Benefits for ice hockey players?

I wish the answer to this question were as simple as yes or no, but it�s not, the truth lies somewhere in the middle. For example, it all depends on how the skates are being used. For example, if you have a tendency to pick your feet up too high off of the ice at the end of your push (they should be about a half inch off the ice) and then you reinforce this bad habit by picking your feet up even higher with the inlines, then, yes, they are doing you a disservice.

However, let�s take the flip-side of this problem and say that you know you pick your feet up too high off the ice so you decide to concentrate on correcting this problem on the inlines by doing drills that keep your feet lower. (Such as scraping the inside of your front wheel as you return it under your body.) Then, yes, the inlines can be very beneficial. Especially since, for most players with ice time not that easy come by, you can practice more on your inlines.

The bottom line is that it is all in how you use the tools put before you. Make every attempt to create new, good habits to build on when you transition back to the ice, rather than bolstering your bad habits by constantly repeating your mistakes.

What can I do to practice?

There are a number of drills which I use constantly on the ice which transition very well to the rollers. The reason for this is that there are certain strides which I find to be almost exactly the same whether you are on the ice or inlines. For example, turning maneuvers and some transition moves are almost identical. Again, however, the key to making inline skates work for the ice hockey player is to try to create new habits, or what is referred to as making �perfect practice.� So proper techniques are vital! The following drill can be used in both arenas:

Two-foot crossunders

This drill is designed to keep the feet low while turning and to build up the strength in your inside, crossing-under leg so that it can tug harder to allow you to accelerate better in your turns. Be sure and perform this exercise both forward and backward and in both directions while going in a circle. The techniques:

� Bend the knees so they are 2� over the toes of your skates.

� Keep both skates touching the ground or ice at all times.

� Make a half-moon cut (C-cut) with the outside foot, maintaining it on an inside edge.

� The inside foot should cross under forming a letter �y� but again never leaving the surface (this leg is actually performing a half-moon cut on an outside edge.

� Put 100% body weight over each push.

� Don�t get frustrated. This is a difficult exercise in the beginning. Keep trying it and it will begin to sink in.

Not always a two-way street

Again, I wish I could say that the inlines and ice hockey skates were exactly the same and therefore could be used in identical ways with zero side effects when you go from one to the other. But as aforementioned, there are some rather obvious differences which need to be addressed, because these are the areas which will give you the most trouble as you switch from one to the other.

One of the major problems I see involves body weight and getting it adjusted to new skate. The reason for this is that you have a much more solid grip when digging an edge into the ice than you do when trying to dig in on an edge on inlines. Therefore it is natural for you to feel awkward when it comes to how long to keep your weight over a push. Do not worry, because everyone feels this slight instability when leaving the inline for the ice. This will be corrected the more often you get on the ice.

However, the biggest problem is quite obvious to anyone who has laced up both kinds of skates�that is the clear difference when it comes to stopping. This is always the big question involving the inline skate; what is the best method for stopping? My feeling is the best method is the tight turn, but it certainly depends on your level as a skater. I know some players who can perform the hockey stop on rollers, but it is definitely not easy.

But no matter what method you choose for stopping on inlines, all I can say is, �Leave it in the parking lot when you hit the ice!� There is nothing in inline stopping that is going to help you when you get back onto the ice because, remember, stopping on the ice involves sliding first, rather than skidding or dragging.

But the key of course, no matter where you are skating or what you are skating on is to keep it fun. I think that both inline and ice skates provide a lot of good times�so I recommend both!