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Stopping Many athletes may have a fear of slick snow that resulted in a fall or an unpleasant experience with a sliding sport (skating, skiing) because stopping required a skill they did not have. You may not see this until the snowshoers come to the top of their first hill and freeze, refusing to descend.   Stopping is the same as when stopping while running or walking without snowshoes. Athlete must de-accelerate if they are moving fast by taking gradually smaller steps/strides until they can just cease taking any further steps.     Skill Progression Your Athlete Can: Never Sometimes Often Gradually decrease stride length and rate over distance Stop without losing balance Stop without assistance   Teaching Points Gradually, over a few strides, decrease stride length and rate. Teach athlete to keep weight forward, off of tails of snowshoes. Teach athlete not to use other object to stop. Gradually slow down; don't stop abruptly. Show athlete that a snowshoe does not slide like a ski.   Faults & Fixes Chart   Error Correction Drill Reference Athlete keeps running Explain to athlete when to stop Stop on whistle or command (Stop and Go Drill) Ghostbusters Game Athlete trips or falls Athlete should be gradually decreasing steps and speed Practice proper stopping technique Ghostbusters Game Athlete leans too far back Point toes down Toe walks

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