Ringette Skating Skills
Balance + Edges
Forwards + Backwards Skating/Stride
Forwards + Backwards Crossovers
Transitions
Stops + Starts
Lateral movement
Balance + Edges
Balance is the foundation of every skating skill. To develop initial balance, skaters must first overcome the fear of falling and explore how to find a stable position on their skates independently. As confidence grows, balance should be continually challenged through progressively complex drills and movements.
Edges play a crucial role in generating and maintaining speed, power, and control. Mastering edge work allows skaters to move more efficiently, maintain better stability, and enhance overall performance.
Both balance and edge control can be developed progressively—from simple to complex—and are essential skills for skaters of all ages and levels.
ForwardÂ
Skating
(Stride)
The forward stride consists of three key phases: stride/push, glide, and recovery. Each phase plays an essential role in building efficient and powerful skating mechanics.
In our training programs, we focus on several key elements:
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Weight transfer onto the stance or power leg with proper chin–knee–toe alignment and triple flexion through the hip, knee, and ankle.
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On the stride leg, we emphasize triple extension of the hip, knee, and ankle, driving power outward at a 45° angle.
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Glide efficiency is achieved by maintaining balance on the flats of the blades.
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Recovery is refined by leading with the knee and returning the skate directly under the hip for optimal stride frequency and control.
BackwardÂ
Skating
(stride)
The backward stride involves a coordinated push and cut to propel the skater in a backward direction. In our training, we emphasize the backward toe flick or half-heart push rather than the traditional C-cut. This technique promotes a more linear and efficient stride, allowing athletes to move from point A to point B with greater speed and control.
While the C-cut remains valuable for lateral movement and transitions, mastering proper backward stride mechanics is essential for developing strong defensive skating skills and overall agility.
ForwardÂ
Crossovers
Forward crossovers are a foundational skating skill used to generate speed, maintain control, and change direction efficiently. In this movement, the skater crosses one skate over and beside the other as it simultaneously crosses under, applying two distinct pushes—one from the inside edge and one from the outside edge—to create continuous power and momentum.
Forward crossovers are essential for building speed through turns, accelerating from a glide or stationary position, and transitioning smoothly between edges. Mastering this technique establishes the groundwork for more advanced edge work and greatly enhances a skater’s speed, agility, and efficiency on the ice.
Backward Crossovers
Backward crossovers are an advanced skating skill used to generate speed, maintain control, and change direction efficiently while moving backward. During this movement, the skater crosses one skate over the other, applying two coordinated pushes—one from the inside edge and one from the outside edge—to create continuous power and momentum.
This skill is especially valuable for quick acceleration while skating backward and for executing smooth directional changes during transitions or defensive play.
Transitions+ Pivots
Transitions + Pivots are the skating skills that allows an athlete to change direction (forwards to backwards OR backwards to forwards). Having this ability creates a more agile athlete. An athlete that can transition any direction at any moment, can modify their body position the fastest to have success in the task they are executing on the ice.
Stopping
Stopping is how a skater stops moving on the ice, usually to avoid a collision or change direction. Having the ability to stop helps a skater feel more comfortable on the ice and push them in other areas, because they feel more in control. There are progressions of stopping that can be taught to help improve a skaters agility.
Quick Starts
Quick starts are when an athlete accelerates from either a stationary or gliding position. To utilize this still most effectively skaters need to have a fast stride rate and recovery while utilizing the front 1/3 of their inside edge. The better a skater becomes at this ability, the faster they will be able to get to top speed and will be able to accelerate faster from a change of direction or stationary position.
Lateral Movement
Lateral movement on skates is essentially the ability to move side to side either sometimes while also moving in a forward or backward direction. A critical component to lateral movement in most cases is having adequate hip mobility. Being able to move in lateral directions increases an athletes ability in all planes of motion, therefore increasing their ability change direction efficiently.