Starting / Acceleration

• High stride rate . . . powerful - medium length strides.
• Significant forward lean of the trunk.
• Hopping or running during acceleration is slower than a using horizontal movements with the skates.

1. High stride rate. Rapid, medium length, strides rather than extremely long strides. Ability to get the force on the ice as often as possible while producing an efficient stride (Marino, 1977).
   
   
2. Significant forward lean of the torso (Page, 1975 and Marino, 1977).
   
   
3. Place recovery foot below hip, not in front (Marino, 1977).
   
   
4. Ninety degree external rotation of push off skate during initial thrust (Marino & Weese, 1979).
   
   
5. Full speed in 2-3 strides.
   
   
6. Horizontal movements (T-start or thrust start) instead of vertical movements (x-over or hopping start) are better for fast acceleration (Naud & Holt, 1979 & 1980).
   
   
7. When a hopping or x-over start is executed, energy for power generation is being used to propel the player vertically instead of horizontally.
   
   
8. Using the T-start or thrust start enables the player to use all his/her energy for forward (horizontal) propulsion.
   
   
9. Arm movement appears not to be an important performance factor in acceleration. Attention should be focussed on the above mentioned factors (Bracko, 1996).
   
   
10. Practice accelerating with 1) two hands on stick - blade off ice, 2) two hands on stick - blade on ice and 3) one hand on stick - blade on ice.