Ok, here it comes....
First, when I size people for skates, you NEED room on the sides of your feet so this way the skate doesn't reduce the blood to your toes and them the arch of your feet will hurt. So width is good, but not too much.
Second, place your foot in the boot as forward as it will go. Then look to see how much room you have in the back behind your heel. It should be NO more then the width of your finger. If it is...too big!
Third, when you tie those skates, leave the bottom 4 eyes loose. Then tighten the remainder tight. But not too tight that it doesn't allow you to point your toe. Point your toe at the end of each stride is very important.
Fourth, lace up both skates then once the laces are all within the eye holes grab the end of the lace and tie a knot at the end. This will keep the laces from coming out and then you have to lace the skates again. Yes, I know this doesn't seem important. But as time goes by, that little plastic protector at the end will break off and then you have to tape the ends to make it go through the eye hole. So just tie a knot and you will never have to worry about that again.
Fifth, when you buy your stick, buy the proper stick first. If your write with your right hand, then you shoot left. The artistic side of the stick is at the top. This allows you to have more of an accurate pass. Now, you right hand shooter out there, do freak out by saying you have accuracy and you shoot right...good for you.
Six, tape the blade with black tape...not white. It helps hide the puck better. Yes I know that you shooter out there can hide the puck better with white tape. But, when the goalie has three people standing in front of him and the puck is moving all around, he is going to have to shift his weight from leg to leg to see the puck. So by having black tape on the blade, forces him to make a more accurate assesstment of the play and sometimes that could really be a pain in the a** to see where the puck is!
Seventh, when you buy that stick, most times you will not have your skates with you for the purchase. So to getting the proper stick, will depend on what lie (angle of the shaft and heel) you like, and what kind if blade pattern (curve) you would like the best. Plus, the flex of the stick is the most important part. Don't go and buy a stick because the color is cool. Don't buy a stick that goes past your forehead. If it does, switch to a junior stick. If you buy a stick that just passes your nose...perfect. Then place a mark on the stick just below your nose and that will be the cut line. Now, if you get a large stick and you cut off more then two to three inches, you have now changed the flex point of the stick designed by the manufacture. If you want shooting tips...PM me.
Eighth, when you buy that stick, make sure you use a rasp (file) at the end of the stick once you have cut the stick. No rasp...use a concrete floor. If you do not use a rasp, the sharp edge will help eat a hole in the palm of your glove. No, it doesn't happen over night, but a year later, you will be buying new gloves. So round the corners off....then tape!
Ninth, wax the blade of your stick. Yes, I know a lot of you out there don't use wax, that's fine, just keep more tape in your bag. Why wax? As the game progresses, shaved ice will collect a little on your blade. Then when you go to the bench for a rest, the shaved ice melts.
But, once it melts it soaks into the tape. This extra water will change the weight of your stick. Plus, water is the worlds best cleaner. Once the water gets into the tape, it starts to emulsify the gum on the tape and now it doesn't stick. Yes, I know that the tape goes around the blade holding the tape from falling off. But, ice is like sand paper. It will chew the tape off the bottom of the stick and then the tape falls off like a bad hair piece.
Waxing helps water proof the tape to keep water from penetrating into the tape.
Tenth, don't ever miss a power skating class!
Good Luck!
Head coach
