Yes, as already described. It works with other games as well, but you’re lucky to have a hockey game locally. Though we sometimes have a bit of a team here, otherwise I’d have to go over 1000 miles to find one.
Falling takes time. There’s a process to it. You can make choices about how you’re going to land as you’re on your way down. For example. Should I put my hand out in front of me, or take the landing on my nose?
The first part is knowing when you’re going down. As you get better as a rider, you’ll be able to recove from much of this, but even in that process you will know when you can’t get out of it.
One you realize you’re going down, focus your body to the task. Most of the time you’ll be able to land on your feet, with more practice. Until then, concentrate on making sure your feet don’t do more harm than good.
Never take the bottom foot off the pedal; always the high one. The foot on the pedal will tend to head for the bottom of the stroke. Take off the bottom foot and your wheel is going at least half a revolution. Do you know which direction that will be? Keep the bottom foot on and use the top foot to catch yourself.
Get away from the cycle and pedals. Avoid the foot-in-spokes or between crank and frame.
Roll with the punch. If your body is going down, try not to just stop when you hit. Sometimes rolling reduces the impact (just like rolling out of a drop when riding). This is especially true if you’re riding fast at the tim. Tuck and roll. Otherwise you can get nasty scrapes on your knees, hands, and worse.
If you practice falling down, your body will know how to dot it whenever needed. What seems like reflexes to some will be trained reactions for you. You won’t roll because you were lucky, you’ll do it because you used that half-second of time to decide how to best meet the ground.
And wear some pads. Even if you never land on them, they’ll make you feel better!
