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Skating tips

The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.

The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.

Skating is the foundation from which all other hockey skills are developed. It is the one skill that is required 100 per cent of the time but is often overlooked in practices in favour of other skills such as shooting, passing and stick handling. However, strong skating skills will help improve all the other skills. The fundamentals of good skating are balance, agility, and maneuverability. The following tips can help children improve their skating and overall performance on the ice. Power Skating Tips: Skating requires a very deep knee bend, both on the pushing leg and on the gliding leg. The angle of the knee bend should measure 90 degrees. Swinging arms in line and in rhythm with the legs will increase momentum. When pushing, all of the weight should be above the pushing skate. During the push, transfer the body weight until all of it is above the gliding skate. Fully extend each leg with each stride and bring each leg back in a straight line as quickly as possible to the centre position. Keep skates in the "V" position. As acceleration begins, move horizontally, not vertically. Use "toe starts" for a quick start. Take off by "running" a few steps on the front inside edges of your skates.

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