A-Skip + March Combo
How to Do It
Alternate between A-march (a slow, deliberate marching version emphasizing positions — high knee, toe up, tall posture) and A-skip (the rhythmic skipping version) in a prescribed sequence as you travel forward. Use the march to reinforce the positions, then the skip to add rhythm and elastic ground contact. Keep posture tall and arms active throughout.
Why It Works
Bridges the slow, position-focused march and the faster, rhythmic skip — letting the athlete groove the correct sprint positions deliberately, then express them with rhythm and stretch-shortening; reinforces mechanics progressively from controlled to dynamic.
Hockey Transfer
Reinforces the knee-drive, dorsiflexion, posture, and arm mechanics of acceleration in a progressive way, building the coordinated sprint patterning that transfers to off-ice speed and efficient skating-stride mechanics.
Coaching Cues
- "March the positions, then skip the rhythm"
- "knee up, toe up, tall"
- "active arms throughout"
Common Mistakes
Rushing the march (losing position focus); collapsing posture; overstriding on the skip; passive arms
Progression / Regression
progress into a sprint after the combo
march only, or in place
Primary Muscles
Energy System
Alactic/ATP-PC
Put it to work
on the ice.
This exercise is part of a fully periodized 12-week off-ice program — built by a sport scientist who coaches at the national level.
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