Understanding and improve your edge control is essential to skating and developing your stride.
However, a focus should also be put on Flat work. The practice of gliding and controlling your stride while balanced on all your edges, the flat parts of your blades.
One of the critical mistakes kids make in their skating, is always being on their inside edges when skating (or gliding). This leads to the player cutting into the ice and decellerating when they could be gathering speed.
Incorporate balance, power and control of the flats of your blades with youth players in order for players to keep their speed when not actively striding.
Take a look at the above video for a simple demonstration of glide work (or flat work) in a balance or power drill.
Enjoy
Incorporate Balance on your flats to improve skating