One in, one out is an easy drill of alternating crossovers down the ice, moving bilaterally and getting the understroke to ‘really pop’. Jackie interprets this to mean staying level and maintaining blade contact with the ice.
Standing stationary on the ice, Jackie tells the class that they can stand on an outside edge without leaning their shoulders over, but moving their ankles. Steady shoulders are beneficial especially when someone pushes into them. Bending the knees and ankle can be counterbalanced by the upper body.
Jackie has the group re-do the beginning drill with increasing tempo and focus on counterbalancing. Jackie is looking for a ‘quiet upper body’. The more advanced player can use a puck during this drill, but the rest of the younger skaters do not.
The group then does this drill backwards, with their weight more on the ball of the foot. Jackie mentions that this is a comfortable position for most athletes.
Lastly Jackie gives a PSA about proper-fitting equipment. Parents should avoid putting athletes in a skate that they’ll ‘grow into’ because skates that are too big can negatively affect maneuverability.
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