• Rule of thumb is 1½ sizes smaller than street shoe, but correct fit is determined by a measuring device that compares your foot to the size of the last of the skate you’re buying.
  
  
• A little room is okay, but wearing a skate that’s too big will throw off the geometry of the skate and make it difficult to skate well.
  

Skates for young children -- Don’t buy stiff skates!

• Skates should have a firm heel counter and be soft from the ankle and above. (Good quality used skates are excellent.)
  
  
• Children need to be comfortable. To skate properly, they must be able to bend their knees out over their toes.
  
  
• A skate that’s too stiff is uncomfortable and prevents proper knee bend.
  
  
• A skate that’s too big will not have the proper geometry in relation to the skater and will make it difficult to skate well.
  

Sharpening skates for young children

• A 13' radius with a shallow ¾” grind gives stability and forgiving edges.
  

How to lace up hockey skates – Tips for parents

• Note – These are the basics that can vary with personal preferences.
  
• Use very lightweight socks – preferably polypropylene and NOT cotton.
  
• With full hockey equipment, put hockey socks on but leave the shin pads off until finished lacing.
  
• Loosen the laces all the way down the skate before inserting the foot.
  
• Make sure the foot is comfortable in the bottom of the skate.
  
• Grab the back of the skate. Use the skate’s tongue to push the heel snugly into the back of the skate.
  
• Starting at the bottom, snug up the laces not too tight.
  
• At the 3rd or 4th eyelet from the top, snug up the laces really firmly to pull the skate tight around the bottom of the ankle.
  
• Snug up the top of the skate not too tight. Sometimes, it’s better not to use the top eyelet to make sure that you can get good ankle bend (knees out over the toes).
  
• Tie laces in a bow. Do NOT wrap laces around the back of the boot. This restricts ankle bend.
  
• Pull hockey socks over the knee. Put shin pad on and pull socks down.
  

Figure Skaters –

Are your blades straight?

The Test – In a one-foot forward or backward glide, your blade should run absolutely straight without wavering to either the outside or inside edge. Straight blades are essential for linking your edges outside to inside and back.

Are your blades balanced?

The Test – Your lowest pick should line up with the toe of your skate and the mounting plate should be even with the front of the sole. A properly mounted blade gives you the correct balance point and positions you to take off for jumps and spins.

Test your knowledge??

TRUE or FALSE??

Children should skate in a stiff skate – the stiffer the better.

Wear thick socks inside your skates.

Buy children’s skates with lots of room to grow.

The rule of thumb in fitting skates is to go 1½ sizes smaller than your street shoe.

Properly mounted blades make all the difference!