Coach Rexs Corner Take Your Skating to Another Level Incorporate More S.A.M.! S.A.M Stability, Agility and Mobility
By Rex Tucker drills without and with the puck to ensure is not instinctive, than he or she is behind stability on their skates. Its truly in his or her decision making. Skating is the most important hockey amazing how many minor hockey skill. With the new rules implemented players are weak on their outside edges! Skating drills such as the cross drill, by the NHL, and now adopted by wave drill, 6 and 12 oclock drill etc. Hockey Canada. Supreme skating in the Several NHL players who have great will enhance agility. new game is indeed of paramount stability on their skates include Jaromir importance for a players future Jagr, Jarome Iginla and Todd NHL players such as Alex Ovechkin, success. Bertuzzi. Sidney Crosby, and Pavel Datsyuk showcase great agility on a nightly basis. Stability Agility The center position and penalty killers Stability is the first stage required for a Players who have agility are nimble and are characteristically strong in the player to become a great skater. Stability move quickly in a game. They are skating agility part of the game. requires a strong base of edge control always active around the play and the and balance. The skills of skating, puck. Mobility passing, puck control and shooting Players with great mobility circulate originates from a good hockey stance. Agile players have great dexterity to well in a game. They display a wide Players need to be steady and secure cover a short distance very quickly and range of movement and can change on their skates. make quick skating decisions from A to direction very easily such as forwards B, B to C, etc. without thinking. They to backwards as well as backwards to Winning 1 on 1 battles in a game such rely on instincts and their mind is very forwards. They can turn on a dime and as in the corners, in front of the net and in tune with their skates. Great foot change direction with ease. within the short game require players speed and a strong forward/backward Defensemen have the best mobility. to be strong on their skates especially stride are characteristics of their game. for players who advance to the peewee Skating drills such as pivoting around (checking age) level and above. Excellent skating skills produce gloves and pylons will assist players to confidence which generates instinctive improve their change of direction Players, who want to be strong on their abilities on the ice. Dave King, former forwards to backwards and backwards skates, need to continue to practice Calgary Flames coach, often stated that to forwards without stopping. forward and backward edge control he didnt want thinking players on his (inside and outside) as well as balancing teams but instinctive players. If a player Two NHL players who are extremely mobile are Nicklas Lidstrom, and Wade Redden. Yes, they are defensemen! Final Comments Skating is the most important hockey skill. If a player works on his or her stability, agility and mobility, he/she will play more instinctively.
He/she will experience greater success because he/she does not have to think about his or her skating in a game it happens naturally. A player can focus on other things such as making great plays and scoring goals!
Winter 2009 Hockey Zones page 36