How to Skate Faster – 3 Exercises to Do in the Off Season to Increase Your Skating Speed

How to skate faster is something that every hockey player should be actively working on. Skating is the absolute most important skills in hockey. The entire game is built on skating, and if you aren’t a strong skater, you can never be at the top of the game. Here are three great exercises you can do during the off season to increase your skating speed and help you become a more dominant player.

1) Unstable squats.

Unstable squats are just like normal squats, except that you to them on a bosu board or another such device. Very advanced players will often do their squats on swiss balls, which is extremely difficult. Complete beginners should stick to doing their squats on flat ground, but doing them on a round or unstable surface will really rip up the muscles used in skating.

2) Calf raises.

When you skate, you should be pushing through right to the tips of your blade. That last toe extension on each stride is still somewhere power can be produced, and doing calf raises will work exactly those muscles. Stand with weights in your hands and lift your body up on your toes. Alternatively, you can do this on a leg press machine.

3) Core exercises.Your legs are the driving force behind your skating, but your core keeps you in balance. If you don’t have a strong core, and you can’t keep your body stable on your skates, you’ll have no chance of reaching your skating potential. Your core also contributes to your shooting, passing, checking, and every other aspect of playing the game, so never ignore it!

Working on these simple areas will help get you in top shape for skating, and should result in improved skating speed. However, these are just a few of the things you can do to increase your speed. For the best results, invest in a good hockey specific training and fitness manual, or consider consulting a coach or trainer to help you design a workout.