Research has found the quickness of the recovery skate is an important aspect of skating speed.

Introduction

Many coaches talk about “foot speed” in reference to acceleration or speed, which makes sense. However, there is another aspect of foot speed that is overlooked, that being the speed at which the recovery skate can get back on the ice to start another push-off. Research has found the quickness of the recovery skate is an important aspect of skating speed.

Quick Recovery Research

Wayne Marino (University of Windsor) found that speed in hockey is dependent on stride rate: the number of times a player can get his or her skates on the ice to push-off over a specific distance (a winger “driving” to the net or a d-man chasing a puck in the corner). To corroborate his findings, he further indicated the quicker a player gets his or her skates on the ice after push-off, the faster the player will be.

Pierre Page compared fast to slow players and found the faster players had a total recovery time (when the skate leaves the ice after push-off to when the same skate lands on the ice) of 0.37-seconds compared to slow players 0.48 seconds, for a difference of 0.11-seconds. That was the time for one stride.

In a study done by the author and a colleague (Tina Geithner, Ph.D.) with the University of Alberta women’s hockey team, the recovery times of fast and slow players were analyzed. Two recovery characteristics stood out:

• The faster players had a stride cycle time of 0.32-seconds, whereas the slow players had a time of 0.47-seconds. Stride cycle is the time from when the skate leaves the ice (after pushing off) to the when the skate is on the inside edge and starting to push-off.  The 0.32-seconds and 0.45-seconds were an average of one stride. This means over 3-strides, the fast players would have a time of 0.96-seconds and slow players 1.35-seconds. Over five strides it would be 1.60-seconds compared to 2.25-seconds.

• A recovery characteristic we called “blade flat to push-off on inside edge” (when the skate recovers and lands on a flat blade, then gets on the inside edge to start the next push-off) the fast players had a time, in one stride, of 0.07-seconds and the slow players 0.19-seconds. Over 3-strides it took the fast players 0.21-seconds to get on their inside edges and the slow players took 0.57-seconds. Over five strides it was 0.35-seconds and 0.95-seconds.

Practical Application of Quick Recovery

What we noticed watching the video analysis was the recovery skates of the faster players landed under their shoulders (a line could be drawn through the shoulder-hip-knee-toe).  Whereas the slow players recovery skate landed under the mid-line of the body (see pictures below).

We surmised this was a key to being a fast skater. We found that players could not start the push-off until their skate was under the shoulder and quickly got on the inside edge. It can be observed by looking at the skate of the slow player above, she landed under the mid-line of her body on her outside edge and it took 0.19-seconds for her skate to go from that position to her inside edge to start the push-off. The fast player’s skate was ready to get on the inside edge to start the push-off as soon as she landed.

One of the best videos to watch of a quick recovery is Kendall Coyne-Schofield. One of the reasons she is so fast is that she has an incredibly quick recovery and she gets on her inside edges amazingly fast. Perhaps this is an example of what we should be calling “edge work.” She is also fast because she’s powerful, has good skating biomechanics, and a fast push-off. To get a good visual of how quickly she gets on her inside edge, watch the video in slow motion.

Skating Coaching for Quick Recovery

The first aspect of improving recovery quickness is to do drills to get the recovery skate landing under the shoulder. Too many coaches, and skating coaches, teach players to have a long recovery, like the slow player above. Their reasoning is that when a player brings his or her skate back under the mid-line of the body they will get a longer push-off. This is not possible because the skate cannot push-off until it is under the shoulder and then on the inside edge. The practice of a long recovery does not enhance skating speed, it does the opposite.

Drills

1. Many players have a narrow stride with a long recovery. Using a drill called “Cone Skating” forces a player to have a quicker recovery, wide stride, and quickly getting on the inside edge.
2. Bungee Cord Training – this training is to get players to increase their foot speed, quick recovery, and getting on the inside edge faster. There are two players with the bungee strap around their waists. The front player is doing resistance skating which will improve muscle power. The back player glides approximately a stick length when the front player starts skating, then moves his or her skates as fast as he or she can to keep up with the pull of the bungee cord.

It can be done two ways: 1) Short course in offensive zone and 2) Long course from end to end.

3. Partner resistance skating – One player holds the other players’ pants, the player whose pants are being held skates as fast as he or she can against the resistance of the other player. After 3 or 4 “resistance” strides, the “pant holder” releases and the “skater” accelerates to shoot a puck. The player whose pants are being held is doing resistance skating, which will improve muscle power, quick recovery, and getting on the inside edge rapidly.

How these Drills Work to Improve the Stride of a U15 Player

Watch the difference in the stride of the left leg of this U15 player.  In the “before” (Sept 7, 2021) video, you can see (watch in slow motion) how his skate “whips” under the mid-line of his body. His total left stride cycle was 0.60-seconds which can make him slower.

We did four skating sessions where we did “Cone Skating” and Bungee Cord drills, and he practiced skating with a wide stride/quick recovery over the blue line, red line, blue line, etc. When you watch the “after” video (Dec 2, 2021) you will see his left skate barely “whips” under his body. His total left stride cycle in this video is 0.46-seconds, which would make him faster.

Even though the videos were shot on different rinks and we do not know the exact distance he skated, we measured his time using 22-strides. The player was 0.21-seconds faster in the “after” video.

Before Video of U15 player

After Video of U15 player

Conclusion

A quick recovery is a characteristic of fast hockey players. A long recovery does not enhance push-off because the skates cannot push-off until they are on the inside edge. Drills to enhance recovery speed and getting on the inside edge include: “Cone Skating,” Bungee cord drills, and partner resistance skating.