Lateral Hops are performed in a variety of ways. A hop is performed on a single leg, landing on the same leg. Distance traveling either vertically or linear is never really an issue. The Primary Focus of Lateral Hops is to allow the athlete to focus on the Landing and Loading Phase of their stride while controlling lateral forces. When you land, your hip joint should be slightly above your knee joint. Your chin, hip knee and ankle should all be in line to establish firm support. Lateral hops also help the athlete focus on ability to stabilize using the inside or outside part of your foot. This skill set will then transfer to the efficient use of the inside and outside edges while skating.