How to choose a skatemill

What to look for when choosing from a variety of offers

The hockey skating treadmill is gradually becoming an integral part of the individual training of hockey players around the world. Many coaches include work on the skatemill also in the team training process, as well as in the setting and development of skating technique for beginner athletes. But how to choose a hockey treadmill and not miscalculate? There are many solutions on the market in a fairly wide price range and that’s when you should sharpen up.

First, you need to answer yourself the question - why am I going to buy a skatemill, what is the goal? In the vast majority of cases, the answer will be - to quickly and effectively improve players. This is a key point that you should be guided by when planning an area with a skating treadmill(s).

Once this is dealt with, let's look at the parameters of the skatemill itself. We recommend choosing a hockey treadmill by comparing the following specifications (here you can see the specifications of our professional HST A230 treadmill). 

Main components for comparison

• Dimensions of the surface for skating and working with the puck (for comfortable implementation of various types of training and diagnostics),
• The ability to move the puck from the skatemill to the surrounding synthetic ice without barriers (which will allow you to train passes, shots, and stickhandling)
• Speed range (including the possibility of reversing and skating at high speed),
• Noise level when working at maximum speeds (comfortable environment for trainers who will spend whole days in the area around the skatemill), 
• Possibility of inclination of the surface, as well as the method of implementation of the inclination (is it possible to shoot/move the puck on the surrounding ice while the skatemill is inclined),
• Possibilities of service of the skating treadmill, or how long will be the treadmill’s life, the possibility of being broken, and how often? It means how much money will you lose during downtime (how often do you need to service, is there an automatic lubrication system, online monitoring of parameters, support service for solving problems, guarantee, etc.).

Which parameters will allow you to develop your skatemill?

Knowing these parameters, you can make an objective choice in favor of one or another treadmill, based on technical data. But it is also necessary to understand that the combination of these parameters does not yet guarantee the achievement of the goal - the development of the player. Rather, it is only a prerequisite to achieving this goal with this device. So, you have a skating treadmill, but what to do with it in order to effectively and quickly improve the parameters of the players? Let’s consider these parameters and how to develop them on a skatemill:

• Skating technique is a key parameter for the development on the skatemill. Does the area with the skatemill support diagnostics of skating technique? And knowing the current level, are there any systems that help in eliminating its shortcomings?
• Individual hockey skills – dribbling, stickhandling, passing, and shooting (also from continuous skating). Are there systems in the zone for developing the accuracy of shots, reaction speed, and peripheral vision of the player?
• Special preparation of the player - is it possible to assess the level of physical fitness of the player on the skatemill, for example, before the season? Is it possible to work on increasing strength, power, and physical condition?