How To Lengthen Your Stride In Hockey: The Ultimate Guide

Hockey is a game of speed, skill, and agility. To become a great player, you need to develop your skating ability, and a crucial aspect of that is your stride length. Stride length is the distance covered by each stride you take while skating. In this ultimate guide, we’ll provide you with everything you need to know about how to lengthen your stride in hockey.

If you’re looking to improve your stride length, there are a few things you need to know. First, a long stride helps you generate more speed, which is essential in hockey. Second, a longer stride also allows you to cover more ground with fewer strides, which conserves your energy and allows you to stay on the ice longer. Finally, a longer stride will help you maintain your balance and control, enabling you to make quick and efficient turns.

In this article, we’ll cover the importance of a long stride in hockey, common mistakes that prevent you from lengthening your stride, exercises to improve your skating stride, how to incorporate stride lengthening drills into your hockey practice, and expert tips for improving your skating stride and becoming a better hockey player. So, if you’re ready to take your hockey game to the next level, read on!

Ready to learn how to become a more efficient and effective skater on the ice? Keep reading to discover the best ways to improve your stride length in hockey!

The Importance of a Long Stride in Hockey

Having a long skating stride is crucial to success in hockey. The longer your stride, the faster you can skate and the quicker you can move around the ice. Additionally, a long stride allows you to cover more ground with fewer strides, giving you more energy to devote to other aspects of your game. Efficiency is key.

But it’s not just about speed and efficiency. A long stride also helps with balance and stability on the ice. With a wider, more powerful stride, you’ll be less likely to get knocked off your feet or lose your balance when making quick turns or sudden stops. Balance is critical in any sport, and hockey is no exception.

Furthermore, a long stride enables you to generate more power with each stride. This can make a huge difference in your ability to shoot and pass the puck, as well as to drive to the net and make plays in front of the goal. Power is a must-have skill in hockey.

Overall, a long skating stride is essential for any hockey player who wants to perform at their best. It allows you to skate faster, more efficiently, and with greater power, all while maintaining balance and stability on the ice. So, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, developing a long stride should be a top priority. Practice makes perfect.

So, how do you go about lengthening your stride? That’s what we’ll cover next in this ultimate guide to improving your skating stride in hockey.

Increased Speed and Power

1. Increased Stride Length: A longer stride allows you to cover more distance with each stride, which means you can skate faster without taking more strides. This results in increased speed and power on the ice.

2. Better Extension: When you lengthen your stride, you also improve your ability to extend your leg fully. This means you can generate more power with each stride, which translates into faster skating and more explosive movements on the ice.

3. Improved Balance: A longer stride requires greater balance and coordination, which translates into better overall skating ability. When you can maintain your balance while skating at high speeds with a longer stride, you become a more effective player on both offense and defense.

4. Efficient Use of Energy: When you can cover more distance with each stride, you expend less energy overall. This means you can skate harder and faster for longer periods of time, giving you an advantage over your opponents in the later stages of a game or practice.

By improving your stride length and technique, you can increase your speed and power on the ice. This will help you become a more effective player and give you an edge over your opponents. Keep reading to learn how to improve your skating stride and take your game to the next level.

Better Maneuverability on the Ice

One of the key advantages of having a long stride in hockey is better maneuverability on the ice. When you’re able to take longer strides, you’re able to change direction more quickly and with more control, which can make a big difference in a fast-paced game.

With a longer stride, you’re also able to make tighter turns without losing speed, which allows you to better avoid opponents and maintain possession of the puck. This can be particularly useful when you’re trying to get past a defender or make a quick pass to a teammate.

In addition, having a longer stride can help you maintain your balance on the ice. When you take shorter strides, it can be harder to stay upright, especially when you’re trying to move quickly or change direction. A longer stride can give you the stability you need to stay on your feet and keep moving forward.

Overall, developing a longer stride can help you become a more agile and effective player on the ice, giving you an edge over your opponents and helping you make plays that can lead to goals and victories for your team.

Common Mistakes That Prevent You From Lengthening Your Stride

Incorrect Body Positioning: One of the most common mistakes players make is having incorrect body positioning. If you lean too far forward or backward, your stride length will be shortened, and it can lead to a lack of balance.

Weak Lower Body: A weak lower body can prevent you from pushing off the ice properly, which can limit the power and length of your stride. It’s essential to incorporate exercises that strengthen your legs and core muscles into your training routine.

Inadequate Warm-up: Not warming up adequately can cause your muscles to be tight and restrict your stride length. Make sure to do a proper warm-up that includes dynamic stretching and skating drills to get your body ready for the game.

Incorrect Skating Technique: If you’re not using the proper technique, it can lead to inefficient strides and hinder your ability to lengthen your stride. It’s crucial to work with a coach to ensure you’re using the correct skating form.

Skating Too Upright

One of the most common mistakes that hockey players make is skating with an upright posture. When you skate with your back straight and your legs close together, your stride will be short and inefficient. Leaning forward can help you to lengthen your stride and generate more power.

Additionally, you should keep your knees bent and your weight over the balls of your feet. This will help you to maintain a low center of gravity and improve your balance on the ice.

Practicing drills that focus on maintaining a proper skating posture can help you to correct this mistake and improve your stride length.

Not Fully Extending Your Legs

Another common mistake that players make when trying to lengthen their stride is not fully extending their legs. When you don’t extend your legs all the way, you’re not getting the full power out of your stride, and you’re not covering as much ground as you could be.

One reason players don’t extend their legs is because they’re not strong enough to do so. Squats and lunges can help improve leg strength, which can help players extend their legs more fully when skating.

Another reason players don’t extend their legs is that they’re not flexible enough. Stretching your hip flexors, hamstrings, and calves can help improve your flexibility, which will allow you to extend your legs more fully when skating.

Finally, players may not extend their legs because they’re simply not aware that they’re doing it. Try skating in front of a mirror or having someone film you while you skate to see if you’re fully extending your legs or not.

Overreliance on Crossovers

Crossovers are a valuable skill in hockey, but relying on them too much can limit your stride length. This is because crossovers require your skates to leave the ice, which interrupts your stride and slows you down.

If you find yourself using crossovers excessively, try to focus on using a longer stride instead. To do this, practice extending your pushing leg as far as possible and gliding on the opposite leg.

Another tip is to work on your balance and edge control. The more confident you are on your skates, the less you’ll feel the need to rely on crossovers.

Finally, don’t forget to use your upper body to generate power and momentum. Engaging your arms and torso can help you generate more force with each stride, allowing you to move faster and cover more ground on the ice.

Exercises to Improve Your Skating Stride

If you want to improve your skating stride, you need to work on exercises that target the muscles used in skating. Here are five exercises that can help:

Single-leg squats: This exercise targets your glutes, quads, and hamstrings, which are essential for a powerful stride. Stand on one leg and lower yourself into a squat, then stand back up. Repeat for 10-12 reps before switching legs.

Lunges: Lunges are great for improving balance and building strength in your legs. Take a large step forward with one foot, bend both knees and lower your body down, then push back up to the starting position. Repeat for 10-12 reps before switching legs.

Plyometric jumps: Plyometric jumps help improve explosive power, which is important for generating speed on the ice. Start in a squat position, then jump up as high as you can. Land softly on your feet and immediately jump again. Do 3 sets of 10 reps.

Resistance band exercises: Using resistance bands during exercises like squats and lunges can help build strength and improve your skating stride. Place the band around your ankles or thighs and perform the exercises as normal.

Skating drills: The best way to improve your skating stride is to practice skating itself. Work on drills like crossovers, forward and backward skating, and transitions to improve your stride and overall skating ability.

By incorporating these exercises into your training routine, you’ll be on your way to lengthening your stride and improving your performance on the ice!

One-Legged Skating Drills

One-legged skating drills are essential for improving stride length and power. To start, balance on one leg and glide forward, then switch to the other leg. Gradually increase the distance you glide on each leg. Next, practice quick one-legged strides, emphasizing full extension of the leg. Try to maintain your balance and control as you push yourself to go faster.

Another effective drill is the “hop and glide.” Start by hopping on one leg, then landing on the other and gliding forward. Repeat on the other leg. This drill helps to improve balance and explosive power, which translates to longer strides on the ice.

For more advanced skaters, try one-legged crossovers. Start by gliding on one leg and crossing the other leg over it. Focus on fully extending your leg and pushing off with power. As you improve, increase the speed and distance you travel with each crossover.

How to Incorporate Stride Lengthening Drills Into Your Hockey Practice

Plan ahead: Before practice, determine which drills will focus on stride lengthening, and make sure they fit well into the overall practice plan.

Start slow: Incorporate stride lengthening drills gradually into your practice routine, starting with basic drills and increasing in difficulty as players improve.

Focus on technique: Emphasize proper technique when performing stride lengthening drills. Make sure players are using correct form and technique, even if it means starting at a slower pace.

Work on Stride Length During Warm-Ups

One way to incorporate stride lengthening drills into your hockey practice is to include them during warm-ups. During this time, focus on drills that involve long strides and full extension of your legs, such as high knees or butt kicks. You can also add in some lateral movement drills that require you to take long strides.

It’s important to emphasize proper technique during these drills, so make sure your players are staying low to the ice and not leaning forward. Encourage them to take their time and focus on extending their legs fully with each stride.

By incorporating these drills into your warm-up routine, you’ll help your players develop good habits and prepare their bodies for longer strides during the game.

Expert Tips for Improving Your Skating Stride and Becoming a Better Hockey Player

Focus on Proper Technique: To maximize your stride length, focus on proper technique. Keep your knees bent, torso forward, and drive off your edges.

Practice with a Purpose: Make sure you’re practicing drills that are specifically designed to improve your stride length. Work on drills that focus on pushing off each leg to maximize your power and speed.

Work on Your Strength and Conditioning: The stronger and more conditioned your body is, the easier it will be to maintain proper technique and maximize your stride length. Focus on exercises that strengthen your legs, hips, and core.

Seek Feedback and Advice: Don’t be afraid to seek feedback from coaches, trainers, and experienced players. They can offer valuable insights and advice to help you improve your skating stride and become a better hockey player.

Practice Proper Technique Regularly

Improving your skating stride requires consistent practice of proper technique. Make sure you are using the correct form for each stride, including proper weight distribution and extension of your legs. Practice your strides at varying speeds and with and without the puck.

It’s important to be mindful of your form during games as well. Focus on maintaining proper technique even when you are fatigued or under pressure.

Consider working with a coach or experienced teammate to get feedback on your technique and identify areas for improvement. Video analysis can also be a helpful tool for identifying areas to focus on during practice.

Remember that improving your skating stride is an ongoing process. Regular practice of proper technique is key to making progress and becoming a better hockey player.

Incorporate Skating Drills into Your Workouts

Skating drills should be an integral part of your hockey workout routine to improve your stride and overall performance. The following drills can help:

• Crossover step-overs: Use cones to set up a pattern for crossover step-overs to work on quick lateral movement.
• Sprints: Practice sprints from one end of the rink to the other to build speed and improve stride length.
• Backward skating: Incorporate backward skating drills to work on balance and agility.
• Agility ladders: Use agility ladders to work on footwork, quickness, and agility, which can improve your overall skating ability.

Try to incorporate these drills into your workouts at least once a week to see improvements in your skating stride and overall performance on the ice.

Frequently Asked Questions