Rule: The top hand should not be on the side of your body. This reduces range of motion, the proper way to hold the stick is how I am holding the stick on the right. This allows free movement of the stick around the entire body
When you practice stickhandling you should practice controlling the puck every where you can reach with your hockey stick. This means moving the puck side to side AND forwards and backwards, in front of you, on both sides of you, and even behind you. Practice this as soon as you can and as often as you can. Not only will you be able to stickhandle through heavy traffic, and around a lot more players, you will also be able to recover the puck more often when it is knocked off of your stick, and you will also be able to receive more passes.
Practice controlling the puck within the furthest reach in every direction. Every hockey player should practice this in order to have full control of the puck whenever it is close to them.
If you can control the puck around your entire body you will not have to slow down and wait for a pass, you will be able to reach back, tap the puck forwards and take off. Stickhandling around your entire body will give you a huge advantage over other players who only practice stickhandling in front of them, and you will be able to stickhandle around a lot more players. Read more
Tips Good tips. Here’s another. Too many players stickhandle the puck in front of them as they approach the goalie from straight on, or a slight angle. They have to move the puck to their forehand when ready to shoot and this movement tips off the goalie. Instead, learn how to stickhandle on the stick side on the approach to the net so that a quick shot can be snapped off at any moment without tipping off the goalie.
“When on a breakaway the proper place to have the puck is on your stick side. If you are right handed then you should be stick handling the puck on your right side. If you have the puck on your stick side than you can shoot, pass, make a drop pass or deke. This will keep the goalie thinking about what you are going to do next.”
Forwards and Backward Stops Basic Stops and Difficult Stops A common problem that many new hockey players have is learning how to stop. The biggest part of stopping on skates is getting over the mental barrier. This videos should help you understand what is happening.
The main concept to grasp is that you have to peel the ice, sliding sideways.
Learning how to hockey stop can be tough, but by learning the proper technique, taking it slow, and practicing a lot you should be able to learn in no time! Here is the process of stopping in hockey.
A player starts by skating forwards, when the player is ready to stop they will lift one leg slightly to take weight off of it (this can become the back leg or front leg but for the purposes of this example this will become the back leg). With a bit of weight taken off of one skate, the player will start to lean back, rotate their hips and shoulders and begin to turn with their other leg (this leg becomes the front leg). When the player has turned their front leg approximately 90 degrees they will now plant their back leg about 1 foot behind their front leg. At this point the player will be leaning back, and keeping the momentum moving in the direction they were skating. With both feet planted the player will slide for a brief second before coming to a full stop. This sounds like a lot to learn and a long process, but it happens in less than a second.
1. Take the weight off of back skate - Push off with back leg getting ready to land with the front leg
2. Rotate Hips - start to rotate your hips, turning your front foot. At the same time I will be leaning back, and bringing my back leg behind my front leg.
3. Planting Your Feet - having rotated your hips a bit, turned your front foot enough to begin stopping, and just starting to plant your back leg.
The back leg is used for balance, and also a bit for stopping. Most of the weight will be placed on the front leg. The key here is to lean back (so you don’t topple over) and peel ice.
To stop you will be using the inside edge of the blade on your front skate, and outside edge of the blade on your back skate. I will pivot both of my skates just a little more, then really lean into the stop.
The key is to keep moving in the direction that you are skating. Reed more
Hockey Transitional Skating: iTrain Hockey shows you in this video some of the basic on-ice transitional skating drills designed to improve your turning and pivoting skills.
1. Starting Position Each forward stride must start with your feet close together in the “V” position with your knees turned outward and your body centered over top of your feet. The PowerSkater trucks (the two sliding platforms that you stand on) always start at the apex of the machine. Step on from inside the triangle of the machine. Place both feet on the trucks with your feet flat on top of each truck and your foot against the foot rest (adjust the foot rest to the size of your shoe). You will notice that your feet are in the “V” position. It is recommended that you wear athletic shoes when exercising on the PowerSkater.
With the foot rests perpendicular to the track, each push will result in a 45 ° hip opening. We recommend that younger and less skilled players learn to open their hip at a 45° angle. Older more proficient skaters may prefer a 30° setting for the foot rest.
How to Increase Skating Endurance
3. Forward Stride You are now ready to begin your workout. Push either your left or your right foot outward. A proper skating stride must always be backward and outward laterally at a 30° to 45° hip opening. With the foot rests set at 45°, you push the truck backward traveling at a 45° angle from behind your body and at a 45° opening at the hip. When making a stride, take as long a stride as is comfortable. The longer the stride you take where your pushing leg knee is straight will result in greater speed when free skating. Do not move your center of gravity backward in the push, but rather keep your butt over top of the apex of the machine. The opposite knee (glide foot and leg) will be at approximately a 90° knee bend. The only time either knee should be straightened is during the push and leg extension, otherwise the knee must be well bent. Transfer your weight during the leg extensions to your locked gliding foot, maintaining your center of gravity over your upper body.
When you bring your foot forward for another stride, your knee should be well bent and your body profile needs to remain low. Do not bring your body upward, but rather make your lower body do all the work. Keep your shoulders forward. Always keep your knee in front of your glide foot. As soon as the final push has been made, the toe of the foot should be in control of the truck, returning to the “V” stopped position. The truck automatically returns ready for the locked glide position. You are now ready to make an opposite foot and leg push.
Everyone is strong in the push off phase (concentric muscle movement) and are weak on the return (eccentric muscle movement). When you skate on ice you need only to raise your returning foot an inch or so off the ice. When you skate on the machine you must keep your foot on the truck. This will train your muscle to be faster, stronger, and more flexible, translating into speed. Push off and return at equal speed. As an example if you push off at a 1.. 2.. 3.. count, then return to a 1..2..3.. count. Do not let the trucks slam to the front of the machine. Train your mind and your muscles the proper technique. Focus on perfect form.
Niedermayer - Crosby Skating Styles
4. Weight and Balance When making forward strides, your weight should always be on your gliding foot. When using the PowerSkater, your weight should be transferred to your locked foot simulating the glide. Always keep your shoulders level. Keep your head up at all times. Do not lean on any objects or put your hands on your hips or knees. Keep your balance of your upper torso directly over the “V” position of the PowerSkater. Many first time users of the PowerSkater system may experience awkward weight and balance movements. Push with your foot. Do not wiggle around by rotating your hips or by moving your knees outward before your foot moves. You may even feel like you are going to fall off the foot trucks. This is a common feeling until you learn to maintain your weight shifts, keeping your center of gravity directly under your body. In a short few workouts, your balance should steadily improve. If you have the opportunity to position a mirror well in front of you while using the PowerSkater, this will help you see your form. You can hold a hockey stick in your one hand only (out to the side), but do not use your stick as a prop or crutch for balance. I would not recommend you starting with a stick until you have developed good form and habits.
5. Arm and Shoulder Movement Proper arm and shoulder movements are important in skating to help propel your body in the forward direction. Quite often you will see the bad habit of the skater’s arms and shoulders being thrown from side to side; thus the upper body movement is completely opposite to the lower body direction and movement. Move your arms in time with your feet and leg pushes (left arm forward - left leg outward, right arm forward - right leg outward). By never crossing the vertical midpoint of your body in your arm swing, you will learn to throw your weight forward in time with your lower body movements. As an example, push with your left foot, then swing your left arm forward with the palm of your left hand turned slightly up, never crossing the vertical mid-line of your body. To keep proper balance and full coordination in skating, it is necessary that you utilize your arm and shoulder action in coordination with your feet.
Tips Skating is a one legged movement demanding balance by maintaining your center of gravity. The player, who develops proper technique and strength, will improve their efficiency and save energy. The player whose skating is technically sound is in a position to skate fast, is hard to take out of the play, has more energy and tires less rapidly, and will have less difficulty in learning other agility moves. On the other hand, if you have just one technical imperfection you will be seriously handicapped. Skating is a series of movements. Instructors will quite often suggest working on one thing at a time. The PowerSkater system allows you, in the privacy of your own home to workout, focusing on several movements simultaneously. Your pushes have to be at a 30° - 45° opening at the hip with your pushing leg going back behind your body at 45° movement. To reach a full leg extension, you will automatically bend your glide leg knee to a 90° bend. You will also learn to keep your balance in this position, thus training your body to lower your center of gravity. When your exercise on the PowerSkater following the correct posture, you can greatly improve your skating skill and speed.
As published in USA Hockey Magazine, Coaches Playbook Section, March, '07 Issue
Any discussion of the mechanics of ice hockey skating should begin with an explanation of how to get the maximum power and grip from your edges... in other words, how to get the most out of them. In this article, we will discuss both edges (inside and outside), with the emphasis being on the inside edge (we will get more into the outside edge and turning in subsequent articles).
Using your edges well when you skate is vital to the success of any player… and yet, I find that many of our students at all levels of play have a problematic lack of understanding for how to get those "Mike Modano-type" edges (see photo).
GET ON THOSE EDGES!
Whether you are an experienced skater or not, you are aware that a strong grip against the ice is necessary for speed, balance and power. You get this grip by using the edges of your blade, shifting your weight onto the inside or outside of it.
The inside edge is the inner side of your blade (on your right skate it is the left edge of the blade)… and the outer side of the blade is your outside edge (on your right skate again, it is the right edge of the blade).
To maximize grip and control in the ice, you will want to roll your skate boot (at the ankles) at least halfway to the ice, creating a skate that is on at least a 45° angle (halfway to the ice). As you improve and get more confidence, you will be able to push the angle of the edge to even more extremes.
Make sure you apply as much downward pressure as possible into the middle of the blade, getting as much of it as you can in contact with the ice. Too much pressure to the front/middle of your blade (toward the toe), will make you come off the edge and lose your balance forward. And likewise, too much weight to the back of the edge (toward the heel), will rock you backward and take away from the forward momentum you will need to build speed.
FORWARD STRIDE EDGING
In the Forward Stride, you should try to start each push on one foot, firmly planted on an inside edge, rolled halfway to the ice. And the ability to maintain that grip while pushing through the ice for a long enough period of time is one of the vital elements in the quest for more speed.
At the same time, you will want to use 100% bodyweight on every push you make. The more bodyweight you get centered over the edge, the more power and thrust you will get on each stride.
In order to get 100% bodyweight centered on the inside edge, it is necessary that you recover the other foot so it is fully under your body, that gives you the ability to shift your weight properly to the pushing foot (See Zubov Photo on the right).
FORWARD STRIDE INSIDE EDGE DRILL
Drill: Inside Edge to Inside Edge
Techniques:
· The drill goes from one goal line to the other.
· Start with a couple of forward strides to build speed.
· Then, while facing the boards to your right, ride your right inside edge around forming a half circle until you are ultimately facing the boards to your left.
· Your left foot should be tucked in behind your right skate heel to maximize the grip of the inside edge (center your weight directly over the edge).
· Once you are facing the side boards on your left, snap the right leg to full extension (this will build up speed and momentum), switching to the left inside edge.
· Now, ride the left inside edge for a half circle, until you are facing the side boards on your right again and then push the left leg to full extension, again building momentum to switch to the right edge.
· Keep changing edges and building speed (while not shortening the time you are on the edge on one foot) until you get to the far goal line.
· Variation: Do the drill to the redline and at the redline skate full speed to the far goal line… making every attempt to apply the edge drill into your stride.
Body Positioning in the Drill:
· With the eyes forward, lean the upper body forward with the back of your helmet in front of your glide knee (don’t hunch over or look down however).
· Bend the knees deeply to get the most out of your muscles in your legs.
· Roll the skate, at the ankle, halfway to the ice (45°) for proper grip.
· Apply downward pressure into the middle of the blade (not the toe or heel), so the edge will hold throughout the turn.
· Keep the other skate off the ice, tucked in behind the skate that is rolling on the edge (maintaining a narrow base)… this will allow you to hold 100% bodyweight throughout the turn.
· Be sure not to bounce up and down (we call it yo-yo skating)… stay at one level throughout the exercise.
COUNTERBALANCING
As we discussed above, to get the most out of your edges it is vital that you work on being able to roll your ankles to an angle of 45°. Unfortunately however, it is not that easy to get the edges to the proper angle… and then, once you do finally begin to achieve the correct edge position you will notice one thing happening… you fall down...a lot!
Believe it or not, when attempting to improve your skating, falling down is an extremely beneficial tool. It shows you exactly when you have gone too far and where you have lost control. This is commonly known as breaking through the comfort zone.
Thus, it is very important that you begin to use your edges the way they were intended. To do this, you will definitely need to have an understanding of what I like to call Counterbalancing.
Counterbalancing, in skating terms, means to shift your upper bodyweight in the opposite the direction of your edges. For example, when edges roll properly in one direction (as discussed above), you must counter this action by shifting your upper bodyweight in the opposite direction (still keeping your shoulders level and parallel with the ice).
If you lean too much of your upper bodyweight in the same direction as your edge and the angle of the edge becomes too extreme, it will almost certainly slip out from under you and cause you to lose power or fall down.
COUNTERBALANCING IMAGERY
Picture a ski racer going downhill at top speed, when they push the edges in to go around a gate, they will counteract that movement by leveling out their upper body with the snow, which allows the edges hold for them… even when skiing at over 70 miles per hour!
Or, notice how a motorcycle racer shifts his or her weight to the outside in a sharp turn so the bike does not slide out.
KEEP PRACTICING AND DON’T GET FRUSTRATED!
Mastering the art of edge control and counterbalancing are certainly not easy tasks. It takes continuous trial and error, years of practice and the desire to push yourself through the comfort zone.
However, keep working on it and try not to get frustrated if you find yourself falling down or making mistakes… instead, channel that information as a springboard for improvement!
Spring Power skating is ideal for hockey players wanting improve their skating skills. Learn how to do the forward stride of hockey powerskating in this easy to follow, step by step instructional video.
During the follow-through of the forward stride, no matter who is skating, there is a point when only 1 skate is on the ice. Thats just how the stride is done, so your BALANCE uneffected by returning your skates together and your STABILITY is no different from that of a stride without a full return (or wide return). This stride lets you gain the benefit of a longer, more efficient stride with the same stability and balance of any skater..
In the situations you mention, like battling for a puck or powering around a D, the player is much better off doing forward c-cuts (a push where both skates are always on the ice and you push off your heel only).
2 Go toward the other goal line, skating at full speed.
3 Drop down onto your knees at the first blue line. Pop back up to your feet before the red line.
4 Start back the other way when you reach the opposite goal line. Do this without resting.
5 Drop flat onto your belly at the first blue line this time. Pop back up to your feet, trying to get up before the red line but definitely before the blue line.
6 Repeat four times.
One Skates
1 Start at one goal line, skating hard toward the other goal line.
2 Lift your right skate off the ice at the first blue line. Hold it as high on your side as possible.
3 Wiggle your left skate from side to side to give yourself forward momentum, while your right skate is off the ice.
4 Skate on one foot until you get to the opposite goal line.
5 Keep your leg up until you come to a full stop if you can't make it all the way.
6 Skate back, this time lifting your left skate off the ice at the first blue line.
7 Repeat twice.
Knee Ups
1 Start at one goal line, skating hard toward the other goal line.
2 Lift your right knee to your chest at the first blue line.
3 Put your stick around the front of your knee pad to hold your knee high. Your foot should as far off the ice as you can get it.
4 Hold this position until you reach the next blue line and then skate normally to the goal line.
Hockey players must be good at basic skating skills. Good skating makes better players. This article outlines several power skating drills
All hockey players must master certain basic skating skills and work on those skating skills on a regular basis.
It is recommended that those who play hockey go through these drills for one hour at least once or twice each week. Most hockey power skating drills can be done with or without a stick, so players can practice these drills on public skating sessions, with or without gear.
Practice Patterns
Power hockey drills should begin on or behind the ice rink's goal line and continue down the length of the arena to the other end of the rink. It is recommended that each drill be done at least twice to cover both lengths of a rink's surface.
Balance Drills
There are several drills that can be done to warm-up.
Two Foot Glides
Wide Two Foot Glides
One Foot Glides
Moving Squats
Groin Stretches
Lunges
Leg Lifts
Two foot and one foot glides with speed will help players adjust to the ice. Squats and lunges will get players to bend their knees. Groin stretches and leg lifts help players with flexibility. In order to do a good groin stretch, the player should glide down the ice with the legs split and try to touch his or her toes. Squats should be done with speed and the player should try to bend his or her knees as much as possible.
Leg Lifts
Leg lifts can be done with the stick on the ice or by holding the hockey stick in a parallel position with both hands. Players should balance on one foot and try to lift one skate off the ice to the front, side, and then to the back.
Striding Drills
Forward striding drills will help players increase their power and speed.
T-Pushes
Speed Skater's Striding and Gliding
Forward Strides With Toe Drag
Lunges With Toe Drag
T-pushes are especially useful to gain power since many players favor one foot. They will force players to skate and push with both their good and bad legs. By first putting the feet into a "T" position, the player then bends his or her knees and lunges forward. By doing several in a row, T-pushes may look a bit like the player is riding a scooter down the ice. Extending the leg back will help the player use the blade to gain power.
Next, players should work to move down the ice like a speed skater. The speed skater's stride should be done with and without using the arms. Again, leg extension will help increase speed.
Dragging the toe on the ice also will help players with the strength of a push. The bending of the knees can improve as the toe drags. Players should try to lunge forward as much as possible to gain power. Not allowing the back skate to slip can be tricky, but practice will help the player feel the blade and control it. It is important the body stays in a square position during a toe drag.
Edge Pulls and C-Cuts
Two foot edge pulls
One foot edge pulls
Two foot C-cut jumps
One foot C-cut jumps
Edge pulls and C-cuts are half circle curves made by the blade's edges that make the shape of an "S" or a "C" on the ice. These half-circle cuts can be made on one or on two feet. Forward C-cuts are made from heel to toe. Once a player is confident in cutting a "C" or curve into the ice, it is useful and fun to do C-cut jumps over an imaginary line or around cones.
Stride at Various Speeds and Tempos
A really useful power hockey drill is to do eight quick strides from the goal line to the blue line, four strides to the next blue line, and then two long strides to the other end of the rink's goal line.
This drill can be repeated without stopping by doing crossovers around both ends of the arena.
Starts and Stops
Many players favor one foot or one direction for starts and stops , so several quick starts and stops should be practiced in both directions. Both blades should be used in stopping drills . Remember, in order to stop on the ice, a player must use the flat of the blade during the stop. Practice scraping and making snow on the ice over and over again to get used to this technique.
Two Foot Snowplow Stops
One Foot Snowplow Stops
T-Stops
Hockey Stops
Each of the above stops should be done over and over and quickly. It may be useful for a parent or coach to blow a whistle to signal quick starts and stops.
Crossovers
Crossover Walks
Players can begin the crossover technique by first "crossover-over walking" sideways along the goal or blue line.
Pumping
For those unable to do crossovers right away, pumping on hockey circles is a useful drill. The outside edge of the skate that is on the inside of the circle should be placed on the circle and should bend up and down while the outer skate makes a half circle and pumps forward from heel to toe. The pumping action will help players gain speed. and build confidence. Crossovers will come eventually as the player becomes confident with moving and pumping around curves.
Practice Makes Better Players
Practicing will improve hockey skating skills. As players gain confidence in their skating, their game will improve. Players should consider taking the time to practice power hockey skating year round. Working privately with a power skating coach will also help players with speed, confidence, quickness, and power.
Powerskating is what you should be looking at in playing hockey - different muscle groups are used for speed skating and power skating.
This first video is half theory, so you understand the main points. The other half gives great analyzes on the actual technique of a scatter.
Teams have powerskating coaches, and there are several independent powerskating coaches, the most notable being Laura Stamm. She was the first NHL endorsed powerskating coach back in the 1970s and the teams were sent to see her every summer.
See also some Powerskating drills:
Striding Drills
Edge Pulls and C-Cuts
Stride at Various Speeds and Tempos
Starts and Stops
Crossovers
Speed Skating To some extent but they do speed skating over distances rather than for actual speed (except the sprints) which means the stride is different. Powerskating, on the other side concentrates on hockey skating skills like turns and skating backwards as well as stops and starts.
Speed-skating exercises (on hockey skates even), that will help you with your hockey speed because it trains and targets certain muscles in your legs. This second video shows a wonderful training, expertise, advice and steps of practicing for speed skating.
Hockey players must be good at basic skating skills. Good skating makes better players.
A T-stop is an ice skating stop where the feet make a "T" on the ice. The skater should place the middle of one skate behind the heel of the other skate. The foot that is behind does the stopping and scrapes the ice as the blade is pushed to the back outside edge while the forward skate glides. The stop is completed when the skater comes to a complete stop with his or her feet in a "T" position.
Examples: It is very difficult to do a good t-stop. Beginning skaters tend to drag the foot behind on an inside edge (which is incorrect) when first trying the t-stop. The back blade must be on an outside edge for the t-stop to be done correctly.
You can learn how to make the ice hockey side stop. Side stops is a side motion stop; not a snowplow stop. You need a strong knee bend to generate that scraping, stopping motion
The skating school teaches elements in a certain order because they're like a staircase: you don't jump to the top of a staircase, you climb one step at a time.
Don't jump ahead to crossovers because you will develop some bad habits that will stop you from learning the higher-level stuff.
Forward crossovers are in Basic 4. You should be working on things in Basic 1 or 2 right now. That will help you move up to Basic 2, and then you can work on Basic 2 and 3 elements. See the progression? It will make your lesson time more productive and really refine your skating skills needed so that learning an advanced skill at the proper time will be much easier.
Forward crossovers are a great example - many skaters can do a one-foot glide on a flat - meaning, no edges. That's nice, but to do forward crossovers, they first have to master proper stroking, have excellent balance, hold their shoulders and hips correctly, and be able to hoooold the one-foot edges on a curve.
Work on these things before Basic 4 and forward crossovers:
. One foot glides . Stroking with proper pushoffs (inside edge of blade, not the toepick) . Forward 1/2 swizzle pumps - on the line or on a circle . Forward one-foot glides, curving with a circle on both the outside and inside edges of each foot.
The skaters that haven't mastered those skills stand out at the rink when they do crossovers because they can't get their free foot all the way across, they move in a straight line instead of a curve, they trip or drop their foot down due to poor balance, and they basically look like horses stomping around. Not what you want to look like at the rink.
You don't want to fake these elements - you should be able to master them and look like a skater, not a horse. Don't rush trying to teach yourself - just practice the things you've learned and you'll be a wonderful skater, not a faker.
It's really important to make the most of your lesson and practice time by building these "foundation" elements before you learn the higher-level things, so take your time.
Forward Crossovers: Video lesson Instructions Forward Crossovers Video mini lesson by Instructor Team Leader Alan Noble.
A video mini lesson showing the technique of the forward crossover. An important note on technique: a good way to test your technique on forward crossovers is to skate a circle slowly while listening to your pushes. The more powerful the push, the louder the push will sound, so naturally practice this until both pushes sound exactly the same in terms of loudness and duration of the push. When done correctly the stride push and the x-push generate exactly the same power.
The first thing of importance are the edges. To have strong edges, is to make sure they are under 45 degrees angle to the ice.
The second X-push is more difficult, because it is often not practiced enough. It is unnatural.
In order order to have a good balance, you have to lean your upper body out of the circle. A lot of people believe, if you lean you entire body in you'll have stronger edges, but as we mentioned earlier, strong edges are from your ankles, leaning those ankles on a 45 degree angle.
To get balance you have to counter-lean and lean your upper body out. The lower body is already in, now you have to balance this out. And the way to do this is by kipping your shoulders leveled to the ice. Lift your inside shoulder up. If you're doing good job, then you inside shoulder will be slightly higher then the outside shoulder.
How to perform properly forward C-cuts for beginners
C-cuts: Pushing with your weight on your heels and your skate makes the shape of a 'C'.
Teaching a c-cut, which procedure works best with students?
Have the student assume their stance and pump both feet outward and bring them back in. Do it several times in a row so that they can get the feeling of catching the ice with their heel. Then have them do it in one place where they go forward and then back, forward and then back etc. Finally tell them to cut it in half and only do it with one leg.
The forward c-cut doesn't always make sense to a beginner because your stride comes forward yet you move forward. Its counter-intuitive. But when you do it with both legs at the beginning of the drill they are forced into catching the ice with their heel and they will know what it should feel like.
What Is The "C - Cut Push" And How - Laura Stamm Power Skating
When I first started teaching power skating in 1971 I needed to find a name for a certain push that is used or incorporated into many hockey maneuvers. Because I believe in using visualization techniques to enhance learning I finally came up with the name "C - cut" to describe this push.
As far as I know, this term was not previously used or even defined. In my first book (1977) I devoted an entire chapter to C - cuts. Amazingly the term "stuck". Today it is commonly used in the hockey world. I often hear coaches telling their players, "C - cut, C - cut," during backward skating moves.
The C - cut maneuver is done with both skates on the ice. The C - cut push is usually executed by pushing the outside skate (and leg) against the inside edge of the blade while gliding on the inside skate. The Forward C - Cut:
When skating forward the C - cut push cuts an upside down letter "C" into the ice. The following explanation uses the left leg for power (pushing leg) and the right leg for direction (gliding leg).
Start by pivoting the pushing (left) skate at a right angle to the gliding (right) skate that is pointed forward along the direction of travel. The skates are now in a reverse "L" position. Push the left skate and leg first to the back, then out to the side, then forward. To complete the push you must then recover the skate and leg inward to the mid-line of the body. During the entire maneuver the gliding skate travels forward in a straight line.
The pattern that the push cuts into the ice resembles the letter C. When pushing with the right skate and leg the push resembles an upside down and reverse letter C.
The forward C - cut push is important when doing tight turns. It is the first push of the tight turn; it is used when entering the turn. It is also used with great success in a maneuver I call "bulling" or "protecting the puck" to power around a defender who is trying to take the puck or to take you out of the play. The advantage of using C - cuts in this situations is that both feet are always on the ice, allowing the player to maintain balance while at the same time being able to push powerfully.
Goalies use forward C - cut pushes when moving a short distance out of the net and backward C - cut pushes to quickly back up into the net. [Backward C-cut push: Right Leg Driving Leg. Skater Alan Noble. Action Shots Photography]
The Backward C - Cut:
When skating backward the C - cut push cuts the letter "C" into the ice. The following explanation uses the left leg for power (pushing leg) and the right leg for direction (gliding leg).
Start by pivoting the pushing (left) skate at a right angle to the gliding (right) skate which is pointed straight backward along the direction of travel. The skates are now in a reverse and upside down "L" position. Push the left skate and leg first to the front, then out to the side, then back. To complete the push you must recover the skate and leg inward to the midline of the body. During the entire maneuver the gliding skate travels backward in a straight line.
When skating straight backward the C - cut push IS the push of the backward stride. It also is the very important first push of backward crossovers and backward crossover starts.
Backward C-Cuts (Video Clip)
All hockey players need to be comfortable skating backward as well as forward. When you can skate backward with speed and mobility you can be counted on during power plays and in short handed situations. Think of how much more ice time you'll get. Think of how valuable you'll become to your team!
SPEED is the name of the game. The C - cut push is one of the important components of speed.
