Lisa Leeder Power Skating Instructor Ottawa Canada

The ABC's Of Skating
By: Lisa Leeder / Power Skating Instructor

In skating there are four basic skills, forward and backward crosscuts
(crossovers), and forward and backward strides. These skills teach and
establish proper stance, the four edges, and how to develop glide.
From these fundamentals, all other skating skills, as well as all hockey skills,
can be taught with greater ease. There is not much point of teaching
turning if the player can't skate backward and stickhandling isn't much use
if you aren't able to skate forward.

Teaching a child hockey without these four basic skills is like teaching a child the
rules of grammar before he/she has learned the alphabet. If taught proper technique
and in progression at a young age, children will not develop bad habits.

Their enjoyment level will be much greater, and it will not take them
as long to learn the skills because children learn very quickly and they will be
able to progress rapidly. If you are a good skater, you are in the play more
and that is really all any child wants. They want to touch that puck!.

I know, I know, and I can hear a lot of you saying,
"Yeah, but my kid just wants to play" or "we tried power skating, but my kid was bored".

My answer to that is, "you are absolutely right", but your child also wants to only
eat junk food and watch television all the time, but you wouldn't dream of
allowing that to happen.

You need to be creative in your approach.

Start them skating young and play ball hockey in your driveway and basement so they
can feel like they are "playing" hockey. Take them once a week to a structured, reputable
skating program so they can learn the basics properly.

Go to an outdoor rink or public skating and have then practice what they are learning.
Get involved, skate with them. It makes for great family time and shows them that
practicing is not only important, it can also be fun.

Take them to a local junior game, while you are watching they will start to learn the
game of hockey and develop a love for the sport. Then when they do start to play
hockey they will be ready and eager.

Anticipation is a great motivator.

I was at a banquet with Mike Gartner. He told the kids when he was young all
of his friends were going to hockey school, his parents sent him to power skating.
It worked out pretty well for that Hall of Famer.

I always strongly emphasize the importance of fundamentals. It is important
that as an individual we periodically remember and review our ABC's.

Last week a young boy helped me remember my coaching ABC's. I am fortunate to
work with high level athletes, but I also instruct beginners.

A 10 year old named Mitchell, who was just learning to skate was in my
group at a local hockey camp. He was having difficulty with some basic skills,
but he never gave up.

On the third day of the camp he did a forward crosscut for the first time. He never
said a word, but the look on his face and the way he looked at me expressed the joy
he felt in having accomplished a new skill. That small moment of personal,
unacknowledged victory and knowing I help him experience it remind me of why I
wanted to coach in the first place.

It is the simple things that keep us on track so don't ever neglect or forget your ABC's.

If you would like to know when Lisa's next article is available here
on Ottawa Hockey News write info@ottawahockeynews.com
and you'll receive an email letting you know about the update.

About Lisa:
Lisa has 23 years of coaching experience and is the owner of
Upper Canada Power Skating.

Lisa is the power skating instructor for the Ottawa 67's, OHL, and has worked
for the Ottawa Senators, New York Islanders and Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL.

She now instructs individual players for various pro teams and hockey agents.

Over the years, Lisa has worked for numerous Minor and Youth Hockey Associations
throughout Ontario and the United States as a coach, a coach mentor, and program
consultant. She founded Upper Canada Power Skating Hockey Development Camp
which she operated for 12 years.

Her work now is focused on offering specialized clinics and training sessions.

Lisa is committed to the advancement of sports, the development of athletes,
and the improvement of play within hockey associations. Her goal is to pass on
her knowledge, experience, and passion of the sport to all the players she works with.

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