The backward inside edge is more difficult, but the theory is the same as the forward inside edge. The foot at completion is carried back, not forward, however. These are fundamentals for figure skating and should be practised carefully. After the edges, the five threes, the loops, the brackets, the four rockers, and the four counters are learned. These are easily learned if the four edges have been perfected. Ice Hockey One of the most enjoyable and thrilling of the skating pastimes is ice hockey. For this a special hockey skate is made. HOW THE GAME IS PLAYED. The game is played by two teams with six or seven players. The players hit a small piece of rubber, called the puck, with sticks especially made. These sticks are long and slender, flat at the blade, which is at an angle from the handle. The ball is advanced up and down the rink or playing area. A point is scored when one team shoots the puck through the opponents’ goal. The team wins which has the highest number of points at the end of the game, which is divided into two halves of twenty minutes each with a ten-minute intermission between the halves. The playing area is usually 112 feet long by 58 feet wide. There are two goal posts at each end of the playing area, 10 feet from the edge of the ice; the posts are 4 feet high and are 6 feet apart. A sloping net should be placed in back to catch the balls. The game is started with the puck in the middle of the ice, i. e., the referee places the puck between the sticks of two opposing players, each of whom tries to get possession of the ball or pass it to one of her teammates. The game is a very fast one. The four forward players, the rover (right center) and the left center, and the right and left wings, are essentially attackers, although the rover may be called upon to defend. Cover point, point, and goal keeper are the defense players. The goal keeper should stick close to her goal; the point plays in front of the goal, some distance from her; the cover point plays some distance in front of the point and can often aid the forwards by feeding them and assuming an aggressive play. If the puck goes out of bounds over the end lines it is faced, by the referee, five yards within the goal line and at right angles to it. If it goes over the side lines it is faced five yards within the line and at right angles to it. The puck is played by means of the stick. It is not permissible to touch it with any part of the body, except to stop it dead or block it. The puck may be pushed, shoved, or lifted, i. e., by inserting the blade of the stick under the puck. You may hit your opponent’s stick. You may body check, that is, shove from the side or front with the shoulder or hip. You may block an opponent or you may block the puck with the skates, stick, or body.