How can I distinguish between a good power skating clinic and a mediocre or bad one?
Hockey skating techniques are based upon scientific principles. A good skating clinic must teach and adhere to these principles. Also, a good skating syllabus should be structured like a pyramid – the object being to build a strong foundation. A lot of time must be spent teaching basic fundamentals. More difficult moves and techniques are introduced as players improve. The most effective learning entails a building block process. It takes time, patience, practice, repetition and lots of trial and error. While fun is always important, fun with learning is what makes a good clinic. Clinics that offer a lot of gimmicks without teaching “hows” and “whys”, without addressing individual differences, and without offering methods of improvement, are not. When choosing a power skating clinic this summer, keep this in mind. Also keep in mind that while “power skating may not be the most fun part of hockey, it is the part of hockey that makes hockey more fun.
