by Rick Beckfeld, Team Sweet Hockey.

The outside edge is the most underused edge on a skate. Ironically it is the more important of the two edges. All players learn early to utilize the inside edges. They are used independently in a forward stride but that’s it. In all other movements the outside edge is necessary for a player to skate with optimum efficiency. Most young players neglect to use their outside edges on forward cross-overs. They push ice with their inside edge, cross over and then recover. When a player, after crossing over, pushes ice additionally with their outside edge, or under foot they are able to generate added power. This translates to added speed and every player is looking for MORE SPEED! The outside edge is even more important in backward cross-unders because it is the primary power supply.

To begin to teach players to utilize the outside edge they must first be able to balance on the outside edge for an extended period of time. This can only be done through practice and repetition. Have players balance around a cone on an outside edge for 180 degrees. You can draw two lines in permanent magic marker on both sides of the cone. The player skates to the cone, the when coming to the first line must pick up their outside skate. This makes the player balance on their outside edge as they circle the cone. They are encouraged to not set their lifted skate down until they cross over the second line. After crossing the second line, they glide on both skates, with a wide base, in good hockey position back to the line of players. As in all skating, bent knees and a solid weight over skates is very important. After the player becomes comfortable on both left and right, outside edge balance you can add the under foot, or outside edge push. This is done by again having the player balance on their outside edge around the cone. Upon completion of the half circle the player is allowed to step over his balance skate with their raised skate while simultaneously pushing the outside edge of their underfoot through. It is important for the player to step directly over the toe of their balance skate. Stepping too far in front of their body will cause the under foot to kick out behind and no power will be generated. After pushing the under foot through as far as possible, they then recover to a wide base and glide back to the player’s line. The further they can push through with their under foot, the more power they will generate. More power results in MORE SPEED!

When teaching skating, technical correctness is essential. Doing it right once is better than doing it wrong twenty times. Players need to understand that pushing more ice will give them more power. With more power they will generate, you guessed it, MORE SPEED!!