There is a common misconception that rental ice skates with plastic buckles are a great alternative for rental skates. However, after interviewing many rinks who carry these plastic buckle rental skates, we have learned that rinks are much better off with lace-up rental ice skates. Here are a few facts about plastic rental ice skates you may not know.
The biggest reason we see ice rinks carry plastic buckle skates is because its easier for skaters to put buckle skates on than lace-up skates. We agree with this statement. However, many lace-up skates come with hooks around the ankle, this makes it very easy to tie and un-tie for skaters. Regardless, buckle skates are still a bit easier to put on.
Plastic skate boots should last a very long time, however they don’t. Plastic is a durable material which gives great support. However plastic buckle skates are constructed in a way that break down very easily. There are two plastic pieces which make up the skate: the top part that makes up the ankle area, and the boot piece that surrounds to foot. These two pieces are bolted together near the anklebone. This bolt is plastic and breaks very easily, if this bolt breaks there are no replacements for these. Having these two conjoining plastic pieces also creates a weak spot in the skate where you need the most support. Skaters who use rental skates are typically novice skaters. Novice skaters naturally bend their ankles inward when skating. This pressure spot on the skate is exactly where these two plastic skate pieces meet and is the weakest part of the skate boot.
Many are under the impression plastic buckle rental ice skates are low maintenance. Through speaking with rink owners we have learned that in the long-run buckle rental skates are high maintenance because their parts constantly break.
The buckles are typically made of all plastic which break very frequently. To replace these is cheap but an annoyance because you will have to take those skates out of rotation to fix. You will also need to pay your employees to replace the broken buckles, this time adds up. It may not sound like much trouble but when you have 50-200 buckles to replace per season, it does get annoying and expensive.
Another piece of the skate that needs to be replaced is the inner liner boot. These are very basic liners and depending on the volume of skaters you see per season these will need to be replaced. We recommend ordering extra inner liner boots when you make your original skate order, they are not the easiest to come by.
As seen in the video above, rental buckle skates come with very basic inner liners. The padding in these liners wear down very quickly and makes the skates uncomfortable. After about an hour of skating the liners get very hot and soak up foot sweat. If you are looking to keep these in rotation for the next skating session they will feel hot and wet.
After about a year of use you will quickly be able to see why these are a bad choice. These are replaceable, however replacing the inner liners every year or so becomes expensive and you have to install the replacement liners. This takes a good amount of time and resources.
Rental skates with laces have much better padding because during manufacturing they have many more material options to choose from to install in the skates. Additionally some lace-up rental ice skates (Link) come with anti-bacterial chrome microfiber lining which will repel sweat and heat much better than any other liner. Better inner liners will allow you to keep the skate in rotation longer and get more uses out of it. Additionally, the skater will have a much more pleasurable experience.
Be extremely careful when buying rental skates, this is an investment into your skaters experience at your rink. Always request a skate sample to test the quality before purchasing; if a skate company believes in their product they will provide free samples. We also suggest making sure the skates will fit your budget but make sure you are also looking at the long-term return on investment. Rental ice skates should be extremely comfortable and durable to last you a few years. Lastly rental ice skates should be low maintenance.
In conclusion buckle skates do not meet any of these requirements, the only thing they do is make it a bit easier to put on. We don’t believe this is a big enough reason to purchase them, there are too many new high-tech materials available in lace-up rental skates today that will make your life a lot easier.
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The night-black outsole compliments the colors of the classic white skate boot and golden AMERICAN logo. You can easily pair these ice skates with any winter style. Whether your new to skating or skating laps around the novices, these American Classic Figure Skates will keep you looking stunning.
These figure skates are perfectly engineered for the beginner skater. We get many questions from our customers in regards to which boot firmness is correct for them. From years of experience, we have found the perfect stiffness for our beginner figure skate. It is not too stiff leaving beginner skaters with harsh blisters and it is not too soft which leave skaters ankles dragging on the ice. The American Classic Figure Skate gives the right amount of flexibility while keeping you upright and moving in the right direction.
We have added an extra foam layer for added comfort allowing you to use it right out of the box. No more break-in period needed; you can ice skate for hours-on-end from the second they come out of the box. The inner liner is a breathable tricot material, allowing your feet to stay dry and sweat free.
The American Classic Figure Skate has proven itself to earn the accolades it receives year after year. We promise our American Skaters, we will not stop there. We continue to innovate and improve each material used to benefit our skaters while keeping it one of the most competitively priced skates on the market. Our goal is to have ice skating available to everyone who wants to try skating and the American Classic Figure Skate does just that. To enjoy your skate the fullest visit americanathleticshoe.com for products and all ice skating information.
]]>I would suggest wearing layers, this will make sure you have the available options to stay comfortable, whether your too hot or too cold. Start off with a T-shirt or long sleeve shirt. This will be your base attire for after you are warmed up and got your blood pumping. For warm-ups I would suggest wearing a jacket or sweatshirt over your t-shirt or long sleeve shirt. This will keep your body at a good temperature and allow your body to warm up.
In regards to your bottom half, you should wear pants. Remember, you are skating on ice so if or when you fall its going to be a little wet and cold. Sweatpants or leggings are a great option for skating as they keep your whole leg covered and are also stretchy to allow for free-range movements.
Wear thin socks, do not wear extra thick socks which you think will keep your feet warm. Thick socks are meant to keep your feet warmer by insulating them with more material. Thick socks actually do the opposite of what you think they will do because of all their extra materials. Thick socks will make your feet sweat, making the sock moist or “wet”. While skating around, this moisture will freeze and actually make your feet colder than if you had thin socks on. Thin socks will not make you’re your feet sweat and will still provide a layer of warmth. This will keep your feet dry and won’t allow them to freeze since they have much less material to hold moisture.
Gloves are another useful accessory to wear. If you are new to skating you are more likely to fall when skating. This is not a bad thing as everyone needs to fall in order to improve, however, wearing thin gloves allows you to pick yourself up off the cold ice without getting your hands wet and cold on the ice.
Wearing pads is always optional. I would only suggest these for people who really need it. The first layer of protection you should wear is a helmet. A simple bicycle or ski helmet will suffice. Many ice rinks supply protective helmets for rent if you don’t have one. Elbow guards and knee pads will definitely save you from some bruises if you fall, so these are also a recommended protection.
Of course you are going to need ice skates, so don’t leave the house without them. If you do not own ice skates many ice rinks will have rental skates which you can rent for about $5/hour. However, if you plan on skating more than a few times a year I would suggest buying your own pair of ice skates. This makes it so you know exactly what to expect when you put on your skates. For me, too many people with stinky feet use rental skates so it’s worth it just to buy my own.
Ice skates are not as ridiculously expensive like they used to be. Professional skates can range from $600-$1,000, which for a person like me who only skates 10-15 times a year is way too expensive. However, there are skates which sell for $40-$120 which are still very good quality. These are right up my alley. These are the skates which you should be looking at as they are much better quality than rental skates and aren’t ridiculously expensive. Now you will have your own ice skates to skate on for years to come.
I would bring a water bottle and snacks to the ice skating rink. Ice skating is very tiring, especially if you are new to the sport. Skating for one hour may not seem like a lot, but let me tell you, it is. Having a nearby water bottle is a life saver and having some healthy snacks to go along with it will allow you to focus more while skating and have more energy throughout your hour of skating. Healthy snack suggestions are: bananas, protein bars, apples, peanuts, almonds, etc.
Lastly, I would bring an extra pair of pants and socks to put on after you are finished skating. Sometimes (depending on how many times you fall) your clothes will be wet after skating, so in order to be nice and comfortable (and dry) on your car ride home, I would suggest bringing extra clothes.
That should be all the things you need to have a great time during your ice skating experience. For more information about ice skating and ice skates please visit our website or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter!
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Knowing the maximum number of skaters you can have on the ice at one time is one of the most important aspect when figuring out how many rental skates you need to carry. Peak season is only 4 months out of the year for most rinks. That gives you 33% of the year to maximize revenue, so you don’t want to miss out on any opportunities. If you have a standard NHL sized sheet of ice (200’x85’), that’s 17,000sqft; you should be able to comfortably fit 300 skaters on the ice at one time. This gives each skater 57sqft of space around them. You don’t want to jam pack your sheet of ice because then that takes away from the experience for each skater. They want to have some space around them to glide around and not be overrun by too many people on the ice. However, while not being overbearing, this allows you to maximize your influx of skaters. Your customer turnover will improve as well as your rental skate sales.
To make sure you don’t run out of rental skates the rule of thumb is to carry 100-200 more pair of rental skates than the max number of skaters you can have on the ice at one time. That would equate to around 160% of the max number of skaters. For example: in a standard NHL size rink which fits 300 skaters, it would be best to carry around 480-500 pair of rental skates in inventory. This will ensure you can provide the correct sizes at time of need and not overuse the rental skates.
If you have a smaller rink size, typically these will be seasonal pop-up rinks, your max number of skaters will be less. If your rink is 100’x43’ (4,300sqft), you should be able to fit 150 skaters on the ice. In this scenario you can get away with having 130% of the max number of skaters in rental skates. This would equate to 200 pair of rental skates to cover this volume.
Some sheets of ice are even smaller than that. If you have a rink size of 50’x22’ (1,100sqft), you will be able to comfortable fit around 50 skaters on the ice at one time. With this volume it will be safe to carry 70 pair of rental skates.
Knowing the number of skaters you have per week during peak season is important to know so you can figure out what to price your rental skates at in order to turn a profit. Generally, there are two types of rinks, a rink in the middle of a city where they do not have an issue filling their sheet of ice with skaters and a rink in a rural area where they may lack volume of skaters and have difficulty in filling their sheet of ice. Both scenarios have potential to turn a profit if done correctly. Forecasting and knowing when to buy and how much to buy is the key.
If you have a rink in the city and your main concern is controlling how many skaters you have on the ice due to over demand in skaters, this is a good problem to have. You will be able to price your skates at a lower cost than rinks in rural areas. However, be careful. Your skates will get a lot more wear and tear than rental skates at a rural rink, so you need to turn a profit quicker because you will need to replace your rental skates more often.
If you run a rink in a rural area you will need to price your skate at a higher price to make up for lack of skater demand. It’s okay if it takes a bit longer to turn a profit on rental skates because your skates won’t get worn out so quickly. You won’t need to replace your rental skates as often.
Profitability is the overall goal of running a rink and making sure you have enough rental skates. Pricing them correctly is very important to making this happen.
The demographic at your rink is important to analyze. You will be able to order your size allocation more efficiently as well as know which style rental skate you will get most use of. If there are more children than adult skaters, you know to order more smaller sizes. Also, you will know to order more figure skates than hockey skates because figure skates are most common for novice skaters. If you live in a hockey town and most of your skaters are teenage/adult hockey players, you will need more large sized hockey rental skates. There are many types of rental skates, don’t make the mistake of ordering random rentals to get it over with. Make sure you get the skates your customers will enjoy the most.
Lastly, knowing your demographic will also give you an idea of when you will need to reorder rental skates. If advanced skaters are using the rental skates to play and intense game of hockey, the skates will need to be replaced sooner because there is a lot more pressure on the skates through tight turns and sharp stops. When kids are just learning to skate on the rental skates, they won’t need to be replaced as often because kids are much lighter than adults and won’t be doing sharp turns or stops.
If you have any more questions regarding how many rental skates your rink should carry please reach out to one of our American Athletic skate experts at 413-967-3511 or email us here.
]]>Each blade has two edges, an ‘inside edge’ on the inside of your foot, and an ‘outside edge’ on the outside of your foot. In-between those two edges is a ‘hollow’, or some call it a ‘radius’. When you skate forward your edges are actually melting the ice in the hollow of the blade, making you glide. This is why a deeper hollow (1/2” - 3/16”) is made for more experienced skaters, as it bites deeper into the ice, allowing for tighter turns and faster acceleration. A shallower hollow (5/8” – 3/4”) is better for inexperienced skaters giving them a wider melting point in the hollow, allowing for better balance and more glidability. This takes less effort for skaters to push forward. In addition, this makes it easier to stop because the blade isn’t biting into the ice as much.
If your skates are not sharp you will not have a hollow to melt the ice, making it very difficult for you to glide forward. If it looks like skaters are walking instead of gliding when trying to skate that means the skates need to be sharpened. Unsharp blades can be caused by them being overdue for a sharpening, skaters stepping on the plastic between the rubber mats, or stepping on concrete.
A handy tool to help you keep skates sharp between sharpenings is a sharpening stone, otherwise known as a sweet-stick.
In most cases rental skates should be sharpened with a 5/8” hollow. There are pros and cons of a 5/8” hollow, but overall your skaters will have a better experience when using a 5/8” hollow. Most people who rent skates are novice skaters and are not looking to do sharp turns and quick stops. Most likely the majority of skating will be gliding around in a circle. This is ideal for a 5/8” hollow. The Pros behind a more shallow hollow is that there is a wider melting point giving the skater better balance. In addition, when trying to stop, the blade won’t cut so deeply into the ice, which will allow for a nice gradual stop, instead of a sharp abrupt stop. Some may say they sharpen their rentals with a deeper hollow (1/2”) so they won’t have to sharpen the skates as often as one would with a more shallow hollow. This is true, however renal skates are not the best treated skates. Most renters accidentally walk on cement, metal or plastic when entering the ice or while in the locker room which cause the skate to dull anyways. Having skates in rotation to be sharpened more often will give you the opportunity to find nicks, scratches and dull points on the blade. When a blade has a nick in it it’s crucial that the skate be sharpened right away. A nick along the edge of your blade will catch the ice differently than what a skaters expecting and will most likely cause them to fall. Nicks can be difficult to see with the naked eye, running your finger down both edges of the skate blade is a better way to determine if you have a nick. You’ll be able to feel if there are any spots that feel different than the rest of the blade.
The rule of thumb is to sharpen ice skates after every 15-20 hours of use. This is typical for athletes who play hockey or figure skate multiple times on a weekly basis. This consensus is based on a few factors:
First is how the skates are being used. Advanced skaters are going to put more wear and tear on the blade as they are doing tighter turns, stopping abruptly and skating at faster speeds. Beginner skaters are not going to put so much pressure on the blades because they will not be doing tight turns and short stops.
The weight of the skater also plays a role in how often you need to sharpen ice skates. Heavier people put more pressure on the blade than lighter people, which digs their blade deeper into the ice, giving it more bite. This will dull the blade quicker than a lighter person skating.
Ice conditions are the last factor that affect the sharpness of ice skates. Harder ice (typically outdoor rinks or rinks who chill their ice at lower temperatures) is harder to cut into. The blade has to work harder to cut into the ice, making it dull quicker. Soft ice, typically indoor rinks who chill their ice at higher temperatures, cuts ice like butter and does not take as much effort to melt the ice in the hollow of the blade. This makes it so your skate stays sharper longer.
These are the key factors that affect when you need to sharpen your ice skates.
The reason it is so difficult to know when to sharpen rental skates is because all of these factors vary between users. Multiple body typed people at different skill levels can use the same pair of skates in one afternoon, applying different pressures to the blade. Because rental skates change hands so many times throughout the day, it is best to stay on the safe side and sharpen the ice skates after 12-15 hours of use with a 5/8” hollow. If you offer one-hour skate sessions, try and sharpen the skate after 12 sessions. This will ensure all of your skates are always sharp and allows you to keep a close eye on what kind of shape the ice skates are in (if they have any nicks, cracks or scratches). The blade is one of the most important aspects to having an enjoyable experience while ice skating. This is what connects the skater to the ice and should be a high priority to take care of.
If you are on a tight budget and cannot afford to sharpen your skates as frequently or do not have the man power to do so, I would highly suggest having sharpening stones or sweet sticks on hand, so as skates come off the ice you can quickly dry the skate and run the stone on the edges to give them a sharper feel. This only takes a few moments and will allow your skates to be more functional for longer periods of time between sharpenings.
For your reference here are a few options for sharpening machines and sharpening tools you can use at your facility.
Skate Sharpening Tools
Skate Sharpening Machines
Drying Towels
Please visit our site for more helpful tips!
]]>There are many aspects that you need to consider when buying rental ice skates. Before you do anything, I highly suggest ordering a sample before making the bulk purchase so you can personally feel and test out the rental skate.
When analyzing rental skates the first thing you want to consider is your customers, the people renting your skates. Typically, these are people who are new to ice skating or have very little experience ice skating. So, the first thing you want to look out for is how comfortable the rental skate is. A good thing to have is extra padding on the interior of the boot. You do not want people to come skating and have them only stay 20-30 minutes because their feet hurt. If this is the case they will skate once and never come back. The goal of having them rent skates is to enjoy their time on the ice and come back with friends the next time because of their enjoyable experience. If the skates are comfortable then the skater is comfortable and now you have a higher chance of them staying longer and returning to your rink.
The second aspect to consider when buying rental skates is the ice skates’ durability. First we will start analyzing the skate at the blade and work our way up the ice skate. The blade should be 3.5-4.00mm thick, this is the ideal width for balance and sharpening purposes. In addition, there should be a triple weld connecting the blade to the blade plate. You can tell if there is only one weld if there is a little gap or line between the blade and the blade plate.
A triple weld helps secure the blade to the plate for a much longer time and can endure much more pressure.
Next is the outsole. This is where you want to pay attention to the heel of the boot. Many times with traditional outsoles the boot will separate from the outsole in the heel area. This is due to people not untying their skates all the way before taking them off. Over time with continuous pressure the boot will separate. Ideally, you want an outsole that rides up the back of the heel further than a traditional outsole. This will allow the boot to be less affected by kicking ones foot out of the ice skate.
Ankle stabilization is probably the number one most important aspect of the ice skate boot. Due to the fact that most people using rental skates are novice skaters, they typically have a tendency to not tie their skates tight enough or their natural tendency is to bend their ankles inward while skating. This causes the inside of the boot to bend and over a period of time the materials (what is called a chemical sheet) will break down. This will cause your sidewalls to be very soft and will not hold the skater up, making it extremely difficult to skate and eventually you will have to discard of the skate. You want a skate that is very stiff in the ankle area, so this is why it is important to order a sample first to test out which rental skate is the most stiff.
Lastly, the thing to look for is an easy lace system with hooks. Most rental skates have this system but some of the classic rental skates have eyelets that lace all the way up the boot. I would steer clear of these for a few reasons:
When you have to lace a skate all the way up the ankle, it is extremely hard for novice skaters to lace up correctly and not to mention a pain to take off. Most likely they will not unlace the skate all the way before trying to take the skate off. This pressure will cause the heel of the boot to separate from the outsole. These skates are also extremely difficult to use with children. The easy lace system definitely helps with this.
To shop rental skates you can visit American Athletic Rental Skate page or call 413-967-3511 to speak with an American Athletic expert to custom fit your order to meet the needs of your rink.
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Most infractions in a game will be minor penalties, which result in a consequential two minutes in the penalty box for the involved player(s). The infringing player’s team is therefore obligated to play shorthanded for the time served. What are the penalties in hockey? The following are examples of minor penalties (some of which can become double-minor penalties at the referee’s discretion, such as an action resulting in injury):
Major penalties are infractions that result in a heavier consequence — usually five minutes in the penalty box due to a more severe/more dangerous action. Another notable difference between minor and major penalties is that, should the shorthanded team allow a goal during a minor penalty, what remains of the two minutes is eradicated and even-strength hockey resumes. If the penalized team is scored on during a major penalty, it continues to play shorthanded.
Checks from behind or to the head will almost always be issued as major penalties, along with penalties such as:
There are several rule violations that result in stoppage of play but do not require that an infringing player be sent to the penalty box. Icing and offside in hockey are the most common violations that come up in a game, and possibly two of the most misunderstood. Offside is called when an offensive player enters the opposing team’s zone before the puck does. As for icing, this occurs when a player passes or shoots a puck that crosses the center line and goal line untouched.
While icing technically isn’t a penalty, the offending team has to take the resuming face-off in its zone. Other rule violations or stoppages in play that require a reset include:
Even if you’re still learning the intricacies of the game and/or just getting started, American Athletic Shoe Co. has hockey skates for players of any experience level. Browse our inventory of men’s and women’s hockey skates or rentals to find a pair for you.
]]>Heading to the rink for the first time doesn’t need to be nerve-racking. Start with realistic expectations for your first days on the ice. While you may have dreams of reaching a competitive level, it’s important to begin with the basics. The U.S. Figure Skating organization suggests taking figure skating lessons for beginners to learn the proper techniques with certified coaches. These early lessons will help you learn the basics of skating on two feet, stopping and performing dips. For kids and adults alike, this means acquiring safe and proper skills from the get-go.
Whether you want to learn to figure skate, are getting your kids into the sport or want to develop your skills as a family, the only way to get started is to head to your local rink. Many skating facilities rent skates and safety equipment and offer lessons for kids, adults and families.
The first skills you’ll want to develop as a new figure skater are to glide, turn, stop, spin, jump, hop and skip. These abilities all require a certain level of balance, coordination, flexibility and agility. However, as you advance from one maneuver to the next — such as from simple gliding to turning — you’ll notice your balance, coordination and other skills developing, too.
It’s important to understand that you will fall and that’s okay. Everybody falls — it’s just a part of skating! However, being properly prepared for those beginner-level falls can help prevent injury, so you can advance more quickly. Hip pads, padded shorts and knee pads can help protect you from pain and injury, and you’ll continue to use them as you practice more advanced maneuvers. Blade guards should also be used to protect your skate blades from damage, whether you’re walking off the ice in your skates or storing them.
As you advance your skills in the sport of figure skating, you’ll want to be sure you have a high-quality pair of skates to suit your abilities and budget. American Athletic offers skates for all ages and skill levels, from toddlers to the most advanced men and women figure skaters. Our team is always here to help you choose the ideal skates for you and your figure skating family members. Shop our selection today and start enjoying the excitement and challenges of learning to figure skate.
]]>Put the biscuit in the basket. It couldn’t be much simpler than that.
Of course, ice hockey rules and regulations get a bit more complicated. But, for those who don’t know the difference between icing and a neutral zone infraction, we’ve got you covered with our handy guide to ice hockey rules.
The object of ice hockey is to score by putting the puck into the opponent’s net, advancing and shooting the puck across the ice with a stick.
A hockey player’s visible equipment includes skates, socks, shorts, gloves, sweater, helmet, mouth guard and stick. Less obvious but no less important is the shoulder, chest, hip, groin and leg protection worn beneath the uniform.
Sticks are typically a composite material — e.g., graphite and fiberglass — engineered to a variety of lengths and stiffness, with the blades further customized by curve and loft. Pucks are one-inch-thick, three-inch diameter discs of vulcanized (heated and hardened) rubber.
A hockey team fields six players at a time: center, right and left wings, two defensemen and a goaltender. The goalie protects his net while the rest alternately help him defend that net or try to get the puck into the net guarded by the other team’s goalie.
A hockey rink — a rectangle with rounded corners to keep the puck moving — is divided by a variety of lines. In a 200-foot NHL rink, a red center line divides the rink in half, while blue lines 25 feet away create a neutral zone between the blue lines. Red lines near the ends of the rink are the respective goal lines — the line where, between the bars of the net, the puck must cross for a goal to be scored.
In the National Hockey League, a game is divided into three 20-minute periods. The clock stops when the puck is not in play. Whoever has the most goals after three periods wins. If tied, the game moves to a five-minute, sudden-death overtime in which both teams are limited to four players on the ice. If it’s still tied after overtime, a shootout commences. In a shootout, each team gets three chances to score one-on-one with a skater versus the other team’s goalie. If still tied after those alternating best-of-three shots, the teams continue to alternate shots until one team scores and the other does not in the same round.
Faceoffs: The game starts when the referee drops the puck between opposing players. Faceoffs also trigger the resumption of play after any stoppage. Nine designated faceoff spots are on the ice.
Checking: When a player uses his body (shoulder, hip or torso) to hit or impede another an opponent; or his stick to knock the puck off the puck carrier’s stick.
In body checking:
A stick check is any legal stick maneuver that relieves the carrier of the puck, from the common poke check (jabbing the puck away, typically from an oncoming player) to lifting the opponent’s stick with your own, then sweeping the puck away.
Offside and icing: The two most frequent whistles in hockey occur for offside and icing.
Offside is simply when an offensive player enters the offensive zone (crossing the blue line nearest the opponent’s goalie) before the puck. A player is not offside unless both skates are over the blue line.
Icing occurs when the puck is shot from the defensive half of the ice, crossing both the center line and the opponent’s goal line. Illegal when teams are at even strength, icing is allowed when the defensive team is short-handed due to a penalty.
Penalties: When a player is called for a sufficiently serious rules infraction, a penalty is called and the player is sent to the penalty box. Minor penalties are two-minute infractions during which the penalized team must play with one fewer player on the ice. Minor penalties end if the opposing team scores. Major penalties are five-minute infractions, typically for fighting. If both fighters receive majors, the teams are not required to have fewer players on the ice. Players receiving a major penalty involving serious injury or, in the referee’s view, a deliberate attempt to injure, are ejected from the game and a teammate is assigned to serve his penalty.
Minor penalties include:
Major penalties include:
The best way to discover the answer to the question, “What are the rules of ice hockey?” is to get out and play the game. The best way to do that is to create a solid, confidence-inspiring connection to the playing surface.
American Athletic Shoe Co. has been selling hockey skates since 1959. This family-owned company stocks pro shops and rental counters in the best rinks in the world, and is certain to have a product that suits your age and abilities.
What are the rules of hockey? No. 1 is to shop today for your perfect pair of skates in the American Athletic Shoe Co. collection.
]]>Sharpen your skates once, and you’ll quickly realize a difference between dull and sharp blades. The following are a few of the reasons why you should sharpen your skates regularly:
Many skaters opt to have their ice skates sharpened for them. However, if you want to know how to sharpen ice skates at home, these tips will help you understand the basics and stay safe while doing so.
Learning how to sharpen figure skates can be difficult, and it’s always recommended to enlist the help of a professional shop during your first attempts.
When learning how to sharpen hockey skates or figure skates, numerous mistakes are often made. While these errors may not ruin your entire skating experience, they can shorten the life span of your skate and cause safety concerns:
Whether you’re a novice or expert, figure skater or hockey player, American Athletic Shoe Co. is the No. 1 place to find skates for every use, age, size and ability level. Browse our entire selection of skates — from rentals to professional figures skates and more — right here at our online store. Shop now and enjoy free shipping on orders of $30 or more.
]]>Whether you’re a skater, the parent of a skater or simply a figure skating fan, it can be difficult to understand how the judge’s reach their scores. This guide will introduce you the figure skating scoring system and the basic rules of figure skating, so you can better understand the sport, whether you’re watching a regional competition from the stands or viewing the Olympics on TV.
It’s no secret that Olympic figure skating rules can be notoriously difficult to grasp. This guide highlights some of the most confusing parts of single and team figure skating rules to help you enjoy this popular sport more fully, no matter what the level of competition.
The International Judging System (IJS) features a judging panel whose primary job is to grade each technical element performed by the skater. At large competitions, the panel includes nine judges, but at smaller competitions, the judging panel may include just four to seven judges. These judges grade each element of the routine, such as a jump, spin or other maneuver. Each element is assigned a numeric base value as well as a Grade of Execution (GOE).
The GOE accounts for the artistic value of the skater’s routine or program. It is used to score how successfully the skater or pair of skaters performed each element — spins, jumps, lifts, steps ¬— of their program. The GOE of each element can range from +3 to –3, and this score is added to the element’s base value. For example, if a jump has a base value of 10.3 and the skater scores a GOE of positive 2.5 on it, the total points for that jump would be 12.8.
Each figure skating program has its own requirements. For instance, the women’s short program must include a combination spin, a flying spin, a double or triple axel, a combination jumping pass, a triple jump, a step sequence and a sideways-leaning or layback spin. Each program, whether men’s or women’s, includes a required number of steps, spins and jumps that must be performed.
Another aspect of figure skating scoring is that jumps performed in the second half of a routine earn a 10 percent bonus on top of the base value of the maneuver. This is because more endurance, strength and skill are required to perform these maneuvers once a skater becomes fatigued. In Olympic free skate competitions, each element is limited to a maximum number of performances, so a skater cannot pad their routine with one or two high-scoring maneuvers.
Figure skating is a sport governed by many rules and requirements. There are even figure skating costume rules, such as “a skater’s body must be 50 percent covered,” which are enforced by the International Skating Union. But the athleticism and excitement embodied by competitive figure skating is what draws participants and fans back year after year.
Before hitting the rink for competition, every advanced figure skater needs a pair of comfortable, durable, supportive and fashionable skates — and American Athletic Shoe Co. is the place to find them. Shop our selection online now and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest to find out more about our latest designs and promos.
]]>The American White Ice Figure Skate is the first affordable option for competitive figure skaters. There is a customized injection mold in the sidewall of the figure skate boot. This gives the skater firm lateral support to stay balanced during impact. The all white PVC on the all white mesh gives the skate an athletic appeal with an essence of elegance glittered from the silver plate and speckled laces.
The two color outsole is engineered to be light in weight and supportive on impact. This allows for the skater to jump higher and land smoother. The figure skate blade is featuring the American Liberty stainless steel blade. This is a premium 4.00mm stainless steel blade with a standard cut toe pick. The toe pick is at an ideal angle for beginners.
These features are ideal for skaters starting out in competition or for students already in competition looking for an affordable option. These figure skates can be used indoors and outdoors which is nice because not everyone has a rink close by. If you are a pond skater these will work just fine!
Having the option to buy an ice skate at this quality for such a low price is a game changer. This will allow more people to try and advance their skating skills without having to break the bank. There is no heat molding or customization necessary. They will fit to your feet right out of the box. The inner liner is lined to give you comfort and make you feel secure. This is a main reason why people love these skates so much is because they are very low maintenance, very supportive and durable, and of course affordable so, if anything happens to them its not the end of the world.
I would highly recommend these skates if you’re a beginner skater looking for a quality skate where you can really grow and develop your skills in until your ready for that next big jump.
Find out more about all of our ice skates by checking out their respective profiles at our figure skate product page and hockey product page. To stay up to date with the most recent developments American Athletic Co. is making, be sure to connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pintrest!
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The best ice skates in 2019 for kids is the American Party Girl Double Runner and the American Chillin’ Boys Double Runner Ice Skates. These feature double blades to help balance the child while getting acclimated to the ice. In addition, we have found that these skates are perfect for adults with multiple kids on the ice, as it is very difficult to hold both of them up while also attempting to balance oneself. These are a great option to keep your hands free and your kids upright and happy. We have designed these with fashionable designs rather than the same old boring looks that your grandparents used to make you wear.
This guide will help you make a more educated decision when choosing the best rental skates, so you can maximize the popularity of your rink and, ultimately, boost profit.
Your customers are the ones spending money to rent your skates, so it’s essential to understand their interests before making any purchases. Consider whether your customers are beginners, intermediate-level skaters or experts. Similarly, are they primarily interested in figure skating, ice hockey, recreational skating or dabbling in a few types?
It’s also important to notice if a majority of your renters are adults, children, men, women, boys, girls or an even mixture. For example, if you find that you’re mostly renting skates to kids, you’ll want to stock smaller sizes and products that are more suitable for young skaters.
The kind of rink you operate can help determine which types of rental skates you’ll need to offer. A recreational outdoor rink frequented by casual skaters will necessitate more recreational skates than intermediate to advanced ice skates. Recreational skates are designed to be easily taken on and off and are not meant for advanced jumps, spins and maneuvers.
Similarly, if you’re operating a competitive indoor rink used mostly by advanced skaters, you’ll have to stock skates that are designed to handle complicated turns and maneuvers. If your rink is primarily intended for hockey practice and games, you’ll likely benefit from stocking more hockey skates than recreational and figure skates.
Rental skates are not something you want to purchase every season. Buying a high-quality product can save you a lot of headaches and money over time. A well-constructed rental skate should be easy to maintain and durable enough to be rented year after year. Look for features such as antibacterial lining, water repellency, double stitching and double gluing to better ensure the rental skates you purchase are built to last.
At American Athletic Shoe Co., our skates are found at the best rinks around the globe. It is our passion to provide the best, most durable rental skates to rink owners and operators. We offer all types of rental skates for sale — from classic recreational skates to high-end figure and hockey skates and everything in between.
As a rental ice skates wholesale dealer, we know the importance of an antibacterial chrome leather lining, stainless steel blades, strong metal speed hooks, and all of the features that combine to create a rental skate that’s ready to endure season after season of use. Our rental skates come stamped with the size of the skate and the term “Rental” on the heel for fast and easy identification.
Shop our selection of wholesale rental skates online or call (413) 967-3511 for our expert help in choosing the most ideal rental skates for your rink.
]]>This article is a quick rundown of how to properly tie figure skates, not hockey skates. If you would like to read how to properly tie hockey skates click here.
Correctly fitting your figure skate is an important first step. If you are wearing the wrong size, it won’t matter how well you tie your skate, you will still be uncomfortable on the ice. Here’s a trick to tell if the skate is the right size.
Put your foot in the skate with the laces loose and untied. Then stand parallel to a wall or a step and lightly kick the wall until your toes touch the front of the skate.
There should be a small gap between your heel and the heel of the skate boot. If there is no gap and your toes are touching the front of the skate, that means the skate is too small. You will need a bigger size.
If there is a small gap between your heel and the skate boot, point your index and middle fingers behind your heel, if you can do that then that’s a good fit.
If you can fit them behind your heel and there is still a gap, that means the skate is too big, you will need to downsize your skate.
Okay, now that we know the figure skate is a good fit we can start tying.
Sit down
Put skates on (make sure to have your laces loose when doing this, you will cause major damage to your skates if you shove your foot into a skate that is not loose enough)
Kick your heel against floor a few times to make sure your foot is all the way back to the heel.
There should be around 8-9 eyelets on your skate before you get to the top easy-lace hooks. For ease of explanation I will number the eyelets from 1-8. (1 being the closest to your toes).
Grab the lace around the 3rd eyelet.
Pull tight! Now pull again, tighter.
Then grab the lace on the 4th eyelet and pull just as hard, repeat until you get to 6th eyelet (right at the base of your ankle.) pull tight and hold.
This next part is very important. When you pull the next lace you do not want it to be too tight like you have been doing. Your ankles need a little flexibility. However, it cannot be too loose or your ankles will collapse inward when skating. Just pull at a comfortable tightness that still gives you support until you get to the hooks.
When threading the hooks you want to lace them firmly, as this is your main area of ankle support. People lace the hooks differently, but for ease of explanation we will just stick with the classic way.
Lace through all the hooks at a medium tightness.
Once at the top you want to finish with a tight pull of the lace. This will secure your foot.
Finish with a nice bow and you’re ready to skate!
If you get out on the ice and are feeling like your ankles don’t have much support and are bending in towards the ice, that means your skates are too loose around your ankles, so go re-tie them a little tighter.
If you get out on the ice and are feeling like your foot is no longer there and is getting numb, that means you tied it way too tight near your ankle and it needs to be a bit looser.
This is what your ankles should look like when finished:
Make sure when you are done skating and are tired and cold and just want to take your skates off and leave, loosen your skates all the way so your foot slips out with ease, you will kill your skate if you need to yank it out or step on the heel to yank your foot out. Respect the skate and unlace the first few eyelets and then loosen the rest…your foot should pop right out.
To shop skating gear and read more tips and tricks check out our American Athletic site and stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Tying hockey skates is not as difficult as some may think, however if you want a comfortable fit and want to be able to spend long hours on the ice without your feet blistering, then tying your hockey skates correctly is going to be very important. So let’s get down to it.
First you want to make sure the boot isn’t too big or too small. A good way to test this is to put your foot in the skate with the laces loose and untied. Then stand parallel to a wall or a step and lightly kick the wall until your toes touch the front of the skate. There should be a small gap between your heel and the heel of the skate boot. If there is no gap and your toes are touching the front of the skate, that means the skate is too small. You will need a bigger size. Now, if there is a small gap between your heel and the skate boot, point your index and middle fingers behind your heel, if you can do that then that’s a good fit.
If you can fit them behind your heel and there is still a gap, that means the skate is too big, you will need to downsize your skate.
The reason I tell you this first is because no matter how good my explanation of “how to tie a hockey skate” is, if your skates are the wrong size, you will be miserable on the ice and very uncomfortable.
Okay, so let’s get into tying the skate.
Sit down
Put skates on (make sure to have your laces loose when doing this, you will cause major damage to your skates if you shove your foot into a skate that is not loose enough, I always take out the lace of the top few eyelets just to make sure I don’t hurt the skate)
Kick your heel against floor a few times to make sure your foot is all the way back to the heel.
There should be around 9-10 eyelets on your skate for your laces. For ease of explanation I will number them from 1-10 (1 being the closest to your toes).
Grab the lace around the 3rd eyelet.
Pull tight! Now pull again, tighter.
Then grab the lace on the 4th eyelet and pull just as hard, repeat until you get to 6th or 7th eyelet (right at the base of your ankle.) pull tight and hold
This next part is very important. When you pull the next lace you do not want it to be wicked tight like you have been doing. Your ankles need a little flexibility. However, it cannot be too loose. Just pull at a comfortable tightness that still gives you support. Repeat for next thread.
On eyelet #10 (top) pull tight again and then sauce a nice bow tie at the end and you should be ready to skate!
If you get out on the ice and are feeling like a bender, that means your skates are too loose around your ankles, so go re-tie them a little tighter.
If you get out on the ice and are feeling like your foot is no longer there and is getting numb, that means you tied it way too tight near your ankle and it needs to be a bit looser.
This is what your ankles should look like when finished:
Make sure when you are done skating and are tired and cold and just want to take your skates off and leave ASAP, loosen your skates all the way so your foot slips out with ease, you will kill your skate if you need to yank it out or step on the heel to yank your foot out. Respect the skate and unlace the first few eyelets and then loosen the rest…your foot should pop right out.
To shop skating gear and read more tips and tricks check out our American Athletic site and stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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In this article we will discuss our top products for beginners. Many times we will get an array of feedback from first-time-skaters. The goal of this article is to help you know which skate is best for you.
Top Ice Skates for Adult First-Time-Skaters
#1 American Cougar Hockey Skate
The #1 ice skate for beginning skaters is the American Athletic Cougar Softboot Hockey Skate. When first learning to ice skate you are constantly focusing on balancing yourself and moving forward at a comfortable pace. This can be hard on your ankles and cold on your feet. The American Cougar skates have extra thick foam padding making the skate extremely comfortable with great support, allowing skaters to enjoy themselves and want to stay on the ice longer. The boot is very stable and has extra ankle support by the additional Power-Strap. The American Athletic Cougar skate is a top notch product and I can't say there is a better hockey skate out there for beginner to intermediate skaters, or advanced skaters who skate for recreation.
#2 American Tricot Line Figure Skate
The Tricot Lined Figure Skate is our top figure skate for beginners. The Tricot Lined Ice Skate features extensive padding, as well as a convenient and easy-to-clean PVC boot. This makes the ice skate boot extremely comfortable, users say these skates are incredibly comfortable from the moment you open the box, no painful break-in period necessary. That alone makes them great for a beginner, or someone who isn’t a frequent skater. We would also recommend these ice skates for beginning to intermediate levels. Recently, the Women’s Tricot Lined Figure Skate has been featured on 2017 Top Figure Skate articles. We are excited about the nominations and happy to see we are making a strong impact on the community.
#3 American Glider Soft-boot Figure Skate
Last but certainly not least, the American Glider Soft-boot Figure Skate is a top skate that we would recommend for beginner ice skaters. This figure skate boot is implemented with an Easy Lace System with reinforced lace loops. This makes it easier and much quicker to lace and unlace. Many first time ice skaters will not tie their skates tight enough which will cause the inside of the skate to collapse creating a lot of ankle pain. The Easy Lace System ensures your stability and comfort. This figure skate is also made with a foam padding interior to guarantee comfort. We would also recommend these ice skates for beginning to intermediate levels.
Conclusion
Find more about our ice skates by checking out their respective profiles at our figure skate product page and hockey product page. To stay up to date with the most recent developments American Athletic Co. is making, be sure to connect with us on Instagram,Facebook, Twitter, and Pintrest!
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