Power Skating With Mary Giacalone
My beliefs and philosophy
The most fundamental skill in hockey is skating. You have to be able to move very fast with or without the puck. Backward skating, forward skating, when you shoot, pass and turn. In the skating game you need balance, agility, speed and technique. It’s the fastest game on ice. In my Power Skating session we work on technique, weight distribution, proper upper and lower body movements, edge work, backward & forward stride development, pivots, turns, crossovers acceleration and resistance training. I believe in mastering each skill, and then applying it to your game of hockey. If you learn how to skate properly, you must then learn to skate with speed, power, with a puck, and then learn when to use all of that, in a game situation.Having spent four years working in Europe, I was allowed the opportunity to learn the correct skating format and technique to develop our young skaters. Players tend to concentrate more on skills, rather than their skating. The uneven balance of skills will eventually catch up with
them, and this will limit their playing days at high level hockey.
My classes are no nonsense; you are given a tough technical/conditioning workout. But most importantly, I make the skater work on skating outside his or her comfort zone, so that new and correct techniques can be applied. A great skater is not someone who has taken a few lessons. Great skaters work on their technique for many years, and develop this skill especially in the off season. Playing shinny or hockey games all summer long in my opinion, is not a good opportunity to develop as a player. Too many bad habits never get broken; as a matter of fact they get reinforced. The off season is the time to work on your strength, conditioning, (off-ice conditioning) and skating. The summer is a great time as well, to play other sports such as soccer or lacrosse, and are given the opportunities to have fun, and enjoy the break from our wonderful game. Remember don’t just train, Train Like A Pro!
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