Registration for Fall 2010 Ice Hockey classes is now open (see the flier above). Please contact the rink and use the registration numbers below to enroll in a class. Happy skating!
Monday, August 16, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
2010-2011 Season Schedule!
We're just a few short months from the beginning of fall and with that, Hockey Season! Here are some key dates for the start of the 2010-2011 season lesson schedule. These are the start dates and tentative times for all Session 1 Classes and rink events:
Saturday, November 6, 2010 - Wells Ice Rink Open House
Monday, November 8, 2010 - Monday night lessons begin
6-6:45PM for Novice Hockey Skating
6:45-7:30PM for Advanced Hockey Skating
Tuesday, November 9, 2010 - Tuesday night Hockey Clinics begin
7:45-8:30PM for Youth Hockey Clinic
7:45-9:15PM for Adult Hockey Clinic
Saturday, November 13, 2010 - Saturday Clinics and Skating Classes begin
7-8:15AM for Adult Hockey Clinic
8:30-9:15AM for Novice and Advanced Hockey Skating
9:15-10:45PM for Youth Hockey Clinic
Registration for all classes should be open soon, if not already. Please contact the rink for more imformation.
Friday, June 18, 2010
BALANCE!
Since the first 6 weeks of the Wells Hockey Clinic are dedicated to skating, I thought I’d touch on a couple topics that are very important to successful skating skill development.
BALANCE
As infants, we begin walking by first learning how to stand and with the aid of chairs, sofas, or our parents to hold on to, we gradually develop enough balance/confidence to eventually let go. Sure, we fall, but we eventually learn to walk. Many skaters start out the same way: they step on the ice and hold onto the wall as they make their way around the ice. Eventually we venture out into open ice and fall a few times (or a few hundred times) before learning to move.
I would say roughly 50% of all Clinic participants have one major problem with skating even before they step on the ice; actually, even before they put on their skates: in bare feet, they are unable to stand on one leg for longer than a few seconds. Without this basic balancing action, the thought of having to balance on 1/8” piece of sharpened steel ON ICE is nearly impossible.
The first step in skating is gliding; simply getting some forward momentum and settling the feet, allowing both skate blades to do their job and glide across the ice with no help from the skater’s muscles. The balance to perform this action is slightly unnatural, as there are very few places in life where this motion occurs. We’re used to walking or running to move forward, so there is the natural inclination to keep the feet moving at all times. On ice, getting used to the motion of gliding is the key to successful skating.
The second step is the stride. This is where the one-foot balance comes into play. I know many experienced skaters whose stride still resembles stomping on a bug: the initial push is long and efficient, but the re-planting of the push foot is forceful and jarring (and thus, very inefficient). Having the balance to stand on one leg and the control to put the other leg back down slowly and lightly is a skill that is necessary for a good stride. Otherwise, the forceful planting of the lifted foot will in-turn throw off the timing of the stride and slow the skater down dramatically.
So give it a try this off season. When you’re watching TV, cooking, hanging out with friends or waiting in line at the store, stand on one leg and balance yourself there (you don’t have to look like a flamingo… an inch or two off the ground is fine). When you’re ready to put your foot back down, do it gradually and lightly. You’ll be surprised how much this balance transfers to the ice.
And if you think you’re already a good skater and don’t need help with your skating, just remember: the professionals focus more on their skating than any other aspect of their game. Just ask Brooks Laich, professional hockey player for the Washington Capitals.
BALANCE
As infants, we begin walking by first learning how to stand and with the aid of chairs, sofas, or our parents to hold on to, we gradually develop enough balance/confidence to eventually let go. Sure, we fall, but we eventually learn to walk. Many skaters start out the same way: they step on the ice and hold onto the wall as they make their way around the ice. Eventually we venture out into open ice and fall a few times (or a few hundred times) before learning to move.
I would say roughly 50% of all Clinic participants have one major problem with skating even before they step on the ice; actually, even before they put on their skates: in bare feet, they are unable to stand on one leg for longer than a few seconds. Without this basic balancing action, the thought of having to balance on 1/8” piece of sharpened steel ON ICE is nearly impossible.
The first step in skating is gliding; simply getting some forward momentum and settling the feet, allowing both skate blades to do their job and glide across the ice with no help from the skater’s muscles. The balance to perform this action is slightly unnatural, as there are very few places in life where this motion occurs. We’re used to walking or running to move forward, so there is the natural inclination to keep the feet moving at all times. On ice, getting used to the motion of gliding is the key to successful skating.
The second step is the stride. This is where the one-foot balance comes into play. I know many experienced skaters whose stride still resembles stomping on a bug: the initial push is long and efficient, but the re-planting of the push foot is forceful and jarring (and thus, very inefficient). Having the balance to stand on one leg and the control to put the other leg back down slowly and lightly is a skill that is necessary for a good stride. Otherwise, the forceful planting of the lifted foot will in-turn throw off the timing of the stride and slow the skater down dramatically.
So give it a try this off season. When you’re watching TV, cooking, hanging out with friends or waiting in line at the store, stand on one leg and balance yourself there (you don’t have to look like a flamingo… an inch or two off the ground is fine). When you’re ready to put your foot back down, do it gradually and lightly. You’ll be surprised how much this balance transfers to the ice.
And if you think you’re already a good skater and don’t need help with your skating, just remember: the professionals focus more on their skating than any other aspect of their game. Just ask Brooks Laich, professional hockey player for the Washington Capitals.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Adult Hockey Scrimmage and Charity Event
On Saturday, April 3rd at 9:00AM, Wells Ice Rink in College Park will host an exhibition hockey scrimmage. The scrimmage is open to current and past participants of the Wells and Tucker Road Adult Ice Hockey Clinics, to players skating in the College Park Hockey League (CPHL) and friends.
The scrimmage will be refereed and will consist of three 15 minute periods. As this is an exhibition, all stoppages in play will be explained by the referee, who will be calling a close game. There are already 2 goaltenders who have volunteered to play for this game, so we're set in net.
For skaters in the Tucker Road and Wells clinics and the CPHL, the cost will be $5. For all others, the cost is $20. Proceeds (after referee fees) from this event will go into an education fund for the daughters of George Dobson, the long time Wells Ice Rink Zamboni driver, Washington Capitals locker room attendant and friend who died of cancer last year.
Please feel free to pass this information on to anyone you feel may be interested. This should be a fun learning experience and a great chance to help George’s girls for their future. If you cannot play but would like to make a donation, please contact Wells Ice Rink at 301-277-0654.
Thanks, and see you there!
The scrimmage will be refereed and will consist of three 15 minute periods. As this is an exhibition, all stoppages in play will be explained by the referee, who will be calling a close game. There are already 2 goaltenders who have volunteered to play for this game, so we're set in net.
For skaters in the Tucker Road and Wells clinics and the CPHL, the cost will be $5. For all others, the cost is $20. Proceeds (after referee fees) from this event will go into an education fund for the daughters of George Dobson, the long time Wells Ice Rink Zamboni driver, Washington Capitals locker room attendant and friend who died of cancer last year.
Please feel free to pass this information on to anyone you feel may be interested. This should be a fun learning experience and a great chance to help George’s girls for their future. If you cannot play but would like to make a donation, please contact Wells Ice Rink at 301-277-0654.
Thanks, and see you there!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Hockey Sticks: A Love Story
For those of you with subscriptions to ESPN.com or ESPN the Magazine, I highly suggest you read 'To Each His Own', a story on NHL players and their hockey sticks. As goofy as we amatures are with our sticks, NHL players (with a seemingly endless supply of free sticks) are an entirely different monster. Blow torches, belt sanders, hack saws, spray paint and varieties of hockey tape are their tools of the trade, and their use them to custromize their sticks for their particular skill set. And their sticks often last less than 2 games a piece.
Monday, March 22, 2010
An Introduction: Coach Kevin
I tend to take an intellectual approach to the game; the how's and why's of a particular skill or motion are just as important to me as the results. For those of you who have seen me coach, you'll probably notice I talk a lot. I'll try to use this space to talk about the technical aspects of the game, from the history of the game to equipment technology to physics and biomechanics.
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