USFS Moves In The Field Tips: Forward Power Three Turns – Preliminary (Karen Heng Olson)

Karen Heng Olson explains how she teaches the Forward Power Three Turns for the Preliminary USFS Moves in the Field Test.  She starts her skaters on one of the hockey lines and transitions later to the long axis on the rink.

Karen talks about how she “builds” the pattern.  She starts with just trying to get them to understand the concepts and have a very basic execution.  Once the skater can do the three turn on one side of the line and a crossover on the other, Karen changes the focus to the pushes and where the pushes are.  She counts to five during the pattern, one count for every push and one for the three turn.

Karen briefly mentions probably the most common error where the skater steps down too soon after the three turn and steps onto an outside edge instead of the proper inside edge.  Teaching the pattern on the line and having them wait to get back to the line is the easiest way to eliminate this problem.

Next Karen emphasizes the need to bend before each push.  Skaters will resist the bend after the three turn and just plop down so they need to learn control of the three turn exit edge and be able to bend properly.  Karen also emphasizes the shift before the cross-over as this too is often overlooked by skaters and coaches.  She shows a simple inside-to-inside drill to help develop this shift and she shows it and explains it in detail.  She makes the point that the push is across and does not make the skater rise up.

Karen then gives a slightly unorthodox tip:  She recommends jumping ahead to teach the Back Power Cross-overs from the Pre-Juvenile Moves test first.  The pattern is simple and helps the skater develop the proper control of the crossovers.

Karen shows another great drill where she expands the pattern out into a figure eight.  This pattern gives the skater added control and understanding of the pushes and shifts as well as the need for strong edges.  Karen discusses this drill in detail.

When putting the pattern back on the long axis, she draws the axis for her skaters.  She shows how she uses her blade and her last comment is “If you can’t do this, take a marker.”

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