Toe Stop Drills and Skills

We started working with our toe stops this week. If you are able to utilize your toe stops in a controlled manner, it can take you far in derby.  Remember, practice makes you better and practicing on your toe stops makes you more comfortable. 


First off, take a look at your toe stops.  Where are they positioned for you?  You need it positioned where you feel comfortable and your foot isn't dying inside your skate.  Most people go with a one wheel under the back wheel and adjust their toe stops to that height.  How big are your toe stops?  If you have crappy little ones, I would suggest saving to invest in some slightly larger ones.  This will make it much easier on you.  Smaller toe stops make you work much harder in your toe stop runs and drills. 




Here are a few easy things you can do to feel more comfortable on your toe stops:




Up Downs  -- stand in good derby stance with all eight wheels on the ground.  Shift your weight to go up on your toe stops by lifting up on your heels.  Your stance should stay the same and the only thing moving is your feet. 




Squats on your toe stops --  Go up on your toe stops and squat.  This will help you feel comfortable by being able to go lower on your toe stops.




Balancing on one foot  -- Go up on your toe stops, find your center of balance and pick up one of your skates.  This is like the one footed glide but on toe stops.  Engage your core and balance.  Challenge yourself each time to hold it longer.




Side to side steps on your toe stops  --  Go up on your toe stops and step from side to side.  Start with shorter steps and eventually move into larger steps.  Challenge yourself.  This will help with lateral movements down the road.




Toe Stop Walking and Jogging  -- we practiced this during the training session.  Get up on your toe stops and walk/jog forward then go backwards.  Find your center of balance and increase your speed as you go! 




These are all things you can do at home in your skates.  You can also do these during open skate.


Once you feel more comfortable on your toe stops, start pushing the comfort zone. Ask your trainers for more ideas on challenging toe stop drills.