MAKING THE MOST OF ICE TIME

Contributed to Players By: Eileen Peerless

Part 1: Practicing Of all the skills necessary to play the game of hockey, skating is the most important. It is the foundation from which all other skills are possible. To understand and perform correct skating technique takes time, and those willing to commit the necessary time and energy to practicing skating skills will become better at other aspects of the game as well. Technique is the result of mastering and performing skating skills so that the skating becomes automatic, with no thought to the mechanics involved. A solid skating technique will enhance your level of play. There is only one way to obtain technique - practice. Learning a skill without practicing is like learning no skill at all. The sole purpose for practicing is to learn correctly. Without practice a skill cannot develop. How one practices can determine ultimate success. Skating around the rink repeatedly for an hour is not practicing. Correct practice is that which targets certain skills, using repetition at a slow pace to understand and develop that skill. Speed will come with time, but you must have patience until it can be developed. Learning comes from slow practice and repetition. Both allow complete concentration of the skill being learned and both help set and/or restore each reflex, muscle set, nervous system, and memory to the task of learning. Repetition provides reinforcement of the learned skill and slow practice aids the physical development of the skill, which more often than not requires more than mastering foot movements. To constantly practice at a fast tempo will increase the length of time needed to learn a skill. Mistakes can creep in during fast practice and technique will be sacrificed. Speed will come through repetition and proper execution of a skill. Keep in mind that in all skill development, and for those who are successful, it is 5% natural talent and 95% hard work.