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Skating Newsletter Article Forward swizzles are one of the best stroke-technique drills around because they reinforce the heel pressure and side-directed push that result in efficient and powerful skating. Backward swizzles are the gateway to inline hockey and artistic expertise.
The Football drill is nothing more than rolling back and forth to scribe a football shape with your wheels, and all you need is a square yard (about a meter) of pavement to practice it. By mastering this simple move, you integrate the stance, footwork and edging that results in basic forward and backward skating. I've taught this drill successfully for years and finally decided it's time to share it with you!
Learning the Football Drill
First, practice the stance. Assume the skater's bent-knee ready position but with two modifications: heels are touching, making it a 'V' stance. You will also keep your hands on your hips to keep them out of the action. Your head is directly over your hips and your torso is upright, not leaning. This centered, balanced stance would allow you to gracefully hop a few inches off the ground if you wanted. Your job is to keep that upper body posture no matter what your skates are doing below.
1. Forward movement
Imagine your heels are across a line (see diagram). Push both bent knees slightly forward so that your skates are tipped onto their inside wheel edges. This tip will make the skates turn in an arc so you won't do the splits! (If you're really worried, you can try keeping your knees pressed together.)
To swizzle forward, push with equal pressure against both back wheels out along the line, without leaning forward. Push to the side and push with your heels. Your toes will eventually touch as long as the skates remain tipped inward and your torso stays centered and upright. That's when you lightly "kiss" the toe wheels as they meet in front of you.
- Troubleshooting Tip: If your toes don't meet, you are leaning forward, placing too much weight on your toes. Lift the toes inside your skates to make them light enough to steer inward.
As soon as you can accomplish one "toe kiss," it's time to try the reverse push. Start with the A stance (toe wheels in "kissed" position). Imagine your toe wheels are across a line (see diagram). This time, your heels will be light because your toes will do the work.
To swizzle backward, push with equal pressure against both toe wheels out along the line--to the side, not back. Pushing back will topple you forward because your feet will get out from under you. Once you can accomplish this, your heel wheels meet in a "kiss."
3. Draw the Football
At the moment of a "kiss"--whether it's your front or back wheels--immediately push them to the side to reverse directions for the opposite kiss. You are now seeking a rhythmic back-and-forth rocking movement. It will come as you gradually ease into the subtle foot work going on under that centered, still upper body. Kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss for a minute or two to gain the full benefits of the football drill. And by the way, this is a fun way to wait for a light to turn green, too!
Translating to "Real" Swizzles
Forward Swizzles
Just before the toes kiss, you can turn the heel-heavy part of the football drill into forward swizzles. As your skates steer inward, instead of a toe kiss, rotate your toes outward and start a new heel push while your feet are still hip-width apart. Pushing will straighten your legs, so each time you return to the hip-width stance, sink down to "coil up" (bend) your knees for the next push.
- Troubleshooting Tips: At first you may be using your inner thighs to pull your legs back in. While that's a great toning exercise, try to gain a rhythmic "frog-kick" motion to take advantage of the momentum as you steer your skates and press the inside wheel edges.
- Become more assertive as you practice and then listen for the sound of your heel wheels as they carve their arc. That's the sound of power!
Backward Swizzles
Just before the heels kiss, you can turn the toe-heavy part of the football drill into backward swizzles. As your skates steer inward to hip-width, rotate the heels back outward and start a new side-directed toe push. Remember to look over your shoulder to check your path!
Once you can push both skates symmetrically, try carving one toe-push at a time. With proper weight shift, this turns into real backward skating. Now you're on your way to joining a hockey team!
- Troubleshooting Tips: Don't push back, push to the side (left foot toward 9 o'clock and right foot toward 3 o'clock). Otherwise, you'll find your torso tipping forward--Yikes!
Good luck and here's a big kiss from me to you!
Please send questions and comments to: Liz@getrolling.com.
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