Diana Schaefering Power Play Hockey - Frequently Asked Questions

The term “power skating” came about in referring to a player taking all the components used in skating (balance, agility, edgework, weight transfer, proper mechanics, etc) and, by using those components correctly, deriving “power” out of each movement. Unfortunately this term has confused many people. Some think it has to do with speed skating. Others think it means blowing a whistle and skating players to exhaustion. I like to use the term “hockey skating skills” instead of “power skating”. Hockey Skating Skills is teaching players to understand how the skill is done, recognize the correct feel of the skill and to minimize movement so there is no wasted energy---at any, and all, levels.

HOW IS THE POWER PLAY HOCKEY PROGRAM UNIQUE?

Unlike a traditional hockey school, Power Play Hockey puts its focus entirely on developing a strong skating foundation. With skating as the most used skill in the game, we give players a program that grows with them as they move from one age bracket to another and as they climb the competitive ladder. The skills are taught slowly and then additional speed and pucks are added as the skill matures. Our belief is that first you crawl, then you walk and, finally, you run. If skills are done too soon at high tempo, before the player can understand and control the motion, the only thing being reinforced is bad habit. Our goal is to create players with knowledge, control and quickness. Quality execution first and then faster, faster, faster!

WHY WOULD I SEND MY CHILD TO A SKATING SKILLS PROGRAM INSTEAD OF A HOCKEY SCHOOL THAT INCORPORATES SKATING EACH DAY?

Having worked with players for the last 32 years and with 3 children of my own, I understand that there is only so much that a person can absorb and retain at one time. If skating is what your child needs work on, going to a program that spends only a small amount of time each day on skating isn’t going to produce the best results. Those programs cover stick handling, shooting, passing, scoring, checking, along with skating, over the course of the week------how much can, or will, your child remember once it’s all over? Those types of programs are great for an all around hockey experience with an overview of everything. But to gain the most improvement in one area, specific instruction in that one skill makes the most sense. Baseball players attend clinics that address a specific need-----pitching, batting, and fielding. The same holds true for all of the individual skills in hockey. Address your child’s needs first.

YOU USED TO HAVE A WEEK LONG PROGRAM THAT WENT OVER NUMEROUS SKILLS. WHY ARE SOME OF THE PROGRAMS ONLY 3 DAYS LONG AND SEPARATED INTO INDIVIDUAL SKILLS?

The week long program worked for giving each player one day each of five separate skills. Unfortunately, that didn’t come close to scratching the surface of really understanding each skill so there was a strong enough base to build upon. It can take many, many hours of instruction and practice to perfect each skill. It’s like building a house. If the foundation is weak, there will be problems in the future. My goal is to put in a solid basement, add a first floor, move on to the second floor and then put on the roof. Every good athlete continues to work and build on the foundation set of their specific game. I don’t want to just produce players; my aim is to develop dynamic athletes.

MY PLAYER IS A FORWARD. DOES HE NEED TO ATTEND A BACKWARD SKATING SKILLS CLASS?

Hockey has so many different skill sets that make up the entire game. The more skilled each player is in every aspect of the game, the more valuable he becomes to the team. A forward who can’t go back and cover for an offensive defenseman when the need arises, becomes a deficit. Young players should have the opportunity to try playing in multiple positions to determine where they are most comfortable and enjoy playing at the most. Older players need to display versatility and a willingness to be “a complete package”. This means that backward skating is an important part of the game----to a forward or a defenseman.

MY PLAYER HAS SKATED FOR MANY YEARS AND CAN ALREADY SKATE FORWARD. WHY SHOULD I DO THE FORWARD HOCKEY SKILLS PROGRAM?

All of us have run in some capacity in our life. Just because we have run before, does that mean we are ready to compete in a marathon? Or a fifty yard dash? Athletes who choose track and field as their sport train by learning how to run correctly and efficiently. Just because a player can skate forward doesn’t mean that he is doing it correctly or efficiently. If that player learns to use his body correctly, he becomes more efficient and effective which, in turn, means he manages his energy properly. That surplus of energy makes a huge difference during the third period. At any level a player is at, reinforcing the correct skill pays huge benefits.

I ONLY SEE FORWARD AND BACKWARD HOCKEY SKILLS PROGRAMS FOR THIS SUMMER. WHAT DO YOU OFFER AFTER WE HAVE DONE THOSE?

The new stair-step system allows for more programs to be added as players develop and continue through the program. The stair-step ladder includes:

STEP ONE

FORWARD HOCKEY SKILLS 1

STEP TWO

BACKWARD HOCKEY SKILLS 1
STOPS, STARTS/TURNS 1

STEP THREE

CROSSOVERS 1
FORWARD HOCKEY SKILLS 2
BACKWARD HOCKEY SKILLS 2

STEP FOUR

STOPS, STARTS/TURNS 2
CROSSOVERS/LATERAL MOBILITY 2
TRANSITIONS/TURNS
ADVANCED SKILLS/ACCELERATION

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS TO DOING THE SKATING SKILLS PROGRAMS VERSUS THE POWER SKATING AND STICK HANDLING PROGRAM?

During the Power Skating and Stick Handling Program, only half of the time is devoted to skating and/or stick handling. I recommend this course as a refresher for the skills that have been previously learned over the summer before the tryouts start.

HOW MANY PLAYERS DO YOU TAKE IN A CLASS?

We like to limit the players to 30 in all of the programs except for the power skating and stick handling. I teach with a wireless microphone so players in all areas of the ice hear the instructions clearly and also have additional instructors on the ice to teach and/or monitor the groups or lines. During the Power Skating and Stick Handling Program, we have as many as 20 players at each end (wireless microphone is not able to be used here), again with additional instructors based on the number of players.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OR DISADVANTAGES OF PRIVATE LESSONS VERSUS THE SKATING SKILLS PROGRAMS?

Private lessons have the advantage of dealing directly with a players specific needs. The downside is that lessons are done on public sessions where we are unable to skate full speed or in uninterrupted patterns because of the traffic. When lessons are done during the school year, most players don’t have the time to get dressed in their equipment. This means the skill is going to feel different when they take it into a practice or a game. Additionally, we are unable to take sticks onto the ice. The Skating Skills Programs allow us the uninterrupted full ice advantage, along with equipment and sticks. It also adds the element of competition----where many players thrive. The disadvantage is that each individual will not have as much one on one attention

PRIVATE TRAINING

AT WHAT AGE WILL YOU START TEACHING MY CHILD?

I have worked with children as young as three years old. The most important thing at this age is to develop confidence in themselves on the ice and, until they are ready to skate, you cannot force them to do it. If they are willing, make sure to have them in a hockey helmet, as many little ones twist when they fall and can hit their face on the ice. Bicycle helmets will help with hitting the back of the head but not the face.

DO YOU WORK WITH ADVANCED PLAYERS ALSO?

The system I have developed works for true beginners to players as advanced as junior, collegiate or professional level.

WHAT SHOULD MY CHILD WEAR FOR THE LESSON?

Full gear would be optimal if you have the time for them to dress for the lesson. That way they learn the skill with the same feel of the equipment they use in a game. Unfortunately sticks are not allowed on the ice during the public sessions. Minimally, your player should have skates, gloves and helmet.

HOW MANY LESSONS DOES MY CHILD NEED TO BE A BETTER SKATER?

There are so many elements of skating that a player needs to be effective---forward & backward skating, stops, starts, turns, edges, crossovers, lateral movement. Not to mention balance, agility, quickness and speed. If you want to focus on one main skill (say stopping), generally 3 one-half hour lessons will give your child a good idea of how to stop and identify the feel they are trying to duplicate. Since every individual is different, this could vary. Most players work with me on an every other week basis from October through May to learn or refine as many skills as possible through the season, take the summer off from lessons and start back up again in the fall. There is always something new to learn, skills to polish up on and new levels to achieve.

IS THERE A MINIMUM NUMBER OF LESSONS I HAVE TO TAKE?

You are never restricted by a certain number of lessons, whether you are interested in one, five or an entire season’s worth. Each family’s situation is unique and I will work with your needs to best meet the expectations you have for your child.

CAN A SMALL GROUP OF PLAYERS ALL HAVE A LESSON TOGETHER?

I will work with small groups, although three is usually the maximum that I like to take. I want to make sure that each player having a lesson gets the maximum benefit and having too many together just means less individual time.

ARE ALL LESSONS DONE FOR A HALF HOUR?

In working with children for over 32 years, I have learned that spending a limited amount of time breaking one skill down into small parts is the best way for them to retain the information. Especially with younger players, during a longer lesson most of them don’t remember at the end of the lesson what we did at the beginning. It is basically information overload. Older players can handle the longer times, if it is available---during the winter months that is tough to do.

WHY DO YOU TEACH AT SO MANY DIFFERENT RINKS?

Without buying the ice myself, which would make lessons completely unaffordable, public sessions and training sessions are the only options available. So I am able to accommodate as many students as possible, I look for the largest block of ice available to teach on. Some rinks have a “staff only” policy, which means that if I am not on the staff at that rink, I cannot bring students to that rink to teach. I try to accommodate as many students as possible by varying the locations to make it easier to get to the lessons before or after school. During the summer months, when player’s schedules become more flexible, I generally teach at just one facility.

WHY ARE LESSONS GIVEN BI-WEEKLY?

During the school year the time available to teach is limited and, in trying to accommodate as many players as possible, every other week lessons seemed the best option. After using this schedule for quite a few years, I have found it to work very well as it gives the player practice time in between lessons, it contributes to less “burn out” and parents can generally work it into schedules easier. Weekly lessons are available at non-prime times.

ARE LESSONS DONE ON AN EVERY OTHER WEEK BASIS IN THE SUMMER ALSO?

No, during the summer months lessons may be done as often as you would like since the players are out of school and available during the day.

HOW DO I PAY FOR THE LESSON?

Payment is required after each lesson (although payment in advance for multiple lessons is possible) and is given directly to me (not to the rink). Please have cash or check made payable to Diana Schaefering.

WHY DO I PAY THE RINK TO SKATE FOR A LESSON?

The rink allows me to teach lessons on their sessions as long as I pay a fee to get on the ice. Each student must pay the rink fee also, just as if they were going to skate the session, regardless of having a lesson or not. The rinks need to stay in business and if we did not have these sessions to teach/skate on, we would have to rent ice to have lessons and the cost would be prohibitive.

TEAM TRAINING

DO YOU WORK WITH ALL TEAM LEVELS?

Yes, I will work with any team at any level. The coach and I will determine what specific needs the team has and I will build my teaching plan to accommodate the specific age and level of players.

WHAT IS THE OPTIMAL NUMBER OF PLAYERS ON THE ICE?

I have worked with very large number of players but find that 30 or less is best for keeping the flow of the practice moving and to be able to make corrections.

SHOULD THE COACHES BE ON THE ICE WITH THE TEAM?

I always recommend, if it is possible, that the coaches are on the ice-----not to keep the kids in line, but to understand what is being taught so after the session they can reinforce the instruction at their practices.

DOES THE TEAM PROVIDE THE ICE?

The team contacts me with available ice times. Full ice practices are optimal (but not mandatory) as it is more difficult to keep players attention when another team is practicing on the other end of the rink. In some cases, coaches will ask the other team about participating which results in full ice and lower costs for each participant.

IS STICK HANDLING INSTRUCTION INCLUDED?

During my sessions, instruction is given initially without pucks. As the players gain confidence in the skill, pucks are added to the drills. Specific stick handling instruction is not given during these sessions, just usage of the stick in relation to the body movement. I do have instructors available for specific stick handling instruction if needed.

SHOULD PLAYERS WEAR FULL EQUIPMENT?

Yes, we play the game in full equipment, so practice should be done the same way. Learning a new is about feeling what the body does through the skill and without equipment it feels very different.

WHAT ABOUT GOALIES?

Goalies are encouraged to participate in the sessions with full equipment. The work I do with balance and agility, edges and weight shift are very helpful to their becoming the best goaltender they can be. Drills are explained to accommodate movement of the pads.