| The hockey skating tips in this article are very simple, | | | | side, and pump them in the direction of your motion, not |
| but for many, if not most, players, they can go a long | | | | from side to side. |
| way in making you a faster and more powerful skater. | | | | 3) Work on your speed in the gym as well as on the |
| Skating ability is the single most important skill in | | | | ice. |
| hockey, and skating makes the difference between | | | | There is only so much ice time available to a player, |
| good and great players. Here are three great tips to | | | | and ice time is very expensive. It's important that you |
| help you bring your skating to the next level. | | | | use your time in the off-season and in the gym to |
| 1) Form is everything, so make sure yours is good. | | | | work on your speed. Working the right muscle groups |
| In skating, very small problems with form can make | | | | with the right exercises will result in huge gains in your |
| huge differences. If you've never taken power skating, | | | | speed. Off the ice is one of the best places to work |
| it's probably a good idea. Otherwise, get someone to | | | | on getting faster. |
| video tape you skating, or have a coach analyze it. | | | | Following these three tips will take you a long way with |
| Very small corrections to problems with your stride | | | | your skating, but it's important to work hard on |
| could have huge impacts on your speed. | | | | improving. For the best results, look into power skating |
| 2) Keep your arms in tight to your sides. | | | | and get a good hockey specific training manual for |
| One of the biggest mistakes that a lot of people make | | | | your off-ice development. Hiring a coach or trainer can |
| skating is that they let their arms move loosely, often | | | | also be an option. Whatever you do though, always |
| from side to side. Any motion that isn't in the direction | | | | continue working on your skating speed and power, |
| your skating is just bleeding off energy and causing | | | | because you can't be a dominant player without being |
| your balance to lower. Keep your arms tight at your | | | | a great skater. |