Learning to skate is a lot like learning to ride a bicycle. 

• It takes a good sense of balance and understanding your center of gravity to stay in an up-right position whether on 2 wheels or on 2 very thin skate blades. But once you’ve accomplished it, it is never forgotten.
• Practice at home, by standing on one leg with your shoes on and your knees flexed, then shift your weight to your other leg and try to keep your balance and standing in a semi-crouched position
• Skating is basically shifting your weight from one leg to the other while taking short or long strides or steps.

• Push one skate outward and backward while the other skate glides forward. It’s this stroke and glide movement that creates forward or backward motion.

• Practice and experience will help your stops, starts, strides, turns, 180 degree pivots and speed, but should you fall and most beginners do, shake it off and get right up and start over again.

• You should wear a hockey helmet and gloves for added safety.

• Skating is considered to be the single most important skill to learn and master for all young and older hockey players.

Fit

• Skates must fit snug/tight but not cramp your toes and you must have good ankle support.

• They must have stiff ankle support so they don’t bend side to side but they will flex forward.

• Skate sizes are usually1/2 to 1 to size smaller than your street/running shoe size.

• Socks, wear only 1 pair of thin100% breathable cotton socks while skating, not 2 or 3 pair.

• Lacing of the skates-use the criss-cross, X method as this provides even comfort and support.

• The bottom 3 eyelets are generally loose to allow blood circulation so your toes won’t freeze.

• The middle 3 eyelets are semi-tight to allow the top part of your foot to move up and down when flexing the foot in the stopping and starting position

• The top 3 eyelets are tight to provide good ankle support and prevent bending inside or outside.

• Don’t wrap the laces around your ankle as this restricts your forward flex motion when striding.

• Tie your skates with a bow knot at the front of your skates not on the side of your ankle.

Sharpening

• A medium hollow ground u shaped sharpening is all that is required.

• Not razor sharp or the blades will dig into the ice and you won’t be able to stop or turn easily.

• Not too dull or you won’t have any grip to dig into the ice and you will slip and fall when starting and stopping.

• Sharpen about every 10-12 hours of use or as required if you get a nick or burr on the blade

Edges

• Each skate blade has 2 edges, an inside edge and an outside edge by way of it’s u shaped cut.

• Different edges are used for stops, starts, turns, to generate speed, and will help

• If you loose an edge, get a nick or burr on the blade get them sharpened asap or you will fall.

Rockering

• Skate blades are not flat but are slightly rockered or rounded like a rocking chair.

• Only between 1 and 3 inches of blade is actually in contact with the ice while skating.

• More rocker or rounding  = less blade on the ice for sharper turns. Many Bantam and

• Less rocker = more blade on the ice for faster straight away speed. All Beginners, Atom/Squirt and Peewee players should stick with what the skate manufacturer provided.

After Skating

Remove the snow off the blades with a dry cloth to prevent them from rusting.

Forward Skating

• Stance, feet are shoulder width apart to provide better balance and stability.

• Knees are always slightly bent and flexed forward, in front of your toes.

• Never lock your knees or skate straight legged.

• Bend at the waist and lean slightly forward as if pushing a chair.

• Stroke 45 degrees to outside and backward with one skate, glide straight ahead forward with the other skate.

• Push outward with the inside edge of your stroke skate through the ball of your foot.

• The leg is bent close to 90 degrees at the knee in the starting position and is pushed to its full extension 180 degrees then recoiled to become the glide skate.

• The glide skate will move forward then it is it’s turn to become the stroke/pushing skate.

Rhythm of Skating

• Stroke and Glide, Stroke and Glide, the faster your foot speed the faster you skate.

• Alternate each skate and leg quickly at the start then lengthen your stride and glide over the ice.

Starts

Push outward and backward as close to 90 degrees to the direction you wish to go using the inside edge of  your stroke skate. There are various start positions and they include:  (1)-Inverted T start,  (2) -Power V start, the first 4 steps are critical for power and speed.  Knees must be flexed and close to 90 degrees during all starts!

Stops

To stop, try to shave a thin layer of ice using either 1 or 2 skate blades. 

-1- Snow  plow stop with 1 or 2 feet, turn skate at a 45 degree angle using your inside edges.
-2- Inverted T stop, back foot turns 90 degrees to forward direction using it’s outside edge.
-3- Parallel stop with 2 feet, turn upper body, then both feet 90 degrees to the forward direction. Use the inside edge on one skate, outside edge on the other one to come to a complete stop. Parallel stops are the most difficult stops for a beginner to accomplish.

Strides

The first few starting steps use short choppy strides then lengthen your stride to get a smooth and fluid skating motion after about 4-5 strides. You should react top speed after 5-6 strides.

Backward Skating

• Stance, feet should be shoulder width apart for better balance and stability.

• Knees always flexed, and they protrude in front over your toes.

• Seat/bum in a semi sitting position.

•  Cut the letter C using the inside edge and push outward and backward to create backward motion in one skate and the other skate (glide skate) will move backward.

•  Push through the ball of your foot.

•  Rotate your hips inward in a semi circular motion, left then right.

• Stroke and glide, stroke and glide alternating each skate quickly for speed.

Backward Stops

• One foot 45 degree snow-plow stop to backward direction using your inside edge.

• 2 skates, place heels inward about 45 degrees for a snowplow stop to backward direction using both inside edges.

• Use the inside edges to shave the top layer of ice to come to a complete stop.

• Lean the body slightly forward and flex both knees to keep your balance.

Backward Angling

A defenceman must be able to angle the puck carrying forward toward the boards while skating backwards. S/he must be able to lift one foot and turn 135 degrees and quickly go from backward skating to forward skating and angle the player into the corner or boards.

180 Degree Pivots

Players must be able to go from forward to backward, and backward to forward skating many times during the game, turning 180 degree pivots to change their direction quickly.

Crossovers

For quick starts and to go left or right quickly, players will have to cross one foot over top of the other.

Change of Pace

Just like a baseball pitcher, players will have to change speeds and go from medium (coast speed) to fast in a split second to get to open ice for a pass or to beat a defenceman while carrying the puck to the outside.

Aerobic Conditioning

So you can play a full game without tiring. Jogging, biking, swimming, or skipping rope, non stop for 20 to 30 minutes every 2^nd day  will improve your aerobic conditioning.

Anaerobic Conditioning

So you can go all out, for a 1 or 2 minute shift without tiring. Sprinting for 1 minute, then walking for 2 minutes, then sprint again for 1 minute for a duration of  30 – 40 minutes every 2^nd day  will improve your anaerobic condition.

Summary

Hockey is one of the most energy demanding sports in the world, as well it requires a  number of athletic skills such as skating, passing, shooting, checking, strength and endurance. To become a very good hockey player you must be in excellent physical shape and practice the basic skills required of hockey. You must practice in order to improve.

John Shorey
Author Hockey Made Easy 

www.HockeyMadeEasy.com