MikeWhy 39 Report post Posted March 15, 2016 So I've recently started playing competitive roller hockey(AIHL/PIHA, etc.) and typically in mens league I usually could always skate faster or hustle more to loose pucks, obviously I can do other things but that's what really set me apart. Well now in the competitive leagues, everyone can really do everything. Everybody is fast, everybody can hustle, everybody can shoot etc. Well..I'm a smaller guy at about 5'6" and while I am starting to go to the gym to put on some mass and get stronger, what are some things I can do to maybe improve my footwork/skating? I watch my organizations elite division team and it seems like thats what puts them head and shoulders above everyone else, not necessarily stick handling, but their feet. I figure I might not be able to burn everybody, and there will be times I get out muscled but as I'm learning more about the game, what can I do to practice fakes(or make them more effective) or what are things I can practice being more balanced and tougher to knock over? I'm sort stealing Kobe Bryant's idea of using his footwork and fakes to make him that much tougher to defend even when he might physically be out matched so I figure I can apply that here right? I mainly want tips for selling fakes better and workouts I can do without skates to make my feet quicker and make me more balanced. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shoeshine boy 242 Report post Posted March 17, 2016 get a trainer and work on plyometrics. my gf did this a few years ago and I couldn't believe how much quicker she got. not faster but quicker. it made a huge difference in her game. she started hockey as an adult but now she constantly has people asking her what college she played for. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikeBoyarchuk 45 Report post Posted March 21, 2016 Posture is key also... I would suggest getting out with a buddy and film yourself skating, I recently did this and it was eye opening lol. I thought I had the perfect stride, well turns out I have a lot to work on. Here is a video I Filmed with Nathaniel Marx [skating specialist] where he goes over the importance of the athletic position. If you get this right it will help a lot. Of course, if you're training and getting stronger that will also help but if you can tweak a few things now for immediate improvement why not, right!? This is on ice but it will translate to roller imo. Video- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9l6ttScxyO0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dcwldct 0 Report post Posted December 7, 2016 I actually took a figure skating class so I could do basic pairs with my gf (a figure skater), and it definitely helped my hockey footwork. It improved my balance tremendously. One thing that coach had me do was balance off-ice on one of those round boards with a ball in the middle and practice shifting weight and changing direction while balancing one-footed on that. This is all ice, but I'd imagine it would help for roller as well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GreatestAmericanBeardo 258 Report post Posted December 10, 2016 try this: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
