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Q: I have a little cousin who is just getting into the sport. I try to teach him how I hockey stop, but its just not the same. Please explain to me how to preform a hockey stop, and I'll read from this response to him, and hopefully, he'll get the knack of it and become a better skater.

A: Truthfully, it is hard to really explain a hockey stop. It is easier shown in person. We'll do our best, and hopefully, it will allow you to get a clear mental picture of how the hockey stop is done, and we hope that you can then further help your cousin.

The Hockey Stop

One of the first things a player must remember is to keep their knees bent and to have their feet shoulder width apart. When they perform the stop with this in mind, they also have to lean back in order to use the inside edge of one skate and the outside edge of the other. The feet should also be slightly staggered, which will help with balance. This overall body positioning is the same when doing the hockey stop either to the right or left (most likely though, your cousin will find it easier to do one way over the other). When it comes to actually performing a hockey stop, you need to keep the proper foot placement in mind and then simply rotate your hips. But remember, bend your knees. If your cousin or you have any experience skiing, the action is basically the same. And this Greg, is the hockey stop!
One thing that is key to any good skater is practice, but not just practice. It has to be perfect practice. What we mean by perfect practice is practicing with the proper techniques. Now, we hope our description of the hockey stop will help you to teach your cousin the right hockey stopping technique. At the same time, we would also like to suggest to you that you encourage your cousin to enroll in a power skating class. They are normally offered at the local ice rinks or hockey schools. This way your cousin will not only be told how to skate but at the same time shown, which is a great way to learn. Keep up the good work Greg, and we look forward to any more questions your or your cousin may have.