LTP Stopping: Proper Hockey Stop

Author: Coach Rox

Posted on: July 22, 2023

LTP Drills: Proper Hockey Stop

Once a player has mastered stopping with one foot, it's time to stop with both feet. This gives us more control over our balance and gives us more agility and therefore speed. Stopping with two feet sideways is generally considered the hockey stop.

Learning to hockey stop can be achieved through three steps:

Turn your head and shoulders to one side.
Then twist your hips and feet to the same side.
Ensure both feet are pointing to the same side and the forward foot is on its inside edge and the back foot is on its outside edge.

Turning your head and shoulders

This is a little trick. Once you're better at stopping, it is not necessary. But it can help new skaters who have trouble turning their foot sideways. By looking to the side, your shoulders and upper body will also follow. And this has the effect of starting to change the balance of your feet. You will naturally put your weight on one foot. This foot can then more easily act like a pivot and the other foot can turn quickly without digging the inside edge in.

Twist your hips and feet

Next, twist your lower half when you are balanced on both edges. The both edges piece is important because it allows the skate to rotate sideways without friction. If you lean on the inside edge of your skate, you may start to turn rather than to stop. You can try this standing still:

The Drill: Twisting in Place

1. While standing still, stand on top of your skates so that you're on both of the edges on each foot. - This is called a Neutral Edge. You are neither on your inside edge nor your outside edge. 2. Next, keep your balance in the middle of your feet while on still standing on a neutral edge. 3. Lastly, on this neutral edge, twist your feet about 90 degrees. - Your feet should move easily, and you should keep your balance. - Keep twisting back and forth until this is easier.

Stop with two feet including the outside edge

The last piece to the hockey stop is to use both feet. It's a great achievement to stop with one foot. That will give you control and help keep you and others safe. Stopping with two feet, will give you agility and speed so you can raise your hockey game.

The hardest part is learning to balance on the outside edge on one foot. Once you can do one foot, it will be easier to stop with both feet digging into their edges.

The Drill: Outside Edge T-Stop

Start by skating forward and then gliding.

Then, stand on one foot and place your other foot in front of the gliding foot.

Gently, place the non-gliding front foot perpendicular to the gliding foot, and land the skate on it's outside edge. Use this foot to start shaving the ice.

This will be a "T" shape.

It should be done gently and with control and balance.

Stop yourself completely by only applying pressure to the outside edge of the front foot.

Repeat with the opposite foot.

Good luck!