A comparison of selected hockey skating starts.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of three different methods of initiating forward movement (IFM). Six S's from four levels of Ice Hockey competition were instructed in the methods then were timed for 20 feet of forward skating from a standing start. Selected S's within each group were also analyzed biomechanically, via the cinema-computer process. Both statistical and biomechanical analysis showed a superiority of the rarely taught thrust and glide or "t" start over the two conventional techniques, the cross-over and normal standing start facing the direction of movement. Results indicate a need to include the thrust and glide in Ice Hockey instructional programs.