Reply To: Skating Treadmills

[RookieCoach]

Tony, You have sparked my interest in these skating treadmills so I checked a number of demonstrations out on line.

A good number of skaters were skating in a walking running direction. (forwards , backwards) not out to the side. in a number of these workouts you will see the player lift his or her heel up after the push or thrust on extension or partial extension.. That usually indicates a more forward backwards ( walking, running motion) and pushing with the toe of the skate.
When pushing out to the side ( 45 deg) you will be able to keep the blade low and parallel to the ice allowing complete contact of the blade on the ice during the push.
There are allot of key elements in the forward stride and you have to slow it down and feel each movement.

But like anything if you get a good instructor or coach they will pick up on all the small things.

I will use my old fashioned slide-board. Would be safer for this old body .

Rookiecoach
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So good to read postings from other coaches instead of always me. If the coach has the skater pushing 90 degrees to the side and finishing between 45 and 50 degrees (on the ice you go forward and on the treadmil the rink moves backward) then the treadmill can be effective. If they are pushing back and finishing about 15-20 degrees like many U10 skaters do then the treadmill is producing and reinforcing bad technique and it could ruin a player.
Tom