May/June, 2008 

SKATING AND TODAY'S HOCKEY

    Anyone who has watched the 2008 NHL playoffs can see that skating is a major component of success – a component that often makes the difference between winning and losing.  Whether it’s Crosby, Malkin, Ovechkin, Richards, Rafalski, Modano, Gomez, Jagr, Zetterberg, Datsyuk, or numerous other stars, they all have one thing in common – they fly down the ice at blinding speeds and make moves that were basically unheard of even five years ago. Some of these players may have grown up as “natural skaters” but regardless, all of them worked long and hard to perfect their skating skills.

1.  The importance of skating to hockey players:

            Skating is comprised of motions that are totally opposite from, and un-natural to, those of the human body. Each move must therefore be taught correctly, and then practiced consistently and repetitively it becomes ingrained and natural, to the point of perfection. Skating moves should be first practiced without the puck. As techniques improve, the puck should be incorporated.

2.  My philosophy of teaching:

My teaching methodology involves both the brain and the senses. I believe that the brain must understand what, why and how. The senses help students feel whether they are executing a maneuver properly or improperly. I call this method the FAST method - FEEL, ACT, SEE, THINK.

            In my Power Skating System, each skating maneuver is broken down into its many intricate parts. Each part is learned and practiced separately. We then use drills that are specifically designed to work on each part. The purpose of the drills is to help players feel the difference between correct and incorrect execution.

After practicing the parts separately, they are then combined into the “whole” maneuver. Players are taught to perform the “whole” maneuver correctly (perfectly).

There are three aspects of “perfect execution” of a skating maneuver - correctly, powerfully, and quickly.  Correctly is initially the most important, then, correctly, powerfully, and quickly. Finally, all three, with the puck, under lots of pressure, and in game situations.  It takes years for young players to achieve the ultimate combination.  Elite players can achieve this much more quickly.

            For me, telling players to "do this" or "do that" or "follow me" doesn't work.  Students often don't know what you mean by “this”. They think they're following you, but everyone's idea of “following you” can be different. 

Because people learn in different ways, we have to include many different methods of teaching.  Some people learn intellectually while others rely more on sensual learning. While some explanations work for some, they may not work for others. Even for sensory learners, teachers must understand that everyone sees, hears, feels and thinks differently, so the imagery used has to be broad enough to include everyone.  Also, some drills work for some but not for others.  Therefore teachers must have an expansive list of methods, visualizations, and drills – all to teach the same thing.

3.  Skating Position, Balance and Power.

            Skating position and balance are critical to power.  Skating is such a precise and intricate activity that any loss of position and/or balance negatively affects power and speed.  Regardless of the maneuver, body position, weight distribution, and balance, are prerequisites to successful execution.

4.  Skating Technique and Hockey Practices:  

            I believe that skating technique should be incorporated into every hockey practice.  Not skating for endurance, but skating for technique.  Even if there's only time to practice skating for a few minutes out of every hour, it is better than no time at all.  It is preferable to teach all the skating skills early in the season, to review them often, and practice them (even for short periods) as often as possible as the season progresses. As players get more adept at maneuvers they should practice them with pucks and at increasingly faster speeds.

            Youngsters get bored if they don't use the puck. To keep their interest level high we sometimes let them practice with the puck even if they're not ready for it.  Elite players realize the importance of perfecting technique so they often prefer to learn and practice without the puck.

            Short scrimmages that include "skating rules" are fun and productive.  Rules may include: How many times players have to crossover (or turn, or pivot, or stride, or skate backward, or transition) before shooting or passing, etc.  Kids love to "play by the rules" and they learn a lot when playing fun games.

5.  Individual differences:

            There are always differences - because of the way people are built (physique - or structure), what they're comfortable with, how they learn, what works best for them. But within the realm of individual differences, the physics of skating must be adhered to. 

Some kids develop early and are stronger and/or more well-coordinated than other youngsters of the same age, it tends to even up after adolescence. Those who spend a lot of time practicing skating technique usually catch up – and maybe pass – the players who seemed better and stronger at the outset.

No matter how fast a player appears to be during the developmental years, remember that the late bloomers will show their stuff at some point.  All aspiring hockey players should be reminded that there are always things to work on and changes that can be made that will pay off in the long run.

As for the Pros:  I've seen players at the NHL who skate fast, but do not skate the way I would have taught them. If it affects their speed and agility, I would want to change their techniques. But if it works for them, I tend to leave them alone - it might be more harmful than helpful to change their styles.

For example: People used to say that Gretzky could have been a faster skater if he didn’t hunch so far forward.  However, I never saw anyone catch him when he turned on the jets! Had I taught him from the time he was a child, I would have worked on improving his posture, but as an NHL star I wouldn't have even considered messing with it - it worked for the Great One! 

In summary:

Great Skating is critical if you want to attain a high level of hockey.  The game gets faster by the day.  Those who can’t keep up have little chance of making it to “The Show”.  Every aspiring young hockey player needs to work on skating techniques! The off-season is the perfect time to start!  

For more information on a LAURA STAMM POWER SKATING PROGRAM in your area, check the website: www.laurastamm.com

SKATE GREAT HOCKEY!

 LAURA STAMM

Copyright, May, 2008.

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