The hockey stop is
that sudden, flashy move that sends snow
flying and has spectators gawking. It is
the move that players use to "stop on a
dime". Many coaches insist that
when changing direction, their players
should use stops and starts rather than
wide turns; they feel that when properly
executed, stops and starts are faster
and more efficient than turns.
The hockey stop
leaves players well prepared to start
out either in the same or in the
opposite direction.
Following are some important
things to remember when executing hockey
stops:
- All stops
require that the skates slide or
skid against, rather than cut into,
the ice. Use shallow edges
when stopping. The front or
outside skate should be on the
inside edge; the back or inside
skate should be on the outside edge.
Both skates are used to stop.
Body weight distribution is usually
60% on the front (outside) skate and
40% on the back (inside) skate.
- Hockey
stops involve a 90 degree change of
direction. To effectively
execute the hockey stop the
following steps are essential:
-
When
gliding forward in preparation
for stopping, release your
weight by unbending your knees.
- Now
flip your hips 90 degrees (so
you are facing sideways).
- Re-bend
your knees deeply as you scrape
the ice with the skate blades.
- Scrape
the ice by applying pressure to
the ice with the balls of your
feet, not with the heels. The
heels will dig into the ice,
causing a turn rather than a
stop.
- Keep
your feet at least shoulder
width apart as you scrape the
ice and re-bend your knees.
