Recently, when evaluating our team’s abilities, we recognized that our skating was falling behind other clubs. This isn’t because we don’t practice skating, in fact we work on skating at every practice we have. But are we working on the right things?
This is why we brought in an expert. Someone whose resume speaks for itself, but more importantly, someone who can come in and give our kids (and us as coaches) the tools we need to continue developing our power skating and edge work.
We brought in Cathy Andrade, along with her son Cameron. Many of you will know Cathy from her presentation at the Global Skills Showcase in which she highlighted the 3-turn alongside Carolina Hurricanes defenseman, Brent Burns.
The presentation made such an impact on my coaching staff that we started teaching the skill almost immediately. We continue working on it to this day to ensure they are progressing in their edgework and confidence on their skates.
Cathy and Cameron spent an hour with our team working on edges, stance, stride, and most importantly, undoing some bad habits on quick-starts taught by an older generation of skating coaches. Especially when it comes to acceleration.
What made this session standout was that it brought in so many quick, game translatable elements the kids grasped on to, and the fact they showed us coaches exactly what they are teaching so we’re able to continue on after the leave.
Learn the “Uh-Oh” Turn, quick starts & acceleration, plus how to skate correctly and confidently . . . SEE MORE OF THE COACHES SITE Join The Coaches Site to access the latest drills, tactics & leadership lessons from hockey's top coaches. Already a member? Login
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Dan Arel
Dan Arel is the Director of Coaching Education and Development for the San Diego Oilers and head coach of their 12U A team. He was also named the 2020 San Diego Gulls Foundation's Coach of the Year. You can email him at [email protected].
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