Analysis of Selected Mechanics of the Backward C - Cut Ice Skating Stride

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the contributlon of structural and performance variables to the skating velocity of ice hockey players performing the backward C-cut ice skating technique. Ten skilled male ice hockey players volunteered to participate in this study. Each was filmed during a maximum effort backward skating task. An overhead view of each trial was recorded at 100 Hz using a Locam 16 mm camera. Data were collected from film using an Altek AC 30 digitizer and micro-computer system. Fourteen structural and kinematic dependent variables were measured. In addition three kinematic characteristics of the forward skating patterns of the same subject sample were also recorded. A Pearson product-moment correlation analysis was used to look at the relationships between skating velocity and each of the other dependent variables. Also, correlations between selected backward and forward characteristics were computed. The mean backward skating velocity of the sample was 6.56 m/s which resulted from a mean cycle length of 4.53 m and a mean cycle rate of 1.5 cycles per second. Only minor differences were found between right and left stride lengths and times so it was concluded that the movement pattern is symmetrical from side to side. Correlation analysis indicated that velocity is significantly related to both cycle width (r = .80) and cycle length (r = .84). Cycle time was also significantly related to veloclty (r = -.70). Not surprisingly cycle length and rate were significantly related in a negative direction (r - -.91). In an attempt to determine whether backward skating ability is a unique skill, backward velocity was correlated with forward velocity. The result revealed that those who skate fastest backward also tend to skate fastest forward (r ..81). The velocity of the backward trials was about 80 % of that of forward skating trials. Based on the results of the study, it was concluded that there is a strong relationship between selected descriptive aspects of the backward skating movement and the criteria skating veloclty. In addition, it was concluded that a strong relationship exists between backward and forward ice skating ability.