The Crossover Balance Secret!

There's a little balancing secret to help make your crossovers awesome!
All content is created by Ian Smith of Kellian Hockey, Sept 6, 2023
www.kellianhockey.com

[@tarastuckless7169]

This was a real light-bulb moment for me. Thanks!!

[@xkukubax]

Excellent explanation, I have a feeling I've been chopping my crossovers the whole time. I guess it's never too late to get better.

[@kellianhockeyskilldevelopm2321]

Hey xkukubax… any change to your crossovers?

[@stakuv86]

@@kellianhockeyskilldevelopm2321 ahh man I must have watched a dozen explanations on the crossover and man.. you explained it the best !!! I feel so much more confident now in trying this out. Thanks a lot - Going to check out more of your videos. Keep up the great work, explanations, and humor. The part where it got me was you kept on explaining the same thing over and over in a good reinforcing way!

[@kellianhockeyskilldevelopm2321]

@@stakuv86 I would love to hear an update on your crossovers. Let me know how it goes!

[@nickfazzio5277]

Ohh gosh. This is super helpful. TREMENDOUS explanation. Super thanks!!! This is explains why I feel like I’m gonna fall every crossover I do so I step into crossovers and feel like at anytime I could slip down on my side. Thanks!!!

[@kellianhockeyskilldevelopm2321]

Hey Nick… I would love to hear back from you when you try it out!

[@davidcbeaudoin]

The sensation that I'm falling when I go to crossover is exactly what I experience. I'll definitely try this tip the next time I'm working on my skating. Thank you!

[@NagoyaJoe2002]

Holy cow!!! Mystery solved!!! Amazing! Tahnk you from Japan!!!

[@kellianhockeyskilldevelopm2321]

Wow! From Japan! Thats cool. Glad that tip helped.

[@brianwilliams3597]

LOVE your videos! Finally someone explains the key pieces to make the crossovers smooth. I will try at the next Stick and Puck. Thanks!!

[@kantstenchonthemel5641]

ahh the chopping move... that's what I do! i'll fix that thank you coach!

[@dayadivitch2572]

Thank you so much for your explanation! As a beginner myself, I have always been taught to always stay low and put weight on the middle/slightly anterior of the foot. I will give this a try since I have never tried to put weight on the heel. Thank you again!

[@tconnors7233]

Whew. Years of only getting comfy on one side. Now I know why I'm falling forward on other side. Thanks! Trying next week!

[@IscariottActual]

This is a great video for a foundational topic.

[@fisherman695]

Whoa .. well done .. can't wait to practice this on forehand with puck

[@martinnovotny9495]

Great explanation, coach! When you mentioned stepping in front technique instead of a crossover, that's exactly me most of the time. I'll definitely try to focus on your balancing method next time I'm on the ice. Thanks for this video, I'm looking forward to seeing more, you've got yourself a new lifetime subscriber!

[@kellianhockeyskilldevelopm2321]

Hey Martin... I would love it if you checked back in with any progress. Thanks for looking!

[@B.johnson19]

Great advice. I haven’t been using my edges correctly, when I skate and try to crossover, I feel like my foot is going to slip out from under me. I will try this out and will definitely try to trust my inside edges of my skates.

[@blakeflakes1]

Jesus.... this was soooooo good

[@viaseung]

This is the best video explanation on crossovers by far, and back crossover video as well. 👏

[@kellianhockeyskilldevelopm2321]

Thank you! I very much appreciate that comment

[@eugenebragin3812]

Best in depth exploration. Why did you stop uploading new videos? Please keep em coming :)

[@kellianhockeyskilldevelopm2321]

Hey Eugenebragin... I have been busy with an effort in designing three courses: One for Shooting, another for skating and the third one for puck handling moves and strategies. The shooting course will be ready first . It goes into depth about the Slap shot, the one-timer, the knee down one-timer, the toe drag modern Snap Shot/ Wrist Shot and the Inside Leg Snap Shot. All with the same insights and explanations... but this time, I have included many of my development drills so that you can train at the rink or at home! I also have a method for you to be able to self assess... I show you what I look for when working with players on a skill, so you can better fix your issues. Coming out soon!

[@eugenebragin3812]

Awesome, looking forward to it

[@bendavies9461]

Great stuff, I'm just starting out, a big help!

[@larrygorwick6280]

The subtalar joint (below the actual ankle joint) controls the amount of inversion (outward roll) and eversion (inward roll). Although the boot of a quality skate SHOULD control the motion of this joint, for a variety of reasons it may not do this. Then the subtalar joint will buckle into excessive inversion causing the outside edge to slip causing a (nasty) fall! This problem is really found in skaters with EXCESSIVE range of motion of this joint. I really think most skilled hockey players have LESS than the average range of motion giving them a stability advantage in learning edge control. This is probably what "weeds out" many developing younger players trying to do these drills. Any comments, suggestions or solutions would be greatly appreciated. But like other comments have stated, you have explained often confusing concepts using straightforward language! THANKS!!

[@MrDblStop]

Interesting! I'm 61 and my daughter is 14, and we've been recreational skating for a year. I'm also a physical therapist so I have some appreciation for the mysteries of biomechanics and neurological control mechanisms. Neither of us are hypermobile. I've been fearfully locked into as tight a support as I can get with my skates, and not allowing any inversion/eversion, as I thought this was the way to stay stable. Then a couple of weeks ago my daughter was talking to a hockey player who was obviously a very good skater. He got her to try loosening the top clasp of her skates a little. She immediately found she was more mobile on the crowded rink, and didn't feel like she was missing the support. I asked him to look at my inability to curve to the left and as in this video he suggested I needed to trust some inversion; to try a little, and test different amounts. As soon as I tried it boy did my fibularis (outside lower leg muscles) complain! They just hadn't been being used. I'm now working on stabilising that control into inversion on that side. It doesn't seem to bother the other side as much. So if you're working with kids who will be a) generally more mobile than adults and b) some percentage of whom may be hypermobile, in my newly found and limited experience, they may benefit from off-ice strength training for those muscles and that control mechanism. A wobble board, wobble cushion, standing on one leg in the figure skater's turn position, with the arms out for balance and the body turned to the direction of travel. I'm also interested in how our perception of normal can help our control. So asking what feels 'right' about the stronger or more confident side, and seeing if that can be reproduced on the weaker. This specific issue is new to me in my relatively recent skating journey so I'm open to suggestions and criticisms, and I hope to learn more about it myself. And yes, a big thanks to Ian Smith for this video, it's exactly what I need right now.

[@eugenebragin3812]

Apart from heel pressure, could you please suggest where the outside edge should point (e.g. Into the circle vs along the circle line or out the circle). Maybe an idea for the next video :) ? Many thanks indeed!

[@Just_daniel_]

Very helpful with a great example. I’m going to try it. I can’t do them yet D:

[@cbpuzzle]

Phenomenal breakdown

[@kellianhockeyskilldevelopm2321]

Thanks cbpuzzle. Any little thing I can do that helps…

[@khaledalnuaimi8336]

Really well done technique, will definitely try it. Been struggling with my left to right crossover

[@kellianhockeyskilldevelopm2321]

Please come back and update me on your progress or if you noticed any changes in your stride.

[@khaledalnuaimi8336]

@@kellianhockeyskilldevelopm2321 I will coach, and also you got a beautiful library of content. You make it easier to understand exactly where we need to improve, can’t wait to try them out. Glad to find your channel

[@eliminator87]

Damn that makes sense..I like that look at it..

[@tuttifrutti8576]

I actually figured this heel thing out by myself a while back and I’ve come a long way since then, but still a long way to go as well. 2 months ago I couldn’t do crossovers or just use the outside edge of my right skate in general. Currently my focus is mainly on backwards crossovers and I’m definitely gonna watch your vid on those!

[@tuttifrutti8576]

And I have to add that the way you explain the push instead of crossover is amazing. I wish I had someone like you in person coaching me because you actually know how to explain things to someone who doesn’t always get it right away just by looking at the motion!

[@phgu]

Great explanation. I have trouble doing crossovers with my right leg as the inner leg. I think I must improve my balance while on the outer edge of my right skate.

[@kellianhockeyskilldevelopm2321]

That’s 100% true. Leaning on that inside leg allows for the “under push”. Without the lean… there’s not much generation for power. So being comfortable on that inside skate (on the outside edge of that skate) is where we want to start.

[@georgies347]

Always wondered why people make it look so easy and what im doing wrong. Going to give it a go next time Im skating cheers! I would love a video of half cross overs too, there doesnt seem to be one. Tho perhaps its easy to learn them once full cross overs are easy?

[@sedovof]

The best explanation of co

[@benjiofarrell922]

Great explanation! I'm ok with my right to left crossovers but left to right I feel I have no balance. I'm going to try skating around the glove and really putting weight into the heel and hopefully that gives me the grip I need!

[@kellianhockeyskilldevelopm2321]

Please come back with an update after you try it out.

[@benjiofarrell922]

Definitely felt more grip when just on the outside edge, putting the weight towards the heel made a big difference. Now just to practice it some more but big thankyou for the help! @@kellianhockeyskilldevelopm2321

[@kingwickens8457]

Thank you for the video! I will try it the next time I'm on the ice. I have a question: how do I prevent myself from falling backwards if I'm putting weight on the heel?

[@kellianhockeyskilldevelopm2321]

You should feel the weight in your heels, but not enough to lift your toes off the ice. You're not leaning back... just a little more upright. That lets to lean inwards more easily.

[@PaperCut2UGaming]

yup.

[@Dharm1k987]

So we lean towards the circle, but should we also rotate our torso and upper body towards the circle (where should the eyes and torso be facing , straight ?)

[@kellianhockeyskilldevelopm2321]

Great questions! I have found that the fewer things we need to think about, the better the results. If you turn your head… looking towards the center of the circle (in any turn, turn your head in the direction of where you want to go, that rotates your shoulders into the turn, which rotates your hips, and which guides your outside leg’s knee… all towards the center of the circle (or arc) you are going in. Just look to where you want to turn to. The balancing is done on that inside, but your heads help to rotate your body into the turn. Just look!

[@MrDblStop]

@@kellianhockeyskilldevelopm2321 Ah, like the opposite of mountain biking. Don't look at the tree. Never look at the tree.

[@scotthanson4200]

what do most nhl players and what do you feel when landing the crossover skate onto ice. l have always felt the middle part of the blade. or when doing power strides l land middle part of blade also. l hear that nhl players like mcdavid they land on the heal. what are your thoughts on it. you are doing excellent vidios thanks.

[@kellianhockeyskilldevelopm2321]

When it comes to those guys... they set the trends... and we try to figure out what they are doing. In my case... I teach lots of developing skaters and I see the same things when it comes to crossovers: They all lean forward in the direction they are skating. That leaning makes them "fall forward" out of balance. Ultimately... that is the root of what I am getting at. When we crossover, we need to be leaning inwards (leaning perpendicular to the direction of travel)... and the pushing that we do with our skates is outward from that lean. The balancing starts further back on our blades... but as we push, there is a "rolling" from the back of the blade to the front as we extend our push legs away during the crossovers. I have found the best to balance during a turn is to start by placing the weight closer to your heels... but not far enough back to be lifting your toes off the ice. You get a deeper lean when you start on futher back on the blade... which allows for more agressive strides. Hope that helps.

[@scotthanson4200]

@@kellianhockeyskilldevelopm2321 thanks coach

[@natebrks]

Is the opposite true for backwards crossovers? Weight at the balls/toes?

[@kellianhockeyskilldevelopm2321]

It’s true that the same concepts should be thought of… balance on the inside leg and focusing on the “under push” to get power in the crossover. I wouldn’t say I have the weight all the forward in the ball if the foot… for backwards crossovers, I place my weight right in the middle of my skate when doing that “balance” part. I’m trying be to think about where exactly is my weight in both my feet as I write this post on my couch, lol. Let me make a backwards crossover video… and I’ll give you a definite answer.

[@natebrks]

@@kellianhockeyskilldevelopm2321 thanks for the insight. I paid more attention to weight placement last night as per your instruction and it made such a difference straight away.

[@JeffAboularage]

⁠I was doing some circles yesterday, and I was messing with the idea of crossing over as if I was reacting to a turnover in the neutral zone. “Think of your defensemen moving back and peeling off to counter the attack… Drive from the center of your foot almost back to your heel, and then pick up and cross over if you need to.

[@kellianhockeyskilldevelopm2321]

Hey Jeff. I still haven’t been able to create that video yet… but your weight when going backwards is not in the balls or toes, it’s in the middle of your skate. Not quite the heel like going forwards… but more right in the middle.

[@JeffAboularage]

@kellianhockeyskilldevelopm2321 I’m going to try this out and see if I notice a difference. I wish we had these videos 15-20 years ago in my playing days!!

[@bfish9700]

For the life of me I couldn't figure out why I just couldn't crossover. Skated out in my 20's, could crossover fine mostly played goalie, went back to skating out, 40lbs heavier just couldn't do it, but I think this will help.

[@kellianhockeyskilldevelopm2321]

As we age… weight changes and strength changes play a part with your ability to balance. Plus… the fear of falling when we are older. That one is a killer. Try the weight in the heels. Then keep adding tilt and speed. Hope it helps!

[@bfish9700]

@@kellianhockeyskilldevelopm2321 still a work in progress but much better.

[@Alex-br3ll]

Crossunder 😉

[@kellianhockeyskilldevelopm2321]

Fair enough. I like to call it the "Underpush" because of how important the pushing is under there. Too many kids crossover but don't push in the crossunder. So I tried to give it a different descriptor. Crossunder doesn't say the word "push".

[@aaronwhite1786]

Time to torture myself with more hockey videos while I wait to finish moving and can finally skate again!

[@redcanary7]

very confusing information on youtube about this subject. there's a video by Dwayne Blais (NSDA Hockey-National Skill Development Association youtube channel) called "PRO HOCKEY TRAINING: How to Use Your Outside Edges" that suggests the secret to staying balanced is putting the weight in the ball of your foot, but this video suggests its the heel. which is it?

[@kellianhockeyskilldevelopm2321]

I love Dwayne Blais. He is Brilliant and his descriptions are excellent. I do, however, disagree with him on this point. I watched that video you mentioned and everything he says is accurate... but in my opinion, execept for the weight comment. Here is a video, from a figure skater from "Ice Coach Online", describing weight more in the heel: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eoPac4J3rMh5eM0. Here is another one with Train 2.0 "The downhill skater": kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3i7lpWjoKuIb5Y.

[@17hughsie17]

Thanks for the great video. Hope you don't mind me saying though.. Please only speak when you are near to and facing the camera.. As a lot of what you say is inaudible..... I have the same issue when teaching skiing.

[@death2pc]

No need for a stick in these exercises/examples.........

[@RichardTurlington]

please do not make any more videos until you get a microphone. cannot hear you even remotely clearly. Spent time and/or money on production of a video intro for KZbin but not basic tools for ensuring quality audio in a well known echo heavy film location. SMH. 😖

[@maxmiller8337]

I can hear him fine. Must be your 😂