We have had a lot of requests for more skating videos and articles so here is one for forward skating, we have some basic articles already for how to skate and how to stop, so this one seemed like the net logical video / article to publish. In this video we show you the basics to the crossovers and a few easy drills you can do to improve your crossovers and turning. I have also embedded a video that goes into a lot more detail on different types of crossovers / drills you can do to improve.
Forward Crossovers Video
Forward Crossovers Tips
- Keep your knees bent and remember to use your edges
- While doing crossovers around the circle your OUTSIDE leg will be pushing and giving you speed / power
- While doing the forwards crossovers (zig-zag drill in first video) your INSIDE leg is pushing and giving you power
- While doing the circle crossovers try to always keep your stick inside the circle, you can lean on your stick a bit to get lower to the ice
Detailed Hockey Crossover Video
Here is a good video from Hockey Canada that goes into good detail on the crossover and shows a bunch of drills you can practice.
I’ve noticed that skaters’ stability is much improved in crossovers if their shoulders face toward the center of the turn; this allows the outside foot to step inward more easily, because the hips are more open relative to the step direction. If your shoulders face forward through the turn, you have to step in front of your inside foot, forcing a weight shift forward on each outside-foot step. If your shoulders face inward, you can place your outside foot next to your inside foot, instead of in front of it, allowing you to keep your weight centered. In my experience, this can make a huge difference in cleaning up crossovers and improving control.
Thank you !
I’m 36 years old, started skating recently (suck) but learned how to crossover in 2 days, primarily based on this video. I fell countless times, but now I’ve got it down.
Next . . . back crossovers!
Same here! 36 years old. Just started skating in October 2012 and use these drills and techniques. Now I’m hooked. I play three times a week and my game and skating has improved tremendously. Fear of falling continues to be a problem, but that’s what pads are for!
I just wanted to say thanks! I have played hockey all of my life but still had a hard time explaining how to stop to my daughter. We were failing for months. It took her one practice to learn how to stop from your website!
We are both so happy! I will continue to get tips from your website from now on.
Please keep it up!
Thanks for the great videos…its my third time on the ice and it helped me a lot!
Can you demonstrate some things for floor hockey players and roller… I know you guys do ice but i have been coming to the site a while and doing all that I have learned for you guys. Thank you by the way, but some of these things just dont work for floor hockey and some roller. Getting around a defender is very tough on feet and I will take any and all info yohu give. Oh and one more thing, please demonstrate how you would do a good one timer if someone on your team gives you a power pass. Sorry so long and thanks again guys. Keep up the good work!!!
What about backwards crossovers?
He shows them in the video