How to Lace Ice Hockey Skates

There is an art to lacing hockey skates that is elusive to many hockey parents. With some simple tips, you can learn the art of lacing up hockey skates to provide comfort and stability to the hockey player in your family.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Start at the bottom of the hockey skate boot and begin to pull the laces snugly, but not too tight. Continue this process until you get closer to the top of the hockey skate boot.

2. Change to a very snug lace technique at the fourth eyelet from the top of the boot. Pull the laces fairly tightly and hold that tension while continuing to the top of the hockey skate boot.

3. Tie the laces into a double bow to insure security when skating. Loose or unsecured laces can cause falls and injuries while on the ice.

4. Pull hockey socks up above the knee, add shin guards and return the hockey socks to their original position.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid cotton socks as they will allow too much give in the lacing. Wear light weight polypropylene socks instead. They provide the comfort a skaters feet need while allowing for a snug fitted skate when laced properly.
• Avoid wrapping laces around the top of the hockey skate boot. This restricts the movement of the ankle which is not acceptable. Proper movement of the ankle is critical in hockey skating.

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[thehockeybowler]

on 3/29/2009 I agree with sports0705. A skate should be tied up tightly as tightly as possible, without causing pain from circulation loss, from the "bottom up". A skater needing to have to use a looser lacing pattern toward the end of the toe, and then progressively tightening their skates toward the ankle may yield an ill-fitting skate. Sounds like this person who wrote the article may have an ill fitting boot.

[sports0705]

on 2/12/2009 This is wrong! Always tie laces all the way up. Tie them as tightly as you can without cutting off circulation. That is the only way to get proper support.