If you play hockey, you know how important strength can be. Hockey is a game where short, explosive bursts of energy make the difference in an offensive charge. Players are on the ice for short shifts, so they do not need to be able to endure long games in the way that soccer players do, but they are expected to be able to go from nearly standing still to skating flat out, at their top speed, in almost no time at all. Because of this aspect of the game, weight training for hockey skating is vital.
The Difference Weight Training Makes for Hockey Skating
The difference that weight training makes on your body is incredible. It expands your muscles and increases your strength. Strength can then be converted into power which gives you that explosive burst that you need. If you can teach your body to manage increasing weight loads, you will feel faster when you need to throw your own body into action.
Weight training can impact:
- Muscle mass.
- Overall strength.
- Adipose tissue.
- Tone.
- Short-term endurance.
All of these things come together to give you a body that is athletically conditioned to be on the ice. You will be able to change direction quickly, sprint toward the net, and absorb hits. Weight training can also keep you from getting hurt because your body will be stronger and more durable than it would be otherwise. This means that you can spend more time on the ice, skating and training for the next game.
How to Exercise for Hockey
If you want to exercise in a manner that promotes muscular growth, you should lift weights. Running and biking can be helpful because they burn fat, or adipose tissue, and they reduce your body mass. This makes you faster because you are not carrying around any extra weight. They are also helpful because they give you cardiovascular health and endurance. However, weight training will cause your muscles to grow rapidly. A few exercises that you should use include:
- Deadlifts
- Squats
- Lunges
- Hang Cleans
Out of all of these, lunges and squats are going to make the biggest difference. They target your thighs and your calves. When those muscles grow, you will notice a distinct difference in the way that you skate.
Weight Training for Hockey Skating Success
The only way to have the most possible success on the ice is to begin weight training exercises. You must build up your body so that it is ready to skate. Skating itself is helpful, but off-ice exercises are just as important. If you concentrate on a workout program that features weight training for hockey skating, you will be giving yourself the best chance to succeed.
