Coaches Corner

Skating Improvement Depends On Three Main Factors

Is it ever possible to recover from the label, ‘bad skater?’

Players, parents, coaches and scouts have often asked us if it’s realistic to change a person’s skating after they’ve skated a certain way for hours and hours of practice throughout their careers. So, when is a player’s skating too engrained to change?
Is it ever possible to recover from the label, ‘bad skater?’

Players, parents, coaches and scouts have often asked us if it’s realistic to change a person’s skating after they’ve skated a certain way for hours and hours of practice throughout their careers. So, when is a player’s skating too engrained to change?

In our experience, there are three main factors that will determine the probability of a player improving his or her skating, at any age.

MOTIVATION: While motivation is different for everyone, free agency, frustration and finances seem to be recurring sources of motivation for our clients. Competition is fierce amongst players and every advantage helps. Players are realizing that skating is an aspect of their game that, when improved, can have a huge return on their investment. Training their skating in the off-season can give them the extra step that they need to bring them up to the level they aspire to, and can even lengthen their careers. 

DEVELOPMENTAL AGE: Players are often labeled prior to the Bantam Draft at 13- and 14-years-old, but great scouts recognize that a lot can change in the next few years. Players experience a pivotal grown spurt between 13- and 17-years-old (13 to 15 in girls and 14 to 17 in boys). It is during this time that players are often criticized for being ‘awkward’ or ‘clumsy’. These words are music to our ears as this is an ideal time to re-train skating. At this time, players are smart enough and strong enough to understand the Skate-Trix that we teach, and their bodies are at a perfect stage to train movement and agility. It is also a perfect time to begin the process of “training to train.” Helping players to understand training can represent a huge shift in their development and can have a major impact on their general fitness in addition to their future in the game of hockey.

ATHLETICISM: Players who are in great shape and have a good understanding of how their body moves have the ability to make changes in their skating in a huge way. Often, we will give a player a skill or a drill that identifies a weakness or imbalance in their skating. Great athletes understand their bodies so well that they require a few tips and tricks to fix the imbalance and to make effective and efficient changes. This is why even the pros continue to come back year after year – they understand that as a high level athlete it is their responsibility to stay a “step ahead”.

At Quantum Speed our intention is to discover what good hockey players already do well and then to tailor their skating style around their strengths. Actually, if you’ve ever wondered where the name “Quantum Speed” came from, it actually implies “the smallest possible change to achieve the biggest possible result.” This is exactly what we see with great athletes – small changes get HUGE results.
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Steps To Avoid Early Season Injuries Imperative For Success

Just uttering the phrase groin injury can send shivers into the heart of every hockey player.

Unfortunately, early season injuries are very common and groin injuries are one of the most common early season setbacks we see at the Hockey Injuries Clinic.

Groin injuries can range from minor to extremely devastating and require immediate attention for proper rehabilitation. Groin injuries can also take a long time to heal, time that you cannot afford to spend away from the rink, making early treatment mandatory.

If you suspect a groin injury, it needs to be fully assessed, accurately diagnosed and properly treated by a qualified rehabilitation specialist in order to ensure a quick and safe return to the game.

The groin is a collection of muscles that connect the upper inner thigh to the pelvis and trunk. These muscles help to lift the leg, flex the leg, move the leg towards the midline of the body, control motion and are essential for the movements required to skate powerfully during hockey.

Signs and Symptoms

Most often groin injuries are the result of a sudden or awkward movement where the leg moves away from the midline or extends forcefully backwards such as a powerful rapid directional change, pushing off during acceleration, a sudden deceleration, a check or getting caught in a rut on the ice. The end result is a groin injury. The injured player can experience any of the following symptoms including groin pain, bruising and swelling, tenderness, and loss of strength, loss of range of motion or inability to move the leg.

Injury Classifications:

Mild or Grade 1 groin injury (slight strain/mild Pull) which can be slightly painful and may or may not limit motion or skating

Moderate or Grade II groin injury (strain/mild tear) which causes moderate pain or discomfort, limits motion such as skating, walking, running, quick movements and transitional movements such as rising to stand or moving from standing to sitting

Severe or Grade III groin injury (partial to full thickness tear, severe strain, avulsion) which causes severe pain with all activities and movements.

Rehabilitation

It is extremely import to seek medical attention as soon as possible to have a proper diagnosis, a treatment plan and an accurate return to play strategy established as groin injuries can take a long time to heal.

Treatment Protocol

Rest. Use R.I.C.E. (Rest, Ice Compression, Elevation) or P.I.E.R. (Pressure, Ice, Elevation, Rest)

Ice should be applied three to four times per day for 15 minutes each time, for 3 to 5 days

Compression should be with a tensor bandage

Depending on the severity rehab exercises can begin after 48 hoursEffective treatment protocols include, soft tissue therapy (Active Release and Graston), Laser, kinesiological taping, gentle stretching and manipulation and appropriate strengthening exercises

Returning to activity should not be rushed. Once the pain dissipates, gradually increase the intensity, frequency and duration of hockey activity according to the guidelines set out by your treatment plan. You should be able to complete a 10-yard dry land figure-eight run, at half speed, and then at full speed together with jumping with both legs and the injured leg before you return to full speed hockey.

Prevention

Prevention is a key aspect in reducing the incidence of groin injuries. Ensuring a proper warm-up before you play or practice is very important. Here are a few simple stretches that can be done both on and off the ice, which will help reduce the likelihood of a groin injury. Repeat these stretches five to eight times and hold for 15 to 20 seconds:

Lunge Stretch (top middle) – kneel with one knee on the ground, place the opposite leg in front with the knee bent so that foot has good contact on the ground, now lean forward, keeping the back straight.

Groin Stretch (bottom right) – kneel with both knees on the ground, lean forward and rest your hands or elbows on the ground. Slowly take your knees apart as far as they will go within your pain free limits. Keep the back straight and gently lean back until you can feel your groin engage in the stretch.

Dr. Phil Conway BPE DC FCCRS(C) is a Board Certified Rehabilitation Specialist. He is the Director of the Calgary Hockey Injuries Clinic, Back and Sports Injury Clinic, and the Calgary Runner’s Clinic. Visit our website: www.hockeyinjuriesclinic.com