Tips

Quickness training is taught on ice by skating sprint intervals. It's very important that when you train for quickness, that you avoid the player becoming tired or fatigued. If the player becomes tired he/she will not be able to move their legs at top speed. You must skate short sprints followed by long rest periods for recovery. My guideline is a 5:1 skate and rest period. Skate at maximum speed for 10 seconds; rest for 50 seconds. Off ice running sprint intervals is excellent in quickness training and does not effect skating technique at all.

Overcome Fatigue

With most hockey teams playoffs are fast approaching. One of the main skating focus areas this time of year is third period endurance and conditioning. Once fatigue sets in, proper skating technique goes out the window. Often skaters lose steam going into the third period. The third period is often where teams can win or lose the game. Skating technique, and upper body positing is very important. As most skaters become tired, then tend to bend over with their backs, rather than their knees. Remember skater's heads up at all times. Staying down low to the ice is essential for fast powerful strides. Speed in skating comes mainly from your legs, but using your arms correctly, can help increase your speed. Your arms are providing you with momentum and rhythm. It's very important the arms never cross the midline of the body. This will cause your heel to prematurely lift prior to your stride and also causes you to move latterly rather than forward. If your arms swings are short, choppy, or side to side, then strides become short and choppy. Long and full arm extensions work towards long strides. Keep your shoulders square to the ice as your skating, and remember to keep elbows close to your ribs. Heads up, skate hard and have fun!

#1 To avoid stopping during a tight turn you must stay down low throughout the turn maintaining the full edge of the blade on the ice. One of the main problems with skaters creating a slow down or stoppage during a tight turn, is that they stand up, before the turn is fully accomplished.

#2 Arms swing in rhythm with legs, and in line with your direction. When skating straight forward or backward don't let your arms or shoulders cross your midline, so that premature heel lifting does not happen prior to striding.

#3 With quick starts maintain a low body position and jump out rather than up. You are aiming for distance not height. Increasing your explosive power off-ice will accelerate your skating improvement with quick starts. Remember the skater who takes off the quickest has the best chance of reaching the puck first.