help

[wingsfan1305]

Hey, I'm kinda new to hockey(I've only played on one team and it was a city rec league and it was 4 or 5 years ago), and I started getting back into it last summer. This summer I'm playing mostly at a park about a city away and its a good rink (smooth plastic surface) and the guys that play up there are awesome. I'm not all that good, especially in my skating ability. Any tips on how to get better and faster at skating? Thanks.

[whjs416]

whats up i am only inmy third year of hockey so i am in no way an expert, but what i did since all of my friends play inline hockey i kinda just found time every day to skate. also what else helped me was i bought an instructonal dvd. just for roller hockey, go to rollerhockey411.com the dvd is instructed by bobby hull, and bobby hull jr. it has some pretty good drills i would recomend it helped me some.

[ECHOHockey]

I would sign up for a skating class. Even if you had to do it on ice. The fundamentals (at this point in your game) are basically the same. Hockey all starts with a good skating foundation so it is critical that you learn that now...and correctly. Elimanate as many of your bad habbits now, before they are too engrained in your skating style.

Also make sure you are using the appropriate wheels for the surface you are skating on. If you are skating on a "plastic surface" as WingsFan described that is probably Sport Court or something similar. On a surface like this you can do just about anything that you can do on ice. If you aren't able to turn as sharp, etc...then you are probably using the wrong wheels. This is a mistake common with beginners. They will use "outdoor" wheels designed on ashphalt/concrete on a synthetic surface and they will slip all over the place. They lose interest in the sport before they even realize their innocent mistake.

I have seen far to many developing players held back by their skating skills.

Good luck...and welcome to the greatest game on earth!