Once the basics became second nature, we introduced new drills that added complexity while reinforcing core skills. Gradually, we layered advanced movements while always revisiting drills from past steps. These additions challenged the skaters to adapt and improve to the next level of the course, while improving technique and building confidence in past victories. The emphasis was always on quality over speed, breaking each movement down into manageable steps. With time and repetition, the skaters developed greater control and fluidity, enhancing their ability to generate smooth power on the ice.
July posed another significant challenge—the outside edge! This step required hours of deliberate practice as they struggled to master the outside edge slide. However, it turned into a triumphant milestone. I’ll never forget a local goalie coach who stopped while walking to his private session in awe, yelling through the glass, "How can they do that?" as the kids landed log jumps with one foot on the ice into their outside edge slide, exiting into a crossover. I replied, “It's taken a month to get here.”
In the second week of July, two of our players couldn’t make it to the skate. A few high school players, working on the ice with their skill coaches, asked if they could jump into our session. Looking around at the empty rink with only one player, I figured it couldn’t hurt to let them join. These players, who I always thought of as solid skaters, joined while we were in the thick of our sixth week of training. Ultimately, they had a tough time keeping up with the movements we had been working on. Re-directing my attention from the player who I have been working with since May, towards the two new players working on the fundamentals of step 1. One of the high school players later texted me and asked if he could join us for the rest of the summer, but I ultimately said no. By that point, we’d made so much progress in the six weeks leading up to then, and it didn’t feel right to alter the plan for the sake of someone new. It just wouldn’t have been fair to the original three players or the parents spending a lot of money to split the costs of ice.
To keep progressing, I would like to continue one skate per week over the winter to target my son’s areas for improvement. That said, I recommend this course most during the off-season when undivided attention can lead to real breakthroughs. By August, when the boys attended summer camps in groups of players who were outside of the three we were working with. Their improved skating was night and day, leaving their dads amazed at how noticeable the advancement in their edges was. The father of one of the boys said, and I quote, “I’m very pleased with his results” after his son wrapped up his annual summer defencemen camp!
This course excels by emphasizing technique and small adjustments that significantly enhance skating. Detailed instructions on posture, hip alignment, knee bend, and edge control ensure every movement is purposeful and efficient. The focus on widening the stance for outside edge slides and refining foot angles transforms basic skills into advanced capabilities. These corrections elevate performance, providing skaters with the tools to achieve greater fluidity and power.
This course has been an invaluable resource for developing skating skills with a purpose. The emphasis on detailed techniques and progression through deliberate practice made all the difference. A heartfelt thank-you to Daniel Broberg for his expertise and dedication in creating such a transformative guide, which has truly elevated our approach to skating.
