The Hockey Stop

[Iron Mike 1]

I played 3 years as a kid, and just started playing again in a beer league and have been pleased with the skills I retained from my childhood experience. However, as a kid I never learned how to hockey stop properly. Instead of using both skates to stop, I use the leading/outside skate to stop (sometimes using the trailing skate to balance, and sometimes it's doing nothing and all the weight is on the leading skate).

When I try to bring the trailing skate in it usually digs in quickly and jumps back up. I just don't have the ability to consistently run the blade over the ice. Upon doing some research, I learned some were saying to keep my skates somewhat far apart to retain balance. This is something I haven't really even tried. My normal instincts get in the way. I wonder if this is part of the reason it's hard for me to run the trailing blade consistently over the ice.

I feel like if I get the T-stop down that would solve most of my issues( it's essentially the same behavior of the trailing skate in the hockey stop right?). This is something I haven't had the ice time to do yet .

I imagine this is a fairly common issue. Anyone go through this or have advice?

[Iron Mike 1]

Ok, so I realized I shouldn't have posted this after doing a search on stopping in the forum. My bad.

[supa 3]

It sounds like you arnt bending your knees enough. That or you are transferring to much weight to your front foot. I wouldnt have your feet too far apart either, if your rear foot blows out on you somehow its going to cause you pain. (think the splits)

No, dragging your foot behind you is the opposite edge you would use in a proper stop. Only way you will get it down is by going skating and practicing it.

[Chadd 916]

Don't be tentative. That holds back a lot of people.

[flyers10 57]

^ this.

Go for it with confidence. You'll fall lots while learning but you will learn faster.

[Iron Mike 1]

From all my experience with learning how to stop, your guys' advice sounds right on. Be confident and it will eventually just happen. Today, I bent my trailing leg (the problem skate, the inside edge) a ton when I stopped and had success. I knew it would be bad form because my trailing shoulder was too low. But, I actually did something with the trailing skate so that's progress. I didn't have too many opportunities to do it, but I think it should get me a ways.

A remaining question I have (which Supa commented on) concerns how far to have the leg apart when stopping. You need to have the somewhat spread to initiate a crossover with the leading skate, but (as Supa mentioned) too much spread can make you tippable.

[IPv6Freely 2096]

This is one of the best hockey stopping videos I've found.

[salibandy 21]

From all my experience with learning how to stop, your guys' advice sounds right on. Be confident and it will eventually just happen. Today, I bent my trailing leg (the problem skate, the inside edge) a ton when I stopped and had success. I knew it would be bad form because my trailing shoulder was too low. But, I actually did something with the trailing skate so that's progress. I didn't have too many opportunities to do it, but I think it should get me a ways.

A remaining question I have (which Supa commented on) concerns how far to have the leg apart when stopping. You need to have the somewhat spread to initiate a crossover with the leading skate, but (as Supa mentioned) too much spread can make you tippable.

I'm confused. You have problems with the outside edge stops or inside edge stop?

The best thing anyone ever told me with regards to stopping is not to think of it as a stop, but rather a slide. One you have learned to slide across the ice, you can apply weight and just sit down on your skates and you'll stop.

If you're having problems with the outside edge (the skate not doing the snowplough), then this is how I learned. Firstly, when I learned the outside edge stop, I had a shallow hollow on my skates. I felt it permitted me to slide more. I also learned to use the rocker of the skate; I used the area under the ball of my feet to pivot my skates sideways, and then press the rest of the blade down on the ice. Also, I felt keeping my skate more upright (more toward 90 degrees rather than 45 degrees) helped me slide instead of cutting into ice like when turning. Lastly, I scissored my skate, with the foot doing the outside edge stop out in front, and then transitioned most of my weight over that leg (and also to the ball of that foot). I found opening my hips helped too.

[tareatingrat 4]

Armor up and go hard.

Or, start playing in a low level league/pickup where you don't really think, you just react.

I skated as a kid, but my "hockey stop" was always terrible to my left. After a season in a league, I just had to do it.

Kind of like how I learned to touch-type by playing PC games and chatting online. You had to look up and touch type or you'd miss a lot of info.You'll learn quicker by necessity. Although, I will counter, you might not necessarily learn the "proper" way to do it.

[chk hrd 164]

you can apply weight and just sit down on your skates and you'll stop.

If you sit in a hockey stop you'll end up doing a big spin and fall on your arse because it puts the weight on your heels. bend your legs (shoulders over knees, knees over toes) and put the weight on your toes.

Put your gear on and go for it, you have to commit 100% into the weight transfer, if you don't the you'll you'll because you're most likely be on your but. Keep trying and don't be afraid to bite it.

[wrangler 157]

I agree that you have to have the confidence to commit to the stop; being tentative won't get it done.

I must have learned by "monkey see, monkey do", because I never analyzed it, I just did it, after figuring out that I had to relax and just do it. I guess I pivot on my toes, after lightening the weight on my skates by almost jumping, then lean to my trailing side while distributing my weight evenly between my skates. I also concentrate my weight midway between heels and toes. The lean and the foot spacing seem to be the important parameters for adjusting weight distribution.

I learned to stop with my left side leading, and had to force myself to try it the other way, which felt much more awkward. Now I'll often shift from left to right side leading when I'm almost stopped, just because I like the feel of that.

[IPv6Freely 2096]

I still cant stop on my left side very well. Better than it used to be, but its still awkward.

I can't stop with two feet though, my back foot just kind of trails along to keep balance - similar to what the guy in the video above addresses.

I need to put my gear on for some public sessions (even just pants, elbows and gloves) and just give er. I just wish they'd let me take a stick out during public skating when it's not busy (totally understand why i cant when its busy) because it really does help. Same w/ learning crossovers - much easier to do with a stick.

[wrangler 157]

I found crossovers much easier without a stick and equipment. My knees used to let me do big crossovers, skating in a tight circle continuously.

[IPv6Freely 2096]

I found crossovers much easier without a stick and equipment. My knees used to let me do big crossovers, skating in a tight circle continuously.

Equipment I could see (besides knowing that its not gonna hurt if you fall). But I feel like the stick gives me balance (it may not, but it feels like it does).

[wrangler 157]

Use your arms to help with balance.

With the extreme crossovers I mentioned, a stick would really get in the way.

[IPv6Freely 2096]

My cousin is a figure skater, I might seek her help with crossovers, skating backwards, etc.

[Chadd 916]

Equipment I could see (besides knowing that its not gonna hurt if you fall). But I feel like the stick gives me balance (it may not, but it feels like it does).

The stick should help, for the same reason that a high wire artist may use a pole.

My cousin is a figure skater, I might seek her help with crossovers, skating backwards, etc.

Good idea, most hockey players could learn a lot about edge control from a figure skater.

[IPv6Freely 2096]

The stick should help, for the same reason that a high wire artist may use a pole.

That was my thought.

Good idea, most hockey players could learn a lot about edge control from a figure skater.

Indeed. It's so completely effortless for them, as being able to crossover and skate backwards is a base requirement for their sport. It's not really necessary in hockey (just to play I mean, obviously it would make me a better player if I could). I'd even be happy to buy figure skates if she thinks that it might make it easier to learn my edges.

[sabby47 2]

This is how I teach my skaters crossovers:

Start with C-cuts around a circle, focusing on a deep knee bend on your glide foot

Make sure your upper body is turned into the circle (if I'm skating around the circle going left, I want my right shoulder leading me)

Once you get balance, try crossing over, making sure the leg you step down on is in a deep knee bend(It allows you to push under farther)

Your push under foot should be pushing straight out beside you

You can also try one-foot glides around a cone or a dot, on both your inside and outside edges to help you become more comfortable with your edges. Start with a big arc and try getting closer and closer to the cone as you get more comfortable. Keep a nice knee bend and turn your upper body into your turn while you're doing this.

[tmw1582 6]

I took an advanced skating course a while back and the coach I had said that he does not teach the 2 foot technique anymore b/c he finds that you can transition in another direction easier if you don't follow with that second foot and kind of keep yourself open. His example was: say you are chasing a puck into the end boards with another guy and he beats you to it and then starts up the ice the other way. If you stop with both feet it takes longer to get going again than if you had stopped on the one foot and already had you other foot ready to go the other way with him.

This is just one coaches opinion but I tend to stop more on one foot as opposed to two. Not because I have to, but b/c I find it more effective.

Anyone else ever hear this theory?

[salibandy 21]

I was taught to put more weight on the leg on the outside edge (I don't know what you call this, the front or back, trailing etc. I'm confused) so that the other leg, the one on the inside leg, can start the crossover faster. However, I notice that a lot of skaters do the opposite, with more weight on the foot on the inside edge... i wonder if I am doing it wrong.

[Chadd 916]

I was taught to put more weight on the leg on the outside edge (I don't know what you call this, the front or back, trailing etc. I'm confused) so that the other leg, the one on the inside leg, can start the crossover faster. However, I notice that a lot of skaters do the opposite, with more weight on the foot on the inside edge... i wonder if I am doing it wrong.

If my back foot is still sliding for the stop, there is no way I'm going to throw my front leg over to start a crossover. I always use my front foot more than my back foot, but that is partly due to bad mechanics and partly due to the stuff they hammer at you at the skating clinics for officials.

[wrangler 157]

I'd avoid having too much weight on the leading skate. If it grabs suddenly, your center of gravity can pull you over into a head-first slide. Now that I think about it, I probably have just a touch more weight on my trailing skate, and continuously adjust my lean, for balance, all the way to the stop.

[wrangler 157]

Here, you can work on these:

[evor1 6]

You need to lean back more. If you are upright or leaning forward your back skate edge angle is going to be in a more upright position. You need to lean back so that your edges are more at an angle and put more body weight into them to slow you down faster. obviously theres a point where youll fall over though so just experiment with body position and weight distribution between the skates.