Skating Tips to Improve Your Skating – Equipment, Technique, and Smart Team Sales

Summary: Better skating is built on four things. The first is a low skating stance with bent knees. The second is balance to be able to glide far on a skate. The third is explosive first strides from a standstill. The fourth is stable turns and crossovers. Train them in that order, and supplement with one-legged exercises and balance training off the ice. The equipment should not get in the way: skates that are properly laced and sharpened, and shin guards that stay still, make every stride fully effective. Here you get exercises for both on and off the ice, and tips on how the team can fund the training.

Introduction

Everything in hockey and bandy goes back to skating. The one who reaches the puck first, wins the battle, or has the strength to back home at the end of the period is usually the one who skates best, not the one with the hardest shot.

The good thing is that skating can be trained at any age. No advanced exercises are required, but the right basic technique that is practiced until it becomes automatic. In this guide we go through exercises for balance, starts, and turns on the ice, how you build skating strength at home, and what equipment makes the training fully effective. The guide is written for players who want to get better, parents who want to help, and coaches who are looking for new exercises.

The basics: skating stance, balance, and glide

The skating stance. Everything starts with a low and stable position. The knees should be bent so that they end up roughly over the toes, the upper body should be slightly leaning forward with a straight back and eyes looking up. A high skating stance is the most common cause of short strides and poor balance. The lower you stand, the longer the stride can be.

Exercise: deep skating stance. Skate slowly across the rink in as low a stance as possible. Focus on keeping the knees bent all the way and that every stride goes straight out to the side, not backward. Finish every stride by fully extending the leg, so that you get out all the power.

Exercise: one-legged glide. Take two or three strides and then glide as far as you can on one skate, with the other leg lifted and the knee on the supporting leg bent. Switch legs. Being able to stand stably on one skate is the foundation for both long strides and sharp turns.

Exercise: C-cuts. Stand on one leg and push out in a semicircle with the other skate, in the shape of a C, without lifting it from the ice. Do it forward and backward. The exercise trains edge control, i.e., the ability to use the skate's inner and outer edges.

Endurance. Finish with intervals: 30 seconds at high speed and 30 seconds rest, 6–10 times. Focus on keeping the technique even when you are tired. That is where the difference shows at the end of matches.

Explosiveness and turns

The first three strides. In a puck battle, much is decided in the first few meters. From a standstill, the first strides should be short, fast, and almost running, with the skates angled outward and the body strongly leaning forward. After three or four strides, they become longer and transition into regular skating.

Exercise: starts. Start from different positions: standing, from the knees, after a sharp stop, or after a turn. Skate explosively 10–15 meters and then glide back. Quality is more important than quantity, so rest properly between each start.

Crossovers and turns. Many skate fast straight ahead but lose speed in turns. In a crossover, the outer leg crosses over the inner, while the inner leg pushes out under the body. Both legs should work.

Exercise: circles. Skate around the face-off circles with crossovers, first slowly and then at a higher tempo. Lean the body inward, keep the knees bent, and let the inner leg's edge go all the way. Do the same number of laps in both directions, because most people have a weaker side.

Defensive skating and turns. Defensemen and everyone who plays defensively needs to be able to skate backward and turn quickly. Train backward skating with C-cuts, transitions from backward to forward (pivot), and backward crossovers. Keep the stance low and the weight centered, so that you can react in both directions.

Powerskating. Many clubs and private coaches offer powerskating, i.e., pure skating training with a focus on technique and power. It is a good complement to team practice, especially for players who want to take a clear step forward.

Off-ice: build skating strength off the ice

Much of what makes skating better can be trained at home.

• Balance. Stand on one leg with the knee bent and hold the position. Make it harder with closed eyes or on an unstable surface. A Balance Board trains balance and stability in the ankles, knees, and hips, i.e., the same chain that works in every stride.
• Hip strength. Strides are driven largely by the outside of the hip and the glute muscles. Side walking in a squat position with a Mini Band around the knees or ankles builds exactly that strength. The set has five resistance levels, so it suits both younger and older players.
• Side jumps. Jump sideways from one leg to the other and land softly on a bent knee. It mimics the stride's movement and builds explosiveness. Start with short distances and increase gradually.
• One-legged squat. Builds strength and control on one leg at a time, just like in every stride.

Two or three short sessions a week, 15–20 minutes, make a noticeable difference over a season. Always warm up first.

The equipment that makes every stride count

The best technique does not help if the equipment gets in the way.

Lacing. A skate that is too loose gives poor support in turns, and one that is too tight at the top prevents the ankle from bending in the skating stance. Lace it moderately tight over the toes, tightest over the instep, and slightly looser at the top. Waxed Skate Laces hold the tension throughout the session. Change the laces when they become frayed. The right length and technique are in the guide about skate laces.

The sharpness. Dull skates slide out in turns and give poorer grip in starts. Sharpen the skates regularly, and remove burrs and small nicks between sharpenings with Unite Klykbryne Kombi. Store the spare blades in a Howies Skate Blade Case, so they retain their sharpness.

The shin guards. A shin guard that slides down during the session takes focus away from skating. Tape it to the skate with 2–3 turns just below the knee and 2–3 turns just above the skate. Shin Guard Tape PRO stays on even during intervals and tough sessions. The technique is in the guide about taping shin guards.

The fluid. Skate training is more strenuous than it looks. With a 760 ml Water Bottle and a Water Bottle Straw, you can drink through the mesh between exercises.

Smart team sales. All this, tape, laces, and grips, players wear out over a whole season. That makes it perfect for team sales. With a team link, families buy the Team Package themselves, and 20% goes to the team fund. The money can go to ice time, powerskating, or a training camp. Read more about how you earn money for the team fund, or pick up ready-made texts for the parent group in the guide about selling tape for the team fund.

Frequently asked questions about skate training

1. How do you get faster on skates?

Through better technique first and more power later. The most common cause of slow skating is a stance that is too high. With straight knees, the strides become short and ineffective. Bend the knees so that they end up roughly over the toes, and let every stride go straight out to the side with full extension of the leg. Train balance on one leg, because long and powerful strides require that you can stand stably on one skate. Then practice explosive starts, where the first three or four strides are short and fast before they become longer. Do not forget the turns. Many lose the most speed there, and crossovers in both directions make a big difference. Off the ice, one-legged exercises, side jumps, and hip strength with a Mini Band build the power that drives the strides. Also make sure that the equipment does not get in the way. Dull skates give poorer grip, and a skate that is fitted incorrectly gives poorer support. Lace correctly and keep the edges in trim between sharpenings with Unite Klykbryne Kombi. Faster skating comes from many small improvements that are practiced over time, not from a single exercise.

2. What exercises give better balance on skates?

The most important exercise is the one-legged glide. Take a few strides and then glide as far as you can on one skate with the other leg lifted and the knee on the supporting leg bent. Switch legs and try to glide as far as possible on both. C-cuts, where you push out in a semicircle with one skate while you stand on the other, train edge control. It is the ability to use the skate's inner and outer edges, and it is the foundation for both balance and turns. Also skate slowly in a deep stance and focus on keeping the position stable. Balance is excellent to train off the ice. Stand on one leg with a bent knee and hold the position for 30 seconds, and make it harder by closing your eyes or standing on an unstable surface. A Balance Board trains balance and stability in ankles, knees, and hips, and it is exactly that chain that works in every stride. A few minutes a day give a noticeable effect. For younger players, the balance exercises can be done as games, for example standing on one leg for as long as possible or competing over who glides the farthest. Balance is something that is built up over time.

3. What is powerskating?

Powerskating is pure skate training with a focus on technique, power, and efficiency. In place of training with a puck and game exercises, one trains the strides, the starts, the turns, the backward skating, and the turns in detail. Often it is done in small groups or individually with a coach who corrects the technique. Many clubs offer powerskating as extra training, and there are private coaches and camps, especially during the pre-season. It is a good complement to team practice, because in team practice there is rarely time to fine-tune every player's technique. Players who go to powerskating often improve their skating clearly in a short time. It is also something that can be started at any age. If you want to organize powerskating for the whole team, it can be funded via the team fund. With a team link, families buy the Team Package with tape and laces that they need anyway, and 20% goes to the team fund. Read more about how you earn money for the team fund. Make sure that the skates are freshly sharpened and properly laced before the sessions, so that the technique gets full effect. Waxed Skate Laces hold the tension throughout the session.

4. How do you train crossovers and turns?

Start by skating around the face-off circles at a low tempo. In a crossover, the outer leg crosses over the inner, while the inner leg pushes out under the body. It is the inner leg's edge that many forget, and that is where much of the speed comes from. Let both legs work all the way, keep the knees bent, and lean the body inward toward the circle. The gaze should be upward and forward, not down at the skates. When the technique is set, increase the tempo. Always do the same number of laps in both directions, because most people have a stronger and a weaker side, and the weaker side needs more training. Train also backward crossovers, which are important for defensemen and for everyone who plays defensively. Narrow turns require sharp edges and a skate that fits firmly around the foot. Dull skates slide out in the turn, and a loosely laced skate gives poor support. Remove burrs between sharpenings with Unite Klykbryne Kombi, and tighten the lacing properly over the instep. Off the ice, side jumps and exercises with Mini Bands build the strength that is needed for powerful turns.

5. How can you train skating off the ice?

Focus on balance, one-legged strength, and hip strength, because that is what drives the strides. Balance is trained by standing on one leg with a bent knee and holding the position, preferably on an unstable surface. A Balance Board makes the exercise more challenging and trains the stability in ankles, knees, and hips. Hip strength you build with side walking in a squat position with a Mini Band around the knees or ankles. It trains the muscles on the outside of the hip, which work in every stride. Side jumps from one leg to the other, with a soft landing on a bent knee, mimic the stride's movement and build explosiveness. One-legged squats give strength and control. Two or three sessions a week for 15–20 minutes is enough to see a difference over a season. Always warm up first, and adapt the exercises to age. For younger players, body weight and games are enough, while older players can add more resistance. Off-ice training does not replace ice time, but it makes the time on the ice give more, because the body is stronger and more stable.

6. How often should you sharpen the skates?

It depends on how much you skate, on the ice and on how you feel. There is no fixed interval. Active players who train several times a week often sharpen their skates once a week or every other week. Those who skate less often can go longer between sharpenings. The most important sign is the feel. If the skates slide out in turns, lose traction on starts or feel unstable during sudden stops, it is time. You can also carefully run a fingernail over the edge. If it does not catch, the edge is dull. Avoid sharpening right before an important game if you have not skated on the sharpening before, as newly sharpened skates can feel different. Between sharpenings, you can remove burrs and small nicks that occur when the skate hits the boards or another skate. Unite Combination Skate Sharpening combines a skate sharpener with a flat ceramic sharpening stone and is compact enough to fit in your bag. Always use skate guards when walking off the ice. You store the spare blades in a Howies Skate Blade Case, so they retain their sharpness.

7. How often should you replace skate laces?

Replace the laces when they start to fray or thin out, especially where they go through the eyelets, as they wear out most there. A worn lace does not hold tension, and the skate starts to fit loosely around the foot. This provides less support in turns and less power in strides. And a lace that breaks in the middle of a practice means an interruption in training. Active players often replace their laces once or twice a season, and those who train a lot even more often. Always keep a spare pair in your bag. Waxed Skate Laces have a wax coating that locks the lace where you pull it tight, so that the tension remains throughout the practice. They are for those who want firm support. Unwaxed Skate Laces are softer and easier to adjust, which many younger players prefer. Choose the right length for the skate size, so you reach all the way up and tie a knot that holds. The size guide and lacing technique are in the guide on skate laces. The Skate Kit includes waxed laces, PRO shin guard tape and a case for spare blades.

8. How can the team fund extra skate training?

Extra ice time, power skating and training camps cost money, and for many teams, the team fund is what makes it possible. An easy way to fill the fund is to earn money from something that the players already use. Every player uses up shin guard tape, cloth tape, grip tape and skate laces all season. With a team link from StickyTape, players, parents and hockey friends buy team packages via the team's own link, and 20% of every package sold goes to the team fund. The team does not buy in anything and does not handle goods or money. Team Package Season is approximately equal to an active player's consumption during a season, and Team Package Standard contains tape, waxed skate laces and club wax. Feel free to link the sales to a concrete goal, for example “20% goes to power skating this spring,” because it motivates more families to use the link. Read more and sign up the team on the page about how to earn money for the team fund. Ready-made texts for the parent group are available in the guide on how to sell tape for the team fund.