September/October, 2007 

FORCE APPLICATION AND SPEED

All sports rely on the proper application of force to generate movement. The principles of force application are basically the same in all sports.  However, the methods of applying force are different in, and specific to, each sport.

 PRINCIPLES OF FORCE APPLICATION 

 When force is applied correctly and explosively, and with exact timing, the result is power. Power, combined with quickness (rapid motion), results in speed (of the body, of the puck, of the bat, or ball, or any other object).  There are at least four elements of force application in most sports.  I refer to these four elements as wind-up (coil or preparation), release (push, swing, throw, etc.), follow-through (full extension or completion), and weight shift.

 To understand these elements, think of a pitcher throwing a ball.  A pitcher’s preparation is an excellent example of the wind-up or coiling action.  The release, follow-through and weight shift - during the pitch - exemplify perfectly timed force application. The result is a ball that travels with lightning speed and precision.

 ELEMENTS OF FORCE APPLICATION IN HOCKEY SKATING

 Every push in hockey skating requires these same four elements.

Wind-up. 

a.    The knee of the pushing leg must be strongly bent and the edge of the pushing skate must dig into the ice at a strong angle. The body weight must be completely (100%) over the pushing leg.  The knee of the skate that is prepared to glide must also be strongly bent.

b.    The ideal angle of the knee bend in skating (for the pushing leg and the gliding leg) is a 90 degree angle.  This means that the    angle between the thigh and the shin approaches a right angle. 

c.    The ideal angle of an edge digging into the ice is 45 degrees (half-way down to the ice).  See figure 1- below.

Release. 

The pushing leg, with body weight situated over it, drives directly against the grip – the edge that is digging into the ice. See figure 2 - below.

Follow-through. 

The pushing leg continues to push until that leg is locked and fully extended.  The push finishes with the very front of the pushing edge (the “toe” of the edge).  This final part of the push is called the “toe flick”.  See figure 3 - below.

Weight Shift. 

a.   The body weight begins to shift from the pushing leg to the gliding leg at the midpoint of the push.  It finishes as the pushing leg approaches full extension.

b.   The timing of the weight shift is extremely important.  See figure 4 - below.

 Skating requires one additional element that is not necessary in some other sports – this is the Return (Leg Recovery). 

Return (Leg Recovery). 

The pushing leg must return to the midpoint of the body (center) in preparation for the next push. If it doesn’t return completely the next push will be negatively affected. See figure 5 - below.

Today’s hockey is all about SPEED!  In order to generate speed, the above elements of force application must be executed correctly and with precise timing. Players aspiring to play at high levels of hockey must learn and practice these principles, and then apply them properly in game situations.  The end result (power and explosive speed) is worth all the time and effort. 

 Figure 1: Windup of the forward stride                           Figure 2:  Release of the forward stride

         Figure 3: Follow-through of the forward stride                  Figure 4:  Weight shift of the forward stride

Figure 5:  Return (recovery) of the forward stride

 To learn more about the proper application of force, you can read this chapter in my book, LAURA STAMM’S POWER SKATING. The book and/or DVD can be purchased via my web page: www.laurastamm.com

SKATE GREAT HOCKEY!

LAURA STAMM

Copyright, September, 2007.

Tip Index