knee bend in 6 year old

Question
My 6 year old son has been skating for just a year. He never did lessons he went right into hockey. He is incredibly fast and scores at least 5 goals per game. The only problem is that I don't think he's bending his knees properly. Do you have any advice on how to teach that to him?
Thanks!  

Answer
Hi Marie,

Great question!

You may have a future star on your hands eh?  It will be very important he gets a good foundation on the fundamentals for sure --  and the most important being skating!!!

While he is still quite young for grasping this sort of concept - the best way is to SHOW HIM HOW.... if you or someone you know can go skating with him and SHOW him how - that would be best!  Just explain simply that if he wants to go even faster, stay on his feet more and be even harder to catch - he needs to "skate like this more" ... if he resists -- ideally it could be someone maybe he looks up to a bit as some sort of role model...  so that he will glady COPY!!  :-)  

As he gets older - you can explain a bit more of the "physics" of it ... fulcrum, leverage, balance, power, etc.  For now it needs to be FUN!!!  Make it a "game" -- like copy cat, of follow the leader...  LOL!

You can maybe also share your concern with his coaches or an older friend/sibling/cousin who can maybe help out at practice or on pond, or at public skating???

These are some thoughts --  feel free to follow up!

Hope it helps!

Thanks again and GOOD LUCK!

Martial