Why Driblades can be even more powerful than on ice training?
Breakthrough in Off-Ice Hockey Training.
A little known company and NHL kineseology trainer from Canada has been quietly up to groundbreaking advancements in the world of off-ice hockey training. The connection between off-ice work transitioning to on ice gains has always had merit, but it’s always been a detour of how to directly connect it…… Until now!
Driblades has not only changed the game, but in some respects (for those thought leaders and innovators) it’s making faster gains and correcting imbalances far greater than just training on ice.
Lane Pederson Driblades Hockey Training
We tend to give the greatest attention to our upper, lower, and core. Coaches and trainers for years have focused on explosive power from the quads, glutes, core, and upper body, but have neglected some of the most powerful muscle groups for hockey players on the frontal plain (lateral). THE HIPS! THE ADDUCTORS & ABDUCTORS.
Driblades not only target muscles that aren’t being actived in practice or the gym, but they actually force you to “regress in order progress” as Kelly Riou is quoted, the creator of Driblades.
Name the area of difficulty or weakness…
Stride Power & Legnth
Ankle mobility or imbalance
Hip mobility or imbalance
Knee & Hip Bend for deep skating
Transitions
Laterals and Crossovers
Edgework……
and the list goes on……
They can all be addressed and improved faster with Driblades than on ice work.
Yes, they are a resource to be used with an expert coach and with your on-ice work, but if used correctly they can slow you down to be put in the correct mechanics that the slippery and frictionless ice can’t create.
Times have changed and once the thought was the more ice time, the more improvement, until data showed two things. More time using incorrect mechanics doesn’t lead to improved skating. Also, mechanics breakdown over the season not vice-versa.
With ice-time at a premium these days and even more attention going away from skating technique and more to team systems and positioning….. There is no better time than Now….
…..to start Driblading.
Have a Great ONE!
Coach Ryan
The Unique Hockey Stride
Hockey is a sport that requires players to have strong skating abilities. One of the most important aspects of skating in hockey is the stride. A strong and efficient stride can help players move faster, change direction quickly, and maintain balance on the ice.
The hockey stride is a complex movement that involves several different muscle groups working together. It begins with the player pushing off the ice with one foot while gliding on the other. This push is generated by the leg muscles, including the quads, hamstrings, and glutes. The unique problem is that many people and coaches try to train hockey speed like other sports which is movements in a non-lateral plane. This is the type of mechanics that make Connor McDavid blazing fast on the ice and not so much off the ice in a 40 yard dash time. Many players and coaches of generalized all sport conditioning programs fail to fully understand the unique movements of the hockey players skating to reach their full potential.
As the player pushes off, they then bring their other foot forward and plant it on the ice, transitioning into the next stride. This movement is repeated over and over again, creating a smooth and continuous motion across the ice. Each player needs to master the major physics and mechanics of this stride, but also need to find their unique minor mechanics of how they are built genetically. As skating coaches, we must stop taking a cookie-cutter approach to all players.
To execute a strong and efficient stride, players need to focus on several key elements. First, they need to maintain a low center of gravity and keep their knees bent. This helps them stay balanced and generate more power with each stride. There is a zone of optimal power that a player must enter to increase stride length and power. This is much deeper than required in figure skaters. Though there are similarities in figure skating there are also very unique skating mechanics and situations that hockey players must command that are learned from years of playing the physical and extremely fast game of hockey. This would be similar to a track star not being able to take their talents to the football field.
Next, players need to focus on their arm movement. Proper arm movement can help players maintain balance and generate more power with each stride. This involves keeping the arms close to the body and moving them in a coordinated motion with the legs. Yes, there is a science here as well. Using the correct arm, deltoid, and core strength can increase your stride power and speed or work against it!
Finally, players need to focus on their foot placement. Proper foot placement can help players maintain balance and generate more power with each stride. This involves keeping the feet close together and making sure the stride is long and powerful. Once again the fastest skaters in the NHL do not use a full return like figure skaters, but use a unique blend of stride extension, power/force, return, and foot-speed.
The more coaches start to embrace that hockey is not just power, but a combination of physics, engineering, and the forgotten….. flow-rhythm- and artistry, the more dynamic skaters we will see. Because at the end of the day you can rep through all of the mechanics and drills you want, but if you don’t own it, and feel it, you will never find your authentic stride!
In conclusion, the hockey stride is a fundamental aspect of the sport that can make a significant difference in a player's performance on the ice. With practice and focus on the key elements of the stride, and their creative differences….players can develop a strong and efficient skating technique that will give them an edge in the great game of hockey.
-Coach Ryan DuPraw
Putting it all together.
Being a dynamic skater and explosive skater doesn’t happen by accident. Yes, there are talented players that just seem to touch the ice at the ripe ol age of 3 or 4 like they put on this earth to wear skates. However the majority of hockey players that rise to the highest ranks of prep, junior, collegiate, and pros are not brought into this world blazing down the ice!
The vast majority of players that go on into the hockey ranks for Learn to Skate start with very meager beginnings. Sometimes the years of hard work get lost in stories that later turn into hockey lore and legends. And if you go looking to research the subject……well…. it’s just anything else. You can get lost in a riddle of advice with contradicting theories and philosophies…..
“They just need tons of ice time.” “It’s all about foot speed!” “Only figure skaters make the best skaters.” “Strength is the key to being a fast skater.”
The interesting fact is this ………..after years of being a learning skater, to playing, to being mentored, to coaching, I have come to develop my own theories. The truth is I believe it’s many, many components that make a dynamic and explosive skater.
Here are some of the characteristics and points that I feel all work together.
Technique & muscle memory at a young age and throughout your career.
God given athletic talent and abilities.
Foot speed and quick twitch muscle groups.
Power and strength
Explosiveness & rebounding which is quite different than pure strength.
Edge control & Body control
Flexibility
Multisport exposure
Time and repetitions on ice
Great coaching
Time on ice for play and experimenting with creativity.
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