I played hockey for 15 years but never anyone told me this, honestly this video was really helpful for me and I thank you for this with my whole heart.
Lots of wisdom in this video. I stopped using top hole for laces to allow me bend knees more. But it took me 20 years to figure it out (that was seeing picture of Ovechkin skating with his butt at the knee level)
When I play soccer, I use the power and kicking motions from hip and knee, the foot is just following up extension. Try that with skating and figure out what works.
I’m a coach in Minnesota. Been playing hockey for 40+ years. I’m constantly telling coaches to stop wrapping ankles. Skates are not ski boots. Skates that are too small are better than too big. Toes provide a lot of the Dexterity in the micro movements of Mohawks, power turns, c cuts and transitions. He’s company he’s talking about GENERAL SPORTS in EDINA.
Great video! I discovered this over several years. Went from 7.5 to 7 to 6.5 and finally after years of playing hockey, I'm at size 6! And profiling helped so much.
This video was EXTREMELY informative. The way u spoke was very easy to understand but the subject matter was brilliant. Your a great speaker...u must be a PHENOMENAL coach
I've been researching this for months, and you're the first person to address this. I can never understand how players tie their skates tight at the top and are able to push their shins forward. I have to leave a lot of room up top, more than I would argue is normal, in order to produce a good shin angle for mobility , without a lot of pain. I do feel as though my skates fit properly, but can't seem to figure out why I have so much shin pain and an inability to move my knees all the way forward as I would like.
Look at your skates’ quarter panels near the top two eyelets. If they are bending over toward the center that means you’re tying them tight to get side to side support but that’s restricting your forward flexión and causing you pain. This is the problem with skates that are not stiff enough for your weight and/or ability. Try a stiffer skate with a generously sized tongue. The quarters will remain upright, preventing side to side slop and the tongue itself should compress as you move your shin forward. I found that the lightweight skates like mid level Vapors don’t have enough give in the tongue. Higher end Supremes do. I also tuck my tongues under my shins guards to spread out the pressure on my shins. The switch form Vapors to Supremes has made a world of difference for me.
I have 3 State Tourneys and over 200 youth wins as head coach. Before the season i send out my equipment doc and i have a meeting with parents sending the same message on skates and equipment. Great video and extends to all equipment including sticks. I laugh when a youth player comes in with his dad's stick cut down. I am a possession coach, so stick handling and skill have a high emphasis! Thank you and keep it up
Been out of the game for years now, but this video was awesome! I'm going to apply this info to my hiking & snow boots and also my climbing shoes! Thanks.
Great video! I started playing hockey 14 years ago at age 30…first 2 years went through 3 skates only because I had no idea about any of this. Practically learned by experience how to skate and now I’m a pretty solid skater…can do what I want when I want, I wishing my stickhandling skills where just as good 😂
my son can squat when not in skates but can't at all in skates, this video was extremely relevant. will need to look into more appropriately fitting skates. I recently got new skates and went from 2.5 sizes to a full 3 size down from shoe size. from surpreme to vapor, even though my foot volume is larger. took a few weeks to adjust but the forward lean was instantly apparent.
I appreciate your points about skate fit. One slight correction is that Bauer and CCM have separated the function and fit of the individual skate lines so that a low volume foot can now use the Supreme or Super Tacks blade profile/function and a high volume foot can use a Vapor/Jetspeed skate.
This video is absolutely right on. It’s a shame how many skaters are not skating to their potential for the reasons you mention. I have always skated in skates 2.5 to 3 sizes below my shoe size and I do wear socks to compensate for the growing difference in size between my left and right foot. I am always the only guy in the locker room that checks my forward flexión after lacing my skates to make sure tension in the top two or three eyelets is just right to allow full forward flexion without giving up side-to-side support. Because the relationship between forward flexion and side to side support is important to me I have settled into very stiff Bauer Supreme skates that have virtually no flex but a very generously padded tongue to allow forward flexion. Never thought I would like a stiff skate but It’s working for me.
My greatest issue was runner length when sizing down. While working at a pro shop, I correctly sized myself out of my old size 8's down to a size 6.5-7 but no matter what we did to the profile of the smaller skate's steel, it just never felt like I was getting the full stride extension/balance like I had in my old size 8's runners. Other pro shops have told me you can't tell a difference sizing down skates but I absolutely, 100%, could. Even my shot felt off due to the inability to get planted like I used to. (To be clear, not saying everyone should size up) In the end, swapped the 263 runners out for the sz8 272's and everything is back to normal and THEN SOME! Not sure if this is worth noting but maybe an idea for another video?
I went from an 8 to a 7.5 and the runner length has also messed with my stride. I only play once a week so I haven't swapped it, but hearing it helped you is making me consider it.
I definitely would say to go for it. Swapping back to the larger holders with a much better fitting boot was the jam! Disclaimer** I no longer work at a pro shop and finding a good shop to work on skates like this is tough in my area. Had a couple new rivets put in recently and it's quite obvious, even by eye, that they didn't check the straightness of the blade afterwards. My one skate blade is all kinds of crooked from someone applying way too much pressure on the riveter. So if you do go this route, just make sure the shop knows what they're doing as some new holes will need to be correctly placed/drilled into your boot for the larger holders. Good luck to ya!!!@@wakepics
I'm 48, I started skating at 12. I totally agree with this video. Perfect fit for proper body mechanics. One thing you should mention is that aches and pains also come from out of balance body mechanics from skates that do not fit.
What is your thought on not tying the top eyelet to allow more forward flex? I've gone that way, loved it, but I feel fatigue becomes a factor because I believe the body is constantly making small adjustments for balance.
Def a personal preference. If you are feeling fatigue you will want to look at length strength along with ankle and knee stability. The stronger they are, the less effort you need to put forth. Keep it up!
I am a convert to dropping the top eyelet. After a couple of failed attempts (only tried it for a couple weeks, and I, too, felt more fatigue causing me to revert back where I felt more secure), I committed to ditching the top eyelet because I still felt really limited in shin angle. It was a rough go as I fell a lot during the process, but I got used to it after a couple of months. I tried lacing the top eyelet loose (as I had done before) for comparison, and I felt like Frankenstein and very limited in my skating dexterity. As a result, I promptly did the same for my mite where she, too, had a period of awkwardness, but then also adjusted as I had. YMMV, depending on your skate stiffness, but this was beneficial for our extra stiff top end Tacks skates.
I may get butchered for this comment, but just my two cents what worked for me. I was never a dedicated hockey player partly because I didn’t enjoy skating even though I would consider myself a pretty decent skater. Years away from the game, a took it back up…into my 40s playing in a rec league. My buddy experimented with leaving top eye lit open but he was always a good skater anyway. I said, I’ve always wanted to try that, so I went one better, left top two eyes open. I thought , somewhat emulating speed skating. Could not get over the difference. Speed, efficiency, ease, turning, power,……significantly better. Probably a lot of people do this but if you haven’t, I’d say give it a try. Worked incredibly for me although everyone is different. Sorry for long comment.
I've always found leaving the top eyelet unlaced more comfortable, and helps with forward flexion. Always find it weird seeing other player with their laces wrapped arond the ankle.
Hard no on being allowed to wrap your laces. I think the top eyelet is a personal preference. Some love it and feel it gets them into a better position and some feel they dont need it. If it works well for you then that is awesome!
Skip one or two eyelets from the top to free your ankle. There's enough support sideways and you should take advantage from the ankle bending back and forth. I have done this for 30 years independent of the skate brand and model. Lower stance is easier with the full control over the blade and where I push.
Excellent explanation and subbed! I have a bad ankle from a fracture and always tied my skates too tight and have flat feet but skates have a high profile. I knew I needed to get my knees over my toes but could never do it and now I know how. P.S hope to see some ankle strength training vids if you don't already have them. Thank you!
This is tremendous, thank you! I wish my coaches 30 years ago shared this philosophy. But what it really says is that the manufacturers are holding us back. Ideal skate construction would have a rigid lower and a separate cuff that pivots at the ankle -- exactly like a ski boot. This way the cuff can be snug enough to provide good lateral support, but not impede forward flex. Bauer is doing this with their Konekt goalie skates, but they feel that skaters are too traditional to accept a skate like this.
Thanks for the video. That makes sense a lot. My 9-yr-old son had an issue with skating low. We even skipped the top eyelids to allow him to bend knees. As I watch you video, it sounds like a crazy idea for trading with strong ankle support. I think I will do squat test today with him. I think I should also know his foot profile
Ooo thank you for this video! I’ve always used thrifted skates which I’ve tied irrationally tight but I just got sized for a new pair of skates and was almost frustrated I couldn’t tie them as much. this makes me feel better about my investment and makes so much sense. Another thing I noticed, insoles make a huge difference in how much my ankle can bend. I got a steep insole when I purchased the skates. My right foot responded ok but my left foot was absolutely not having the steep arch.. took them out of both boots and the comfort/control increased dramatically
So keeping this excellent tutorial in mind, is it better to put the shin pad over the tongue or above the top part of the boot? Does putting the shin pad over the tongue inhibit forward ankle flexion? What do you recommend to your clients? To me it's personal preference. Over the tongue gives you much more instep protection from errant pucks. I always felt that having the shin pad resting on the top of the boot would hinder flexion as the shin pad would sometimes get caught up on the boot wheres the shin pad over the tongue the pad would slide more... What do you think?
@@SwansonX7Hockey thank you for the quick response! I figured as much. I believe that the concept is still the same, however. Loosen up to top three or four eyelets lock in your instep, get longer and lower in your stride, and move your feet when necessary, then this will get you the speed that you need. I am going to work on this with my youth hockey player son. We did exactly what you suggested in your video, by going up a size in his skates, and I believe that as a result, his mechanics are off and he is psychologically taught to tighten up skates to his ankles. I believe that his ankles are now locked in place and it is preventing him from getting a longer and lower stride. He is definitely skating more upright as a result of it. I truly believe that Siri is listening to me because I literally had this conversation with my son last week and then suddenly, your video appeared. It’s destiny! Lol.
While I appreciate the sentiment here & commend you for being 1st guy to mention skating w/laces untied, you got 1 important part wrong. (Or rather, incomplete bc I agree with much of what you said. The true reason 99% of people can't skate untied is bc of a lack of ankle rigidity/strength, poor ankle proprioception & general muscular misalignment. Most skaters (+ most people) suffer from SOME degree of excessive pronation. The degree of their pronation will dictate their ability to hold an edge but it can also prevent them from accessing an outside edge altogether. This leads to the 2nd biggest issue in skating IMO, which is that overpronating prevents you from properly stacking hip/knee/ankle over the "sweet spot" of a skate blade, dramatically reducing force production. Happy to discuss further as I'm working on some tools/mechanisms to solve this issue bc it's SO common but NOBODY is addressing it. The first person to fix this in hockey, either in skate design, training or both, is going to make himself $100MM bc NOBODY will be able to sell a skate anymore that doesn't address this. P.S. Ever notice how the best skaters in the world including McDavid, Crosby, Barzal, Mackinnon & Kyle Connor are ALL bow-legged? I heard someone mention this randomly & thought it was strange so I tried to figure out why that is. And after months of research, analysis, etc., I figured it out. Most people have tight hips, resulting in forward pelvic tilt & internal hip rotation, internal femoral rotation & some amount of knee valgus, either causing or caused by excessive pronation. Conversely, people who are genetically bow-legged have (simply by luck) have neutral pelvic, hip, femoral & tibial alignment, as well as neutral ankle alignment. This enables them to generate maximum force by stacking their hip/knee/ankle over the center of their blade. It also allows them to lean much more aggressively while still gripping the ice on their outside edge, which basically lets them use gravity to gain a speed advantage.
The video is about the simple things a player can easily fix. I have a 15 years S&C back ground. We incorporate hip and ankle mobility, stability and strengthening in all of our work however that was not the point of the video. The point is that 90% of skates on our youth are too big and that is effecting the mechanics at an early age.
Would you be able to elaborate a bit more on what you mentioned about baking skates with thick socks, then thinner socks and eventually no socks? I didn't quite understand that part. Do you bake them at home, or you need some sort of gear? Is there a certain stance you want to be in when baking them?
If your skates are feeling tight, one way to alleviate that is by switching to a thinner sock and eventually skating without socks. This can give you a bit more room and comfort. Another option is to rebake the skates, which helps to open up the boot and mold it to your foot more comfortably. To bake skates, you’ll need a skate-specific oven, which most pro shops have, or you can use a traditional oven at home, though you’ll need to be cautious and follow the right steps to avoid damaging the skates. There’s a lot of detailed information available online about the specific process for baking skates, so I’d recommend checking that out before attempting it at home.
Great video. Does tucking the skate tongue under your shin pads also limit mobility? I've always tucked the tongue, but this video makes me wonder if it creates similar issues as tying skates too tight.
I had the same question, I started tucking the tongue under my shin pads a few years back. I am also older, so not sure if I am slower because of age or lack of flexion. However, I notice most NHL players tuck as well. I do leave the bottom shin pad strap looser so that it allows my ankle to bend.
Great video John. How do you feel about 3rd party skate inserts like super feet? I feel like they always help me in terms of prolonging a breakdown in the footpad and keeping my foot filling the boto and they pronate my knees out which at least for my stride, seems beneficial.
Great job thanks. I’m 44 and been tying my skates tightly forever, because that’s what I was taught. Gonna try loosening the top two laces tonight in my men’s league and report back!
@@pauldarthurs Losing the tightness of two laces was too much, so i had to go back to my usual way for the game. I tried going looser on the top only and it took a little getting used to but it helped open up my hips and skating posture a bit. It will definitely take some time and practices to incorporate this into my game but the one things that funny is over the years I've felt like ive skated my best later in games. It may not just be my legs getting loose, it could be the skates as well.... 😉
Great info. I certainly knew about deep knee bends and knees over foot and have always had my kids not tie up top eyelet but did know the squat down with skates and now try with skates… awesome info. I will definitely try that with my group.
Skating without your skates tied will give you so much immediate feedback on so many aspects of your skating. Any misalignment is exaggerated. The things is, you figure out how to fix it very quickly. It’s not just ankle strength, you will realize in a few laps just how many muscles in the kinetic chain contribute to skating and stability.
Do you think there's merit in having your skates wrapped during the baking process? The shop I got my SVH Customs from didn't wrap them and I also use a thinner insole than what the skates come with. I find my forefoot tends to shift when I'm on my edges or trying to lean into my stride and I am starting to think this might be the reason. I also use a thin sock as well.
Yes, that “knob” on the heel is often referred to as a bone spur, and it develops from repeated friction and pressure in the skate. Initially, it starts as fluid buildup due to the rubbing, and over time, it calcifies into a bone spur. One of the primary reasons this happens is improper skate fit. To prevent this, the key is ensuring your skates fit properly from the start. Skates should be about 3 sizes smaller than a properly fit shoe. Current skate scanners and some sales reps often push skates that allow for "room to grow," but this can lead to blisters, discomfort, and eventually bone spurs. It’s also important to remember that while the skates may feel tight initially, especially if they haven’t been baked yet, they typically open up by about a half size after baking. Another point to consider is that most skates are fitted while standing straight, but hockey is played in a much more active stance. When you’re in a hockey position, your foot naturally pulls back into the heel pocket, creating more space and improving the fit. So, while the skates may feel tight while standing, once you’re in a skating position, they’ll often feel much more comfortable. Ensuring the right fit from the beginning and understanding how baking the skates and the active hockey stance change the fit can significantly reduce the risk of bone spurs developing over time.
It’s a night and day difference and I feel like no one talks about it. I ended up going with custom skates because my left foot is two skate sizes bigger so I’ve always had to crank down on the laces in order to just stay in the skates. Now that I’m in skates that I fit I go into a full squat once I get to the top two eyelets and my stride length and knee bend has probably doubled when I’m comparing pictures to before
Excellent tutorial. I have also noticed that kids skates, specifically the blades, are too tall, often as tall as an adult skate. This means that they have a much harder time controlling the side flex of their ankles since it is a much larger moment length from their ankle to the bottom of the blade, than an adult, who has much more strength in their ankles, not to mention technique. I'd like to see kids skate blades much shorter which would help immensely with their learning.
I know you mentioned that you skated with loose skates and that a player should be able to skate without laces but what are your thoughts on doing laceless training or loose skate training? What age would be a good age to introduce this if you do recommend it? My power skating coach as a kid would have us skate for like 10 mins before sessions without tying our skates to build ankle strength and told us not to tie the top eyelet for better ankle mobility. I've since seen a lot of mixed reviews on this but I personally feel that it absolutely increased my ankle strength and because of that I prefer my skates looser. As you mentioned I use wax laces and tie the bottom fairly tight but leave the top rather loose and skip the top eyelet. Thank you for the great video.
I think the skate should be tight in the mid-foot to create that heel lock, but the top two eyelets need to be loose enough to allow for proper shin angle over the toes, ensuring correct posture and mobility on the ice. From a strengthening perspective, I prefer focusing on off-ice training to create a more controlled stimulus for the athlete. Off-ice exercises such as balance work, proprioception drills, and ankle strengthening routines offer more targeted results and are safer. That said, incorporating a bit of loose skate work on the ice can be useful, but I recommend introducing it in small doses, especially for younger players, once they have foundational skating skills in place. Also, it’s great that you’re already experimenting with lacing setups! Finding that balance between mobility and stability is key for performance, and what works for one skater may not work for another. Always adapt to what feels right for your skating style and development goals.
Great vid! Question - A Canadian friend used to lace up the lower part of his skates with short laces, then have another set of laces for the upper part of the skate... what do you think?
This is pure gold, John, and thank you SO MUCH for sharing!! 👌🏼 I’ve been preaching this for decades, and most fellow players and coaches just look at me as if I’m crazy. My skates are 3 sizes smaller than my shoe size, and I could probably go another 1/2-size smaller. Even in my 50s, I can outskate -- forwards and backwards -- virtually anyone at any rink. What you outline simply works, but it’s missed 75% of the time (if not more), in my honest and humble opinion! 🫤 The same goes for hockey sticks … most players use sticks that are too tall and way too stiff, and they wonder why they can’t shoot very well. 🤷🏻♂️
I'm curious if you recommend a certain person at General Sports to help fit the skates. I went to their website and there are a couple of options to schedule a fitting a with. Thank you in advance for any advice you have.
I have a question, hopefully u see this. I wear a size 7 Ribcor 88K atm. I baked it once but it still feels a little loose. Would a tounge upgrade to the 10 mm help. Also should i bake them one more time? Their not huge it just feels like my ankle area could use some snugging up.
I sell skates and I wouldn’t agree with the scanner being garbage. They have come so far. And now with Bauer’s fit 1, 2 and 3 you can get in any Bauer skate and have close to zero negative space. Also when scanning you should be in that knee bend position when scanning. Overall I totally agree for kiddos stay in your skates as long as you can especially with the price tag on them. Curious your opinion on shin guards being over the tongue of the skate then?
When you tie the skate, the laces and tongue should not bubble up. (this would be a skate that doesn't have enough side wall) Secondly their skates side walls shouldn't overly turn in. (this is too much room) You want to find the happy medium. Most skate shop or a good shoe fitting will be able to help with that.
Question, my son loves to tuck the tongue into his shin pads, has always done this. I’ve seen it in the NHL as well. Does this affect the ankle bend to get the knee over his skate?
Apparently he preferred glide over grip most players use 1/2 radius coffee was more like 1 inch radius , I use 5/8 remember weight and ice condition also plays a role like ice in Montreal is harder than Ice in Fort Lauderdale the harder the ice the more grip the softer the ice the less grip. Sid the kid was 1/2 most of his career but now he’s using 9/16 . Sakic used 5/8 most of his career again 80%of pros use 1/2 . Paul coffee was out of the norm but It worked for him . I have heard he also used skates smaller than most would use. Bottom line if your skate is snug and zero pain your in a good position. Pain free and the right sharpening for you are most important. Coffee was a great D man and he found what worked for him. He got to the NHL and stayed there so obviously it worked .
What is the company in the Twin Cities that you recommend for help sizing skates? My 6-year-old son's foot looks like it's too big for the footbed of his skate but he's never complained the skates are too small. I'm not sure he'd know if they were too small, however.
I played hockey for 20 years, but only last few weeks I use more loose skates against too overtight, honestly this video was really helpful for me (and also for my future kids) and I thank you for this bro. REALLY GOOD IDEA!
The art of actual skate fitting is dying. The new machines are putting in skates to big and parents are getting sold skates even when the player doesn't need them because the store knows they will buy them.
Wanted to comment again to see if I could summarize the overall message: skates are too loose overall and to compensate for that, we are tying the ankles so tight that it reduces the much needed ankle flexibility leading to stiff and wooden strides instead of the flexible ones stemming from ankle mobility? Essentially the skate should be tight around the foot not only in length but also in height. Only been skating/playing hockey seriously for 2 years, but I never understood the idea behind “high top” skates. I’m no expert and would love to be told a counter argument, but ankle support is only a good until it impedes the mobility. To me, a perfect skate would fit like a glove around my foot up until the transition zone from the top of the foot to the ankle. At this point, I need maximum flexibility, but I could see how the “boot” is needed for protection. I guess it comes down to a balance of freedom of mobility versus support.
I always wonder if most people wear shoes that are too big. Everyone always says that skates should be 1 or 2 sizes below shoe size, but mine are the same size. I tried going down one size for skates, but I don't like the way my toes get bunched against the toe cap.
Your toes when standing tall should actually touch your toe caps. When you are in a skating position the toes actually retract back and that is how the skate should be sized. So when you try the skate on, stand tall and next your knees.
Loved this video, I have been doing loose at the bottom tight at the top for the past 30 years. Might just have to go loose all the way. Tight at the bottom hurts my feet. 😅
my skate fits well in the boot but i crank the top eyelets as much as i can because it makes my ankle feel more stable/safer. this definitely severely limits my shin angle and ankle mobiltiy, so i shouldn't do that anymore right? how tight are you supposed to go on the top eyelets to not comprimise shin angle
A few things to consider, that we look at. Is the skate truly fit right? Often players think the skate fits however you should be able to actual skate without laces if the skate is fit right. Next, you want to consider ankle strengthening. If the ankle feels weak, doing movements that encourage ankle strengthening will help. Lastly, how tight is preference, I would start to skate with them looser and slowly get used to itover time
I thought that the new Bauer fit system eliminated the issue of someone with bigger volume foot needing to wear supremes or nexus. I got new skates a year or so ago and they put me in vapor type 3 because I have a high arch.
Yep. This is address skates in general in regards to length of the skate and the volume is speaking about youth and jr. skates where that isn’t yet available.
A "high profile" refers to skates or blades designed with more material under the foot, offering greater stability, which is often suited for players with wider feet or those who need more support. It generally has a higher arch, deeper heel pocket, and higher volume, which means there's more room inside the skate for the foot. This is often found in Fit 3 skates from Bauer, for example, which is ideal for players with wide feet and a higher instep. A "low profile" refers to skates or blades that sit closer to the ice, providing a lower center of gravity, and they usually have a shallower heel pocket and lower instep. This helps players with a more narrow foot shape to lock in properly for better control and responsiveness. Fit 1 from Bauer is an example of a low-profile skate. From a blade profiling perspective, a "low-profile" blade has less curve, which gives players more agility and quick turns, while a "high-profile" blade has more curve and stability, giving a larger surface area on the ice for better balance and power during straight-line skating. So, whether it’s for the skate fit or the blade itself, understanding the difference between high and low profiles can help customize performance based on individual playing style and biomechanics.
Great vid, you should do a follow up on how to measure your foot for the proper skate so we don’t have to deal with that big dumb machine that isn’t accurate either.
The coach in the video is ex-NHL star Daryl Evans, who now works with the NHL LA Kings team. There’s actually video footage of skaters doing this, and I just used the image for reference. Some skaters can even get their forearm to touch the ice while maintaining blade pressure. ruclips.net/video/8o4adhzXg3g/видео.html
I've always wondered if it would be effective to have two shorter laces on a skate, one for the foot and one for the last few holes. But I was too lazy to experiment.
The way I build my ankle strength is to run backward a few laps at the end of my running routine. I see the dif when I trike the soccer ball with my foot.
I wish I knew this before I went and bought some Bauer M5 Supremes two weeks ago. Ah well, I'm a 42 year old beer leaguer, so it's not like it will impact my ability to get to the NHL. Good information though and hopefully it helps out the youth.
Fitting skates properly sounds a lot like fitting snowboard boots properly actually. I'm going to adjust my lacing tonight and see how my stride improves. Thanks for the tips, liked and subscribed! #goleafsgo
There may be an assumption to this madness that the weight is 'supposed' to be balanced over the arch or middle of foot when what is observed by the best is that they consistently have their weight, balance and pivot point not at the arch but further back towards the heel instead. This is a key distinction that sets up the rest of the frame and balance position. Any talk of knee bend without first understanding the ankle flexion is misguided, imho. By moving the bodies centre of gravity even just a mm forward by 'letting' the calve muscles relax you gain mechanical advantage. Its unwanted and unneeded tension that's holding people back and the focus and a mental eye on the wrong area of the body combined with over 60 yrs of brainwashing power skating ideology that's holding the entire hockey skating back, imo
Appreciate your insights on the importance of ankle flexion and weight distribution in skating. You're right about the significance of heel pressure, and it's something we emphasize in our advanced training with college and pro players. This video focuses on a common issue: skating in skates that don't fit properly, which hinders optimal stride and speed. While we discuss the basics here, including proper skate fit and weight balance, we fully recognize and teach the complexities of skating mechanics, including heel pressure, in more detailed training sessions. Your points about evolving skating techniques and avoiding outdated ideologies are well-taken. We always aim to incorporate the latest understanding in our coaching. Thanks for your input!
The reason that the players are skating straight up and can't bend their knees is that the modern composite skate is too stiff and doesn't allow ankle flexion . The modern skate impedes good skaters and helps bad skaters . The best skate of all time was the CCM leather Tack . If you watch how well those players that wore the old soft leather skates they had better stride , better control and transitioned from forwards to backwards much easier than today's players . I wish they would bring those skates back as an option to players .
Spot on. I’m an adult who recently started playing, and I always found it weird how tight skates were taught to be near the ankles, especially because it seemed to restrict my ability to get those knees over toes. I naturally found that the higher up in the boot, the less tight I want my skates. Question: do you think that putting the tongue of the skate out is correct in the theory it doesn’t restrict ankle mobility compared to tongue in?
Is their data that shows this. Only thing we have seen to cause lace but is when the foot is protruding from the side wall. This is regardless of lace type.
Well then we have an argument on skate pricing and if we’re focused on form fitting i don’t think buying a used pair of skates is the way to go? So for parents buying a size up because their child is growing i dont see another option but to break the bank. If a kid was able to do my drills with skates that dont fit properly and do them better then a kid that does have proper fitting skates then thats the issue. Skates aren’t hindering your lessons because for years professionals growing up used “used equipment” like i did. I didnt get proper fitted gear until i was 14. Theres also more brands then just those 2 kinds of skates and you didnt discuss how weight, angle of the skate blade and quality of boot affects players speed. Too many parents have their child in $600 skates when they are constantly falling down and fumbling when transitioning because they have very bad balance. Work on the basics first then ask parents to buy skates.
Wow so many mechanics were missed in this video.....Yes, one aspect talked about out of 5-6 other major issues, but the title of the video very misleading for click bait.... disappointing....
Mechanics missed. The low hanging fruit is skate sizing the rest of improving a stride takes years however putting an athlete in the right skate will help over night hence the title.
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I played hockey for 15 years but never anyone told me this, honestly this video was really helpful for me and I thank you for this with my whole heart.
Glad it helped!
Lots of wisdom in this video. I stopped using top hole for laces to allow me bend knees more. But it took me 20 years to figure it out (that was seeing picture of Ovechkin skating with his butt at the knee level)
When I did that like 10
years ago my whole game changed it was incredible
When I play soccer, I use the power and kicking motions from hip and knee, the foot is just following up extension. Try that with skating and figure out what works.
I’m a coach in Minnesota. Been playing hockey for 40+ years. I’m constantly telling coaches to stop wrapping ankles. Skates are not ski boots. Skates that are too small are better than too big. Toes provide a lot of the Dexterity in the micro movements of Mohawks, power turns, c cuts and transitions.
He’s company he’s talking about GENERAL SPORTS in EDINA.
Yep, I have it linked in the description.
Great video! I discovered this over several years. Went from 7.5 to 7 to 6.5 and finally after years of playing hockey, I'm at size 6! And profiling helped so much.
Yep big fan of profiling. I was shocked to learn how many players, even my college skaters dont.
This video was EXTREMELY informative. The way u spoke was very easy to understand but the subject matter was brilliant. Your a great speaker...u must be a PHENOMENAL coach
I've been researching this for months, and you're the first person to address this. I can never understand how players tie their skates tight at the top and are able to push their shins forward. I have to leave a lot of room up top, more than I would argue is normal, in order to produce a good shin angle for mobility , without a lot of pain. I do feel as though my skates fit properly, but can't seem to figure out why I have so much shin pain and an inability to move my knees all the way forward as I would like.
Look at your skates’ quarter panels near the top two eyelets. If they are bending over toward the center that means you’re tying them tight to get side to side support but that’s restricting your forward flexión and causing you pain. This is the problem with skates that are not stiff enough for your weight and/or ability. Try a stiffer skate with a generously sized tongue. The quarters will remain upright, preventing side to side slop and the tongue itself should compress as you move your shin forward. I found that the lightweight skates like mid level Vapors don’t have enough give in the tongue. Higher end Supremes do. I also tuck my tongues under my shins guards to spread out the pressure on my shins. The switch form Vapors to Supremes has made a world of difference for me.
I have 3 State Tourneys and over 200 youth wins as head coach. Before the season i send out my equipment doc and i have a meeting with parents sending the same message on skates and equipment. Great video and extends to all equipment including sticks.
I laugh when a youth player comes in with his dad's stick cut down. I am a possession coach, so stick handling and skill have a high emphasis!
Thank you and keep it up
Nice work!
What is your take on stick length. How does it relate to this skate explanation?
Been out of the game for years now, but this video was awesome! I'm going to apply this info to my hiking & snow boots and also my climbing shoes! Thanks.
Great video! I started playing hockey 14 years ago at age 30…first 2 years went through 3 skates only because I had no idea about any of this. Practically learned by experience how to skate and now I’m a pretty solid skater…can do what I want when I want, I wishing my stickhandling skills where just as good 😂
my son can squat when not in skates but can't at all in skates, this video was extremely relevant. will need to look into more appropriately fitting skates. I recently got new skates and went from 2.5 sizes to a full 3 size down from shoe size. from surpreme to vapor, even though my foot volume is larger. took a few weeks to adjust but the forward lean was instantly apparent.
I appreciate your points about skate fit. One slight correction is that Bauer and CCM have separated the function and fit of the individual skate lines so that a low volume foot can now use the Supreme or Super Tacks blade profile/function and a high volume foot can use a Vapor/Jetspeed skate.
Yep! This is more so about youth and junior skates prior to that.
This video is absolutely right on. It’s a shame how many skaters are not skating to their potential for the reasons you mention. I have always skated in skates 2.5 to 3 sizes below my shoe size and I do wear socks to compensate for the growing difference in size between my left and right foot. I am always the only guy in the locker room that checks my forward flexión after lacing my skates to make sure tension in the top two or three eyelets is just right to allow full forward flexion without giving up side-to-side support. Because the relationship between forward flexion and side to side support is important to me I have settled into very stiff Bauer Supreme skates that have virtually no flex but a very generously padded tongue to allow forward flexion. Never thought I would like a stiff skate but It’s working for me.
My greatest issue was runner length when sizing down. While working at a pro shop, I correctly sized myself out of my old size 8's down to a size 6.5-7 but no matter what we did to the profile of the smaller skate's steel, it just never felt like I was getting the full stride extension/balance like I had in my old size 8's runners. Other pro shops have told me you can't tell a difference sizing down skates but I absolutely, 100%, could. Even my shot felt off due to the inability to get planted like I used to. (To be clear, not saying everyone should size up) In the end, swapped the 263 runners out for the sz8 272's and everything is back to normal and THEN SOME! Not sure if this is worth noting but maybe an idea for another video?
I went from an 8 to a 7.5 and the runner length has also messed with my stride. I only play once a week so I haven't swapped it, but hearing it helped you is making me consider it.
I definitely would say to go for it. Swapping back to the larger holders with a much better fitting boot was the jam! Disclaimer** I no longer work at a pro shop and finding a good shop to work on skates like this is tough in my area. Had a couple new rivets put in recently and it's quite obvious, even by eye, that they didn't check the straightness of the blade afterwards. My one skate blade is all kinds of crooked from someone applying way too much pressure on the riveter. So if you do go this route, just make sure the shop knows what they're doing as some new holes will need to be correctly placed/drilled into your boot for the larger holders. Good luck to ya!!!@@wakepics
I'm 48, I started skating at 12. I totally agree with this video. Perfect fit for proper body mechanics. One thing you should mention is that aches and pains also come from out of balance body mechanics from skates that do not fit.
100%
What is your thought on not tying the top eyelet to allow more forward flex? I've gone that way, loved it, but I feel fatigue becomes a factor because I believe the body is constantly making small adjustments for balance.
Def a personal preference. If you are feeling fatigue you will want to look at length strength along with ankle and knee stability. The stronger they are, the less effort you need to put forth. Keep it up!
I am a convert to dropping the top eyelet.
After a couple of failed attempts (only tried it for a couple weeks, and I, too, felt more fatigue causing me to revert back where I felt more secure), I committed to ditching the top eyelet because I still felt really limited in shin angle.
It was a rough go as I fell a lot during the process, but I got used to it after a couple of months. I tried lacing the top eyelet loose (as I had done before) for comparison, and I felt like Frankenstein and very limited in my skating dexterity.
As a result, I promptly did the same for my mite where she, too, had a period of awkwardness, but then also adjusted as I had.
YMMV, depending on your skate stiffness, but this was beneficial for our extra stiff top end Tacks skates.
I may get butchered for this comment, but just my two cents what worked for me. I was never a dedicated hockey player partly because I didn’t enjoy skating even though I would consider myself a pretty decent skater. Years away from the game, a took it back up…into my 40s playing in a rec league. My buddy experimented with leaving top eye lit open but he was always a good skater anyway. I said, I’ve always wanted to try that, so I went one better, left top two eyes open. I thought , somewhat emulating speed skating. Could not get over the difference. Speed, efficiency, ease, turning, power,……significantly better. Probably a lot of people do this but if you haven’t, I’d say give it a try. Worked incredibly for me although everyone is different. Sorry for long comment.
I've always found leaving the top eyelet unlaced more comfortable, and helps with forward flexion. Always find it weird seeing other player with their laces wrapped arond the ankle.
Hard no on being allowed to wrap your laces. I think the top eyelet is a personal preference. Some love it and feel it gets them into a better position and some feel they dont need it.
If it works well for you then that is awesome!
Tying the top eyelet feels like wearing skiing boots 😂
(Downhill, not cross country)
Skip one or two eyelets from the top to free your ankle. There's enough support sideways and you should take advantage from the ankle bending back and forth. I have done this for 30 years independent of the skate brand and model. Lower stance is easier with the full control over the blade and where I push.
Excellent explanation and subbed! I have a bad ankle from a fracture and always tied my skates too tight and have flat feet but skates have a high profile. I knew I needed to get my knees over my toes but could never do it and now I know how. P.S hope to see some ankle strength training vids if you don't already have them. Thank you!
Thanks for the sub!
I can def do a ankle video of the protocols I use for my skaters.
This is tremendous, thank you! I wish my coaches 30 years ago shared this philosophy.
But what it really says is that the manufacturers are holding us back. Ideal skate construction would have a rigid lower and a separate cuff that pivots at the ankle -- exactly like a ski boot. This way the cuff can be snug enough to provide good lateral support, but not impede forward flex.
Bauer is doing this with their Konekt goalie skates, but they feel that skaters are too traditional to accept a skate like this.
Thanks for the video. That makes sense a lot. My 9-yr-old son had an issue with skating low. We even skipped the top eyelids to allow him to bend knees. As I watch you video, it sounds like a crazy idea for trading with strong ankle support. I think I will do squat test today with him. I think I should also know his foot profile
"Up on your toes" has helped on my end when coaching. Great info!
Ooo thank you for this video! I’ve always used thrifted skates which I’ve tied irrationally tight but I just got sized for a new pair of skates and was almost frustrated I couldn’t tie them as much. this makes me feel better about my investment and makes so much sense. Another thing I noticed, insoles make a huge difference in how much my ankle can bend. I got a steep insole when I purchased the skates. My right foot responded ok but my left foot was absolutely not having the steep arch.. took them out of both boots and the comfort/control increased dramatically
So keeping this excellent tutorial in mind, is it better to put the shin pad over the tongue or above the top part of the boot? Does putting the shin pad over the tongue inhibit forward ankle flexion? What do you recommend to your clients? To me it's personal preference. Over the tongue gives you much more instep protection from errant pucks. I always felt that having the shin pad resting on the top of the boot would hinder flexion as the shin pad would sometimes get caught up on the boot wheres the shin pad over the tongue the pad would slide more...
What do you think?
I believe this is a preference. That being said I played with my shin pad over the tongue as I felt like it added protection.
@@SwansonX7Hockey thank you for the quick response! I figured as much. I believe that the concept is still the same, however. Loosen up to top three or four eyelets lock in your instep, get longer and lower in your stride, and move your feet when necessary, then this will get you the speed that you need. I am going to work on this with my youth hockey player son. We did exactly what you suggested in your video, by going up a size in his skates, and I believe that as a result, his mechanics are off and he is psychologically taught to tighten up skates to his ankles. I believe that his ankles are now locked in place and it is preventing him from getting a longer and lower stride. He is definitely skating more upright as a result of it. I truly believe that Siri is listening to me because I literally had this conversation with my son last week and then suddenly, your video appeared. It’s destiny! Lol.
While I appreciate the sentiment here & commend you for being 1st guy to mention skating w/laces untied, you got 1 important part wrong. (Or rather, incomplete bc I agree with much of what you said.
The true reason 99% of people can't skate untied is bc of a lack of ankle rigidity/strength, poor ankle proprioception & general muscular misalignment.
Most skaters (+ most people) suffer from SOME degree of excessive pronation. The degree of their pronation will dictate their ability to hold an edge but it can also prevent them from accessing an outside edge altogether.
This leads to the 2nd biggest issue in skating IMO, which is that overpronating prevents you from properly stacking hip/knee/ankle over the "sweet spot" of a skate blade, dramatically reducing force production.
Happy to discuss further as I'm working on some tools/mechanisms to solve this issue bc it's SO common but NOBODY is addressing it. The first person to fix this in hockey, either in skate design, training or both, is going to make himself $100MM bc NOBODY will be able to sell a skate anymore that doesn't address this.
P.S. Ever notice how the best skaters in the world including McDavid, Crosby, Barzal, Mackinnon & Kyle Connor are ALL bow-legged? I heard someone mention this randomly & thought it was strange so I tried to figure out why that is. And after months of research, analysis, etc., I figured it out.
Most people have tight hips, resulting in forward pelvic tilt & internal hip rotation, internal femoral rotation & some amount of knee valgus, either causing or caused by excessive pronation.
Conversely, people who are genetically bow-legged have (simply by luck) have neutral pelvic, hip, femoral & tibial alignment, as well as neutral ankle alignment. This enables them to generate maximum force by stacking their hip/knee/ankle over the center of their blade. It also allows them to lean much more aggressively while still gripping the ice on their outside edge, which basically lets them use gravity to gain a speed advantage.
The video is about the simple things a player can easily fix. I have a 15 years S&C back ground. We incorporate hip and ankle mobility, stability and strengthening in all of our work however that was not the point of the video. The point is that 90% of skates on our youth are too big and that is effecting the mechanics at an early age.
Would you be able to elaborate a bit more on what you mentioned about baking skates with thick socks, then thinner socks and eventually no socks? I didn't quite understand that part. Do you bake them at home, or you need some sort of gear? Is there a certain stance you want to be in when baking them?
If your skates are feeling tight, one way to alleviate that is by switching to a thinner sock and eventually skating without socks. This can give you a bit more room and comfort.
Another option is to rebake the skates, which helps to open up the boot and mold it to your foot more comfortably. To bake skates, you’ll need a skate-specific oven, which most pro shops have, or you can use a traditional oven at home, though you’ll need to be cautious and follow the right steps to avoid damaging the skates.
There’s a lot of detailed information available online about the specific process for baking skates, so I’d recommend checking that out before attempting it at home.
Great video. Does tucking the skate tongue under your shin pads also limit mobility? I've always tucked the tongue, but this video makes me wonder if it creates similar issues as tying skates too tight.
I had the same question, I started tucking the tongue under my shin pads a few years back. I am also older, so not sure if I am slower because of age or lack of flexion. However, I notice most NHL players tuck as well. I do leave the bottom shin pad strap looser so that it allows my ankle to bend.
Great video John. How do you feel about 3rd party skate inserts like super feet? I feel like they always help me in terms of prolonging a breakdown in the footpad and keeping my foot filling the boto and they pronate my knees out which at least for my stride, seems beneficial.
Great job thanks.
I’m 44 and been tying my skates tightly forever, because that’s what I was taught.
Gonna try loosening the top two laces tonight in my men’s league and report back!
Report?
@@pauldarthurs Losing the tightness of two laces was too much, so i had to go back to my usual way for the game. I tried going looser on the top only and it took a little getting used to but it helped open up my hips and skating posture a bit. It will definitely take some time and practices to incorporate this into my game but the one things that funny is over the years I've felt like ive skated my best later in games. It may not just be my legs getting loose, it could be the skates as well.... 😉
Great info. I certainly knew about deep knee bends and knees over foot and have always had my kids not tie up top eyelet but did know the squat down with skates and now try with skates… awesome info. I will definitely try that with my group.
Skating without your skates tied will give you so much immediate feedback on so many aspects of your skating. Any misalignment is exaggerated. The things is, you figure out how to fix it very quickly. It’s not just ankle strength, you will realize in a few laps just how many muscles in the kinetic chain contribute to skating and stability.
bros trying to break someones ankles😭🙏
Do you think there's merit in having your skates wrapped during the baking process? The shop I got my SVH Customs from didn't wrap them and I also use a thinner insole than what the skates come with. I find my forefoot tends to shift when I'm on my edges or trying to lean into my stride and I am starting to think this might be the reason. I also use a thin sock as well.
I think they dont wrap as they dont want the boot to fold in
great information! thank you. is there any information addressing the be knob that can be created on the heal and how to prevent that?
Yes, that “knob” on the heel is often referred to as a bone spur, and it develops from repeated friction and pressure in the skate. Initially, it starts as fluid buildup due to the rubbing, and over time, it calcifies into a bone spur. One of the primary reasons this happens is improper skate fit.
To prevent this, the key is ensuring your skates fit properly from the start. Skates should be about 3 sizes smaller than a properly fit shoe. Current skate scanners and some sales reps often push skates that allow for "room to grow," but this can lead to blisters, discomfort, and eventually bone spurs. It’s also important to remember that while the skates may feel tight initially, especially if they haven’t been baked yet, they typically open up by about a half size after baking.
Another point to consider is that most skates are fitted while standing straight, but hockey is played in a much more active stance. When you’re in a hockey position, your foot naturally pulls back into the heel pocket, creating more space and improving the fit. So, while the skates may feel tight while standing, once you’re in a skating position, they’ll often feel much more comfortable.
Ensuring the right fit from the beginning and understanding how baking the skates and the active hockey stance change the fit can significantly reduce the risk of bone spurs developing over time.
It’s a night and day difference and I feel like no one talks about it. I ended up going with custom skates because my left foot is two skate sizes bigger so I’ve always had to crank down on the laces in order to just stay in the skates. Now that I’m in skates that I fit I go into a full squat once I get to the top two eyelets and my stride length and knee bend has probably doubled when I’m comparing pictures to before
I’m going to ur camp Thursday I’m excited to have you as a coach so we can learn a lot from each other
Have fun!
Excellent tutorial. I have also noticed that kids skates, specifically the blades, are too tall, often as tall as an adult skate. This means that they have a much harder time controlling the side flex of their ankles since it is a much larger moment length from their ankle to the bottom of the blade, than an adult, who has much more strength in their ankles, not to mention technique. I'd like to see kids skate blades much shorter which would help immensely with their learning.
I know you mentioned that you skated with loose skates and that a player should be able to skate without laces but what are your thoughts on doing laceless training or loose skate training? What age would be a good age to introduce this if you do recommend it? My power skating coach as a kid would have us skate for like 10 mins before sessions without tying our skates to build ankle strength and told us not to tie the top eyelet for better ankle mobility. I've since seen a lot of mixed reviews on this but I personally feel that it absolutely increased my ankle strength and because of that I prefer my skates looser. As you mentioned I use wax laces and tie the bottom fairly tight but leave the top rather loose and skip the top eyelet. Thank you for the great video.
I think the skate should be tight in the mid-foot to create that heel lock, but the top two eyelets need to be loose enough to allow for proper shin angle over the toes, ensuring correct posture and mobility on the ice.
From a strengthening perspective, I prefer focusing on off-ice training to create a more controlled stimulus for the athlete. Off-ice exercises such as balance work, proprioception drills, and ankle strengthening routines offer more targeted results and are safer. That said, incorporating a bit of loose skate work on the ice can be useful, but I recommend introducing it in small doses, especially for younger players, once they have foundational skating skills in place.
Also, it’s great that you’re already experimenting with lacing setups! Finding that balance between mobility and stability is key for performance, and what works for one skater may not work for another. Always adapt to what feels right for your skating style and development goals.
Does Bauer’s Fit 1/2/3 System change your comments about Supreme vs Vapor? Or will the Supreme always fit a wider/ higher profile foot better?
Yep. The fit system then allows you to adjust accordingly. I was trying to do a break down for Youth and Junior skates prior to the Fit 1-2-3.
Great video! This was incredibly insightful. Definitely looking forward to more videos like this.
More to come!
Can second what this Gentleman says, absolutely paramount to have a good fitting skate + the right mobility (hip, ankle, knee).
100% Thanks for watching!
Great vid! Question - A Canadian friend used to lace up the lower part of his skates with short laces, then have another set of laces for the upper part of the skate... what do you think?
Never tried it so can't really speak on it.
This is pure gold, John, and thank you SO MUCH for sharing!! 👌🏼
I’ve been preaching this for decades, and most fellow players and coaches just look at me as if I’m crazy. My skates are 3 sizes smaller than my shoe size, and I could probably go another 1/2-size smaller. Even in my 50s, I can outskate -- forwards and backwards -- virtually anyone at any rink. What you outline simply works, but it’s missed 75% of the time (if not more), in my honest and humble opinion! 🫤
The same goes for hockey sticks … most players use sticks that are too tall and way too stiff, and they wonder why they can’t shoot very well. 🤷🏻♂️
Great video! What stretches to you recommend to increase hip range of motion?
My favorite stretch is Couch Stretch.
K Star is a really great resource FYI: ruclips.net/video/ulgAOykAgV4/видео.html
I'm curious if you recommend a certain person at General Sports to help fit the skates. I went to their website and there are a couple of options to schedule a fitting a with. Thank you in advance for any advice you have.
Matt is the guy who owns it. Otherwise Tory is amazing as well. I’m sure the rest are good however I have no personal experience with it.
Absolutely amazing and insightful! Thanks!
Great explanation, ty. Does that apply to newbie adult skaters as well?
Yes!
Thank you for telling this, this is literally the fix to my problem. would a quick fix be to not tie the top eyelet as it basically fixed the problem?
Simple........but such a fabulous explanation....can not thank you enough.....becoming a subscriber
Welcome aboard!
I have a question, hopefully u see this. I wear a size 7 Ribcor 88K atm. I baked it once but it still feels a little loose. Would a tounge upgrade to the 10 mm help. Also should i bake them one more time? Their not huge it just feels like my ankle area could use some snugging up.
I’d check out a thick wool sock.
We put a lot of skaters is SmartWool socks. They have different thickness.
What about shinguard over skate tongue. Does it make a difference?
100% your call
I'm a big guy and can wrap the laces around my boot and still have a forward angle. I used to wear canoes before wide fitting skates showed up.
Skate have come along ways!
Very well explained, super helpful for a dad coach. Can you make a Video about "profiling" ? Thanks and keep it up
I talk blades a bit here: ruclips.net/video/3Wl5oHOszEE/видео.html
I sell skates and I wouldn’t agree with the scanner being garbage. They have come so far. And now with Bauer’s fit 1, 2 and 3 you can get in any Bauer skate and have close to zero negative space. Also when scanning you should be in that knee bend position when scanning.
Overall I totally agree for kiddos stay in your skates as long as you can especially with the price tag on them.
Curious your opinion on shin guards being over the tongue of the skate then?
What we see is the bauer machine is consistently 1 full size too big.
Great video! So much information. Quick question how do you tell if your child has a low or high profile foot?
When you tie the skate, the laces and tongue should not bubble up. (this would be a skate that doesn't have enough side wall)
Secondly their skates side walls shouldn't overly turn in. (this is too much room)
You want to find the happy medium. Most skate shop or a good shoe fitting will be able to help with that.
Question, my son loves to tuck the tongue into his shin pads, has always done this. I’ve seen it in the NHL as well. Does this affect the ankle bend to get the knee over his skate?
I dont think that effects ankle bend as the shin pad have flex points now built into them. Its personally how I skate and never seems to bother me.
step 1. sharpen your skates
100%
Why didn't that work for Paul Coffee?
@@mathewmartin9803cause he used a radius that was almost flat
@@edwardd6528and why did he use a radius that’s almost flat? Still goes against your promotion of sharpening the edges.
Apparently he preferred glide over grip most players use 1/2 radius coffee was more like 1 inch radius , I use 5/8 remember weight and ice condition also plays a role like ice in Montreal is harder than Ice in Fort Lauderdale the harder the ice the more grip the softer the ice the less grip. Sid the kid was 1/2 most of his career but now he’s using 9/16 . Sakic used 5/8 most of his career again 80%of pros use 1/2 . Paul coffee was out of the norm but It worked for him . I have heard he also used skates smaller than most would use. Bottom line if your skate is snug and zero pain your in a good position. Pain free and the right sharpening for you are most important. Coffee was a great D man and he found what worked for him. He got to the NHL and stayed there so obviously it worked .
I need to get this video to the habs prospects development coaches asap!
Thanks for watching
What is the company in the Twin Cities that you recommend for help sizing skates? My 6-year-old son's foot looks like it's too big for the footbed of his skate but he's never complained the skates are too small. I'm not sure he'd know if they were too small, however.
I have it linked in the description “General Sports”
My bad! I didn’t see the expanded description but now I do. Thanks!
No worries, let me know how it goes! @@landgk22
wow...all the things you said not to do i was doing for my sons skates. Thanks for the tips.
Happy to help!
What are your thoughts on custom skates? Or is that what you were referring to with the machines that measure your foot?
I think anytime you customize a skate to fit you better is always a great option so being that what is being created is sized right.
I played hockey for 20 years, but only last few weeks I use more loose skates against too overtight, honestly this video was really helpful for me (and also for my future kids) and I thank you for this bro. REALLY GOOD IDEA!
Glad it helped!
4:57why is their skate too big?
The art of actual skate fitting is dying. The new machines are putting in skates to big and parents are getting sold skates even when the player doesn't need them because the store knows they will buy them.
Wanted to comment again to see if I could summarize the overall message: skates are too loose overall and to compensate for that, we are tying the ankles so tight that it reduces the much needed ankle flexibility leading to stiff and wooden strides instead of the flexible ones stemming from ankle mobility? Essentially the skate should be tight around the foot not only in length but also in height.
Only been skating/playing hockey seriously for 2 years, but I never understood the idea behind “high top” skates. I’m no expert and would love to be told a counter argument, but ankle support is only a good until it impedes the mobility. To me, a perfect skate would fit like a glove around my foot up until the transition zone from the top of the foot to the ankle. At this point, I need maximum flexibility, but I could see how the “boot” is needed for protection. I guess it comes down to a balance of freedom of mobility versus support.
I always wonder if most people wear shoes that are too big. Everyone always says that skates should be 1 or 2 sizes below shoe size, but mine are the same size. I tried going down one size for skates, but I don't like the way my toes get bunched against the toe cap.
Your toes when standing tall should actually touch your toe caps. When you are in a skating position the toes actually retract back and that is how the skate should be sized. So when you try the skate on, stand tall and next your knees.
Does shin pad placement make a diff? I put mine on the outside of the tongue.
Personal preference. I like shins over the tongue because you can get a longer shin.
Who are the the ppl you use to fit skates? I have pair of custom True's I have had fitment issues with since first skate.
I have it linked in the description
I'm in MN. What is that store you referenced? General Sports in Edina?
Yes it’s linked in the comments.
@@SwansonX7Hockey ya I saw that after I typed it. What's the youngest age group you work with.
We have a X7 Jr. group where we work the fundamentals of skating strides and Stickhandling. That groups is 6-9
@@SwansonX7Hockey ok I'm interested. My kid is 6U.
Loved this video, I have been doing loose at the bottom tight at the top for the past 30 years. Might just have to go loose all the way. Tight at the bottom hurts my feet. 😅
let me know how it goes
my skate fits well in the boot but i crank the top eyelets as much as i can because it makes my ankle feel more stable/safer. this definitely severely limits my shin angle and ankle mobiltiy, so i shouldn't do that anymore right? how tight are you supposed to go on the top eyelets to not comprimise shin angle
A few things to consider, that we look at.
Is the skate truly fit right? Often players think the skate fits however you should be able to actual skate without laces if the skate is fit right.
Next, you want to consider ankle strengthening. If the ankle feels weak, doing movements that encourage ankle strengthening will help.
Lastly, how tight is preference, I would start to skate with them looser and slowly get used to itover time
I thought that the new Bauer fit system eliminated the issue of someone with bigger volume foot needing to wear supremes or nexus. I got new skates a year or so ago and they put me in vapor type 3 because I have a high arch.
Yep. This is address skates in general in regards to length of the skate and the volume is speaking about youth and jr. skates where that isn’t yet available.
Whats a definition of high and low profile measurement
A "high profile" refers to skates or blades designed with more material under the foot, offering greater stability, which is often suited for players with wider feet or those who need more support. It generally has a higher arch, deeper heel pocket, and higher volume, which means there's more room inside the skate for the foot. This is often found in Fit 3 skates from Bauer, for example, which is ideal for players with wide feet and a higher instep.
A "low profile" refers to skates or blades that sit closer to the ice, providing a lower center of gravity, and they usually have a shallower heel pocket and lower instep. This helps players with a more narrow foot shape to lock in properly for better control and responsiveness. Fit 1 from Bauer is an example of a low-profile skate.
From a blade profiling perspective, a "low-profile" blade has less curve, which gives players more agility and quick turns, while a "high-profile" blade has more curve and stability, giving a larger surface area on the ice for better balance and power during straight-line skating.
So, whether it’s for the skate fit or the blade itself, understanding the difference between high and low profiles can help customize performance based on individual playing style and biomechanics.
What do you think about not tying up the top grommet on the skate?
Just don’t, keep it undone it will help
Personal preference. I don't do it, however my top eyelet is lose on my skates when I play.
This is brilliant!
Great vid, you should do a follow up on how to measure your foot for the proper skate so we don’t have to deal with that big dumb machine that isn’t accurate either.
Sooo… what’s the name of shop in the cities?
Linked in the description
4:40 what is he gliding on, the holder itself? Lol
That man is pictured in a falling motion.
The coach in the video is ex-NHL star Daryl Evans, who now works with the NHL LA Kings team. There’s actually video footage of skaters doing this, and I just used the image for reference. Some skaters can even get their forearm to touch the ice while maintaining blade pressure.
ruclips.net/video/8o4adhzXg3g/видео.html
Thanks for the video very helpful Thanks again.
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for the video, just booked a skate fitting for my son.
Hope you enjoy it!
Look forward to more videos
I've always wondered if it would be effective to have two shorter laces on a skate, one for the foot and one for the last few holes. But I was too lazy to experiment.
What some people will do is flip the toplace of how it enters the eyelet which essentially locks it. Similar concept.
The way I build my ankle strength is to run backward a few laps at the end of my running routine. I see the dif when I trike the soccer ball with my foot.
That is awesome
Not that I’m great skater but that’s issue I have with my skate. There’s more volume with my foot. I thought it was just in my head. Thanks
Welcome
knees over toes (or balls of feet) and ankle mobility is key
100%
I wish I knew this before I went and bought some Bauer M5 Supremes two weeks ago. Ah well, I'm a 42 year old beer leaguer, so it's not like it will impact my ability to get to the NHL. Good information though and hopefully it helps out the youth.
Can I still tuck the tongue under my shin pads?
Your preference!
Mike Gartner considered the best NHL skater always had the top laces loose.
Yep! However that may not work for someone else. The key is to find what works best for their bio-mechansics.
Fitting skates properly sounds a lot like fitting snowboard boots properly actually.
I'm going to adjust my lacing tonight and see how my stride improves. Thanks for the tips, liked and subscribed!
#goleafsgo
Let me know how it goes
There may be an assumption to this madness that the weight is 'supposed' to be balanced over the arch or middle of foot when what is observed by the best is that they consistently have their weight, balance and pivot point not at the arch but further back towards the heel instead. This is a key distinction that sets up the rest of the frame and balance position. Any talk of knee bend without first understanding the ankle flexion is misguided, imho. By moving the bodies centre of gravity even just a mm forward by 'letting' the calve muscles relax you gain mechanical advantage. Its unwanted and unneeded tension that's holding people back and the focus and a mental eye on the wrong area of the body combined with over 60 yrs of brainwashing power skating ideology that's holding the entire hockey skating back, imo
Appreciate your insights on the importance of ankle flexion and weight distribution in skating. You're right about the significance of heel pressure, and it's something we emphasize in our advanced training with college and pro players.
This video focuses on a common issue: skating in skates that don't fit properly, which hinders optimal stride and speed. While we discuss the basics here, including proper skate fit and weight balance, we fully recognize and teach the complexities of skating mechanics, including heel pressure, in more detailed training sessions.
Your points about evolving skating techniques and avoiding outdated ideologies are well-taken. We always aim to incorporate the latest understanding in our coaching. Thanks for your input!
Thank you! My son is now putting his shin pad over his skate tongue, I don’t think that is a great idea. Going to do the squat test for sure
That shouldn’t be an issue. I actually skate that way.
The reason that the players are skating straight up and can't bend their knees is that the modern composite skate is too stiff and doesn't allow ankle flexion . The modern skate impedes good skaters and helps bad skaters . The best skate of all time was the CCM leather Tack . If you watch how well those players that wore the old soft leather skates they had better stride , better control and transitioned from forwards to backwards much easier than today's players . I wish they would bring those skates back as an option to players .
As a player who is 6'1 and has a smaller sized foot i found i had to drop an eyelet to allow for ankle flexion.
Best decision of my hockey career.
100% personal pref. Awesome that it is working for you!
Great video
Thank you!
Spot on. I’m an adult who recently started playing, and I always found it weird how tight skates were taught to be near the ankles, especially because it seemed to restrict my ability to get those knees over toes. I naturally found that the higher up in the boot, the less tight I want my skates.
Question: do you think that putting the tongue of the skate out is correct in the theory it doesn’t restrict ankle mobility compared to tongue in?
This information was no where near when I was a kid in the early 1990s ! I’m sure those in the know had the 4/11 , I can’t hate on it !
Kinda maybe sorta.
A problem I often see is kids wearing a ‘top of the line skate’ that is way too stiff for them. Kid cant flex the skate forward
Waxed laces cause lace bite.
Is their data that shows this. Only thing we have seen to cause lace but is when the foot is protruding from the side wall.
This is regardless of lace type.
@@SwansonX7Hockeytrue fact. I only had lace bite once in my life, never since waxies
Well then we have an argument on skate pricing and if we’re focused on form fitting i don’t think buying a used pair of skates is the way to go? So for parents buying a size up because their child is growing i dont see another option but to break the bank. If a kid was able to do my drills with skates that dont fit properly and do them better then a kid that does have proper fitting skates then thats the issue. Skates aren’t hindering your lessons because for years professionals growing up used “used equipment” like i did. I didnt get proper fitted gear until i was 14. Theres also more brands then just those 2 kinds of skates and you didnt discuss how weight, angle of the skate blade and quality of boot affects players speed. Too many parents have their child in $600 skates when they are constantly falling down and fumbling when transitioning because they have very bad balance. Work on the basics first then ask parents to buy skates.
Bauer added flex points in their youth/junior skate. My son wears those and seems to really like them
Great video, I support you
I wear a 10.5 shoe and a 7.5 skate... And it's the right size with a very thin sock. Today's skates seem too stiff for ankle pronation.
NIce!
Wow so many mechanics were missed in this video.....Yes, one aspect talked about out of 5-6 other major issues, but the title of the video very misleading for click bait.... disappointing....
Mechanics missed. The low hanging fruit is skate sizing the rest of improving a stride takes years however putting an athlete in the right skate will help over night hence the title.
I’d rather skate faster during the daytime if I could
Ha