While the game of hockey is played on a sheet of ice, preparing for a big match does not always take place entirely on the rink and there are a number of off ice warm up drills that any player on the team can perform.  You can work out, alone or with a group, in order to warm up muscles and get reflexes going before the puck drops.

Off ice warm up drills

Professional hockey players in the NHL begin warming up as much as two hours prior to a game, so why should you wait until you strap on skates to get your blood pumping?

T-Minus Two Hours

Any hockey player should arrive early to the rink in order to get their gear together and decide on a game plan or strategy with their teammates and coach.  About an hour prior to the puck drop, players should eat a medium sized meal with lots of carbohydrates and protein.  When they get to the rink, change into sweat pants or a track suit to begin drills.  The very first drills should be stretching muscles so that there is a lessened risk of injury.  Hockey players need to stretch their legs, especially their groin muscles, in addition to their arms.  Goalies need extra flexibility and should stretch for twice as long.

Sixty Minutes To Go

Once stretching is done, light warm-ups like a stationary bike are excellent for getting the necessary oxygen to your muscle mass prior to the game.  Some teammates like to kick a soccer ball around before games, making sure it does not touch hands or the ground, in order to get their reflexes ready to go.  Goalies can juggle tennis balls in order to get their hand eye coordination up and running.  The important factor is that the blood is pumping before you start putting on gear.

Inside Half An Hour

While the zamboni is cutting the ice for the upcoming match, players should have their gear on and ready to go at least ten minutes prior to the beginning of the game.  Players can make drills out of putting on gear, in fact, such as having to toss a shin pad or a helmet to each player in the room before putting it on.  This not only increases hand-eye coordination but also builds camaraderie.

Off ice Warm up Drills Before The Puck Drop

Once gear is on and everyone is waiting for the door to open and the match to begin, players can do a few drills waiting in the locker room.  Using a tennis ball they can execute simple passes and shots to get their stick hands moving and agile.  Stretching with gear on lets hockey players test their range of motion with padding and clasps so that they know their limits once they hit the ice. If you want to learn more about off ice warm up drills, call us on 1-888-588-0554.