Ice skating teaching apparatus and method

Abstract

An ice-skating stride training system includes a stride pad having visual cues used for teaching ice-skating techniques and improving skating stride mechanics. The system further includes methods of use including methods for developing proper skating techniques. The system offers coaches, teams, and players a cost-effective way to increase hockey specific skating mechanics, develop better overall athletic ability, improve stride strength, and decrease risk of injury and fatigue—all without using ice.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A skating stride training system, comprising:
 a plurality of visual cues disposed in generally planar array on a base, said visual cues arranged relative to one another in right and left directions lateral to a longitudinal axis and said visual cues arranged relative to one another in forward and rearward directions with respect to the longitudinal axis;   said visual cues comprising a pair of forward markers and a pair of rearward markers, said forward markers and rearward markers disposed about the longitudinal axis, said rearward markers disposed rearward relative to said forward markers along the longitudinal axis, said forward markers providing a cue for a starting position for a user's feet and said rearward markers providing a cue for a starting position for a user's feet;   said visual cues further comprising a top center agility target disposed on the longitudinal axis, said top center agility target disposed mostly forward of said forward markers;   said visual cues further comprising a left agility target and a right agility target, said left agility target and right agility target disposed rearward relative to said forward markers, said left agility target disposed left relative to said rearward markers and said right agility target disposed right relative to said rearward markers, said left agility target disposed at a left rearward, generally 45-degree angle with respect to the longitudinal axis and relative to said forward markers, and said right agility target disposed at a right rearward, generally 45-degree angle with respect to the longitudinal axis and relative to said forward markers;   said visual cues further comprising a forward left range of motion target and a forward right range of motion target, said forward left range of motion target disposed generally left relative to said forward markers and said forward right range of motion target disposed right disposed generally right relative to said forward markers;   said visual cues further comprising a middle center agility target disposed on the longitudinal axis, said middle center agility target disposed between said rearward markers;   said visual cues further comprising a rearward center agility target disposed on the longitudinal axis, said rearward center agility target disposed rearward of said rearward markers; and   said visual cues further comprising a rearward left range of motion target and a rearward right range of motion target, said rearward left range of motion target disposed generally left relative to said rearward center agility target and said rearward right range of motion target disposed generally right relative to said rearward center agility target.   
     
     
         2 . The skating stride training system of  claim 1 , wherein said base is one of a mat and a pad. 
     
     
         3 . The skating stride training system of  claim 1 , wherein said visual cues further comprise a left skating stride guide and a right skating stride guide, said left skating stride guide extending from said forward markers to said left agility target and said right skating stride guide extending from said forward markers to said right agility target. 
     
     
         4 . The skating stride training system of  claim 1 , wherein said agility targets provide a cue for a rapid whole-body movement having a change in velocity or a change in direction in response to a stimulus. 
     
     
         5 . The skating stride training system of  claim 1 , wherein said range of motion targets provide a cue for the distance in a direction a body part is intended to move in response to a stimulus. 
     
     
         6 . The skating stride training system of  claim 1 , further comprising instructions to execute a movement incorporating one or more of said visual cues. 
     
     
         7 . The skating stride training system of  claim 6 , wherein said instructions to execute a movement incorporate at least one agility target. 
     
     
         8 . The skating stride training system of  claim 7 , wherein said instructions include movements to execute a single leg stride, said instructions including locating a user's feet on said forward markers, bending the user's right knee while extending the user's left foot toward said left agility target at a 45-degree angle from said forward markers and targeting a 90-degree bend in the user's right knee while maintaining posture and then returning the left foot to said forward markers. 
     
     
         9 . The skating stride training system of  claim 6 , wherein said instructions to execute a movement incorporate at least one range of motion target. 
     
     
         10 . The skating stride training system of  claim 9 , wherein said instructions include movements to execute a curtsy to crossover combo, said instructions including locating a user's feet on said rearward markers, curtsy right foot to said rearward left range of motion target, then returning the right foot to said rearward markers and then crossing over left foot with right foot to forward left range of motion target with the right foot then returning the right foot to said rearward markers. 
     
     
         11 . The skating stride training system of  claim 6 , wherein said instructions to execute a movement incorporate at least one agility target and at least one range of motion target. 
     
     
         12 . The skating stride training system of  claim 11 , wherein said instructions include movements to execute a stride to curtsy combo, said instructions including locating a user's feet on said rearward markers, bending the user's right knee while executing a toe tap by extending the user's left foot toward said left agility target, then curtsy left foot behind the right to said rearward right range of motion target, and then return left foot to said rearward markers. 
     
     
         13 . A skating stride training system, comprising:
 a plurality of visual cues disposed in generally planar array, said visual cues comprising at least one pair of foot markers;   at least one agility target; and   at least one range of motion target.   
     
     
         14 . The skating stride training system of  claim 13 , comprising a pair of forward markers and a pair of rearward markers, said rearward markers being disposed rearward relative to said forward markers. 
     
     
         15 . The skating stride training system of  claim 13 , comprising a plurality of agility targets arranged in a rhomboid pattern, including a top center agility target disposed at the top vertex, a left agility target disposed at the left vertex and a right agility target disposed at the right vertex, a rearward center agility target at the bottom vertex and a middle center agility target disposed at the center of the rhomboid pattern. 
     
     
         16 . A method for training skating stride, comprising:
 providing a plurality of visual cues comprising at least one pair of foot markers, at least one agility target and at least one range of motion target, the visual cues being arranged relative to one another in right and left directions lateral to a longitudinal axis and the visual cues arranged relative to one another in forward and rearward directions with respect to the longitudinal axis; and   providing instructions to execute a movement incorporating one or more of the visual cues.   
     
     
         17 . The method for training skating stride as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the visual cues comprise a plurality of agility targets arranged in a rhomboid pattern, including a top center agility target disposed at the top vertex, a left agility target disposed at the left vertex and a right agility target disposed at the right vertex, a rearward center agility target at the bottom vertex and a middle center agility target disposed at the center of the rhomboid pattern. 
     
     
         18 . The method for training skating stride as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the visual cues comprise a plurality of range of motion targets arranged in a square pattern, including a forward left range of motion target and a forward right range of motion target disposed at corresponding top left and top right vertices of a square, a rearward left range of motion target and a rearward right range of motion target disposed at corresponding bottom left and bottom right vertices of the square pattern. 
     
     
         19 . The method for training skating stride as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the visual cues comprise a pair of forward markers and a pair of rearward markers, where the rearward markers are disposed rearward relative to the forward markers. 
     
     
         20 . The method for training skating stride as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the instructions to execute a movement incorporate at least one agility target.