Quote:
Originally Posted by LTNINGFan
Hi folks,
I have been playing inline hockey for the last 12 years, off and on. I would consider myself an average players, and being at 41, my game is not where it was. Slower, less stamina, you get the picture.
But, after all these years, I have never played ice. I have skated before a few times on ice, so it won't be *too* foreign to me, but I know it will be different. In a few days I will attempt to go try it out some 100 miles from here, as the Chattanooga area has no ice at all. All of the other citites within 100-125 mile radius have, but not here. That rant is for another time 
So what advice any of you folks have for me? Maybe "Hang it up, grandpa, no since starting this late"?  Go slow? Go all out?
Thanks  |
Well, those wheels that you are on, kind of gives you better balance, where as ice skates have a rocker on the blade which means that you will only be skating on a blade that is about an inch and a half long.
This is where you will feel like you are always going to fall. So here are a couple things that will help you game.
1. Make sure you keep your knees bent for balance and a low center of gravity.
2. When you bend your knees, they should be bent so you can't see your skates.
3. Make sure your skates form a "V"
4. When you push out with a stide, the faster you return that stride leg, the faster you will go.
5. Becareful not to drag the toe of the blade on the return.
6. For speed, 4 quick choppy stride, with controlled upper body movement.
7. Once at speed, full arm swing with non-stick arm.
Controlling your balance is the key. It's going to mean that you will have to spend time on the ice. The more ice time the better. I recommend that you help a youth group as an assistant coach, moving cones and things. This will get you on the ice for free.
Then every chance you get, push the net. This will help you with using the proper edge in order for you to move the net. If you don't use the proper edge, you will not beable to move the net.
For balance, place your skates in a "V" and bend your knees. The minutes you bend those knees, the skates will start to seperate in different direction.
Just when your skates are 3 feet apart, jump about three inches off the ice and bring your skates back together in a "V".
Then, once they are back together, this is concidered one cycle. Now, in order to get great balance, I need you to do this drill from one end of the goal line to the other end.
Once you have this down, do it backwards. Once you have this down, PM me and I will tell you what's next.
Hope this helps.
Head coach