PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. - Learning to skate is important in the
sport of ice hockey. Plattsburgh Youth Hockey Association has followed the
recommendations of USA Hockey, a sanctioned organization that recommends age
appropriate training, by implementing their own version of Learn to Skate.
According to USAhockey.com, “The
focus and goal of the Learn to Skate (L2S) curriculums are designed to teach
beginner hockey players the fundamentals of skating.”
Plattsburgh
area youth hockey has had an overall increase in participants.
Rob
Knowles, Plattsburgh Youth Hockey president said “Our organization has grown so
much we only had 100 at the start that includes the whole organization, 10
years ago and now we are at 300 skaters and participants.”
Getting
started can be tough, hockey equipment can be expensive and many pieces are
needed. In Plattsburgh youth can rent the equipment needed for learning to
skate.
Robby
Knowles, coach/instructor, said “we have some equipment from USA Hockey that
are rentals. Most kids bring their own stuff, (and) don’t need a stick. (A)
helmet is required, pants and elbow pads.”
Plattsburgh area Learn to Skate
starts on Oct. 28, and continues through March 2016. It will take place at the
Plattsburgh Ronald B. Stafford Fieldhouse on Wednesdays from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
and will be at either 9:30 or 10:45 a.m. on Saturdays. It is free for children
ages six and under. The cost for older children for 30 ice sessions is rather
inexpensive when looking at camps throughout the state. For example one camp in
New Jersey was 500 dollars for four days of a total of six hours of ice time.
Rob said “It is 150 dollars for 30 hours of ice time.”
People have
very different perspectives of learn to skate. Rob said “Yes, Learn to Skate is
our intro to hockey. I think hockey is a sport that offers not only positives
that kids are going to be active, it is also a huge family event.” Knowles
continued, “A strength about hockey is that you are always together in the car
(travelling). You can bond a lot and learn lessons as a family.”
Hockey is a
sport that takes time to develop skills.
Spencer Graves Head coach of Plattsburgh Youth Hockey Peewee team said
“it gives an opportunity to not just build hockey skills, it’s good for overall
coordination, and if they are interested in playing hockey this is a good time
for them to figure out if they would like to stick to it or not.”
Ten year
old Drew Knowles, Rob’s son, who is a player for the Peewee Plattsburgh Youth
hockey team, started Learn to Skate when he was four years old. He said “They
always allowed us to use the pushers, I really like sockey (soccer and hockey
in one).”
Drew’s
favorite thing that he has done while at Learn to Skate is playing 1 on 1s, and
2 on 1s. He said “I have made a lot of friends through Learn to Skate and while
I’m playing hockey now at the peewee level, some of the same kids were in my
Learn to Skate class.”
One major
thing that Drew learned from Learn to Skate is being able to skate backwards
during the play.
Richard
Botting, a local Instructor/ Plattsburgh State men’s ice hockey player said, “I
think they get someone who has hockey knowledge and someone that the kids can
look up to. I think that allows them to listen better which ultimately makes
them get more out of it.”
Botting
wants all kids to know “Don’t let anyone tell you, you can’t do it.”
Rob offered
some tips to first time parents. “The most important thing is to be patient,
take as much success as your children provides. If your kid only goes out there
for 10 minutes be happy he stayed for ten minute before crying. That is
something to work off of, and hopefully the next time that they go out they
will be able to stay out longer and longer each time.”
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