Basic Hockey Stance

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Basic Hockey Stance
Everyone would agree that the single most important aspect of skating is proper balance. To a hockey player proper balance is the foundation from which all others skills are built upon. 

Its all about knee bend... players who struggle with their balance tend to lean too far forward or too upright. Incorrect balance will impede a players ablitiy with every aspect of the game from skating speed, shooting to being able to stay strong on their skates when being bumped or checked.

The (bio-mechanics) or teaching points for the hockey stance include, back straight, head up, chest out, knees bent, feet shoulder width apart, weight on the balls of their feet and the hockey stick infront of their body not with the top hand on their hip. When players perform their drills and they appear to be struggling the first thing to check for is their balance.

Run thru the mechanics (teaching points) like a checklist looking for the problem and correct it.On ice balance drills can be offered to players of every age and skill level. Simply design your drills to challenge the hockey stance (teaching points) When your players have mastered the drills and maintain the proper teaching points its time to design more challenging drills. 

(A)                                         (B)                                    (C)

(A) Proper Balance
Back straight, head up, chest out, Knees bent, feet shoulder width weight on the balls of your feet.  Tip  *knees bent forward so you can’t see the toes of your skates

(B) Improper Balance
Bending at the back not the knees. Weight is too far forward, head down and off balance, weight on the toes player is leaning to far forward

(C) Improper Balance
Straight legged no knee bend, weight in the heels of skates, Falling backwards

Coaches Corner is brought to you by: Craig Millin owner of RPM Hockey Company and the Pacific Rim Hockey Academy. Craig is a certified hockey coach and a nationally certified power skating Instructor. Craig has been teaching hockey professionally for over 37 years. www.rpmhockey.com    

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