You have decided to get serious about training for hockey. Many questions can come up now. What exercises should you do? How many days per week? Should you train during the season? To help answer some of these questions you may decide to hire a fitness trainer. Trainers can help maintain motivation and avoid training injuries as well. It is very important to choose the right fitness trainer to help you with dry land training.Hockey is a dynamic game based on speed, strength, endurance and agility and all can be improved through the correct application of training exercises. You should do your homework when choosing a trainer. Some of the questions you should ask are:
What are your certifications? A Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (C.S.C.S) is someone with a Bachelor’s degree or more that has demonstrated a level of expertise in the fitness arena.
How often do you work with hockey players? Hockey has specific training requirements unique to the sport that are different than many other sports.
Have you worked with this age group before? Different age players will have different training needs and safety considerations to take into account.
Can you provide a few references of hockey players in a similar age group? It is revealing to talk to players that have worked with the trainer as to how satisfied they were with the service provided.
Will the training be fun? Whether you are an elite hockey player or a weekend warrior, any training you do for the game should always be fun.
Remember, it is never too late to start a training program for hockey. In fact, initiating an off-ice training program might be just the thing you need to take your game to the next level.
Dr. Chad Moreau is the President of HockeyOT.com, an online training site dedicated to improving the fitness level of hockey players of all levels. He was the former Strength & Conditioning/Nutrition Consultant for the Edmonton Oilers (NHL) and the Long Beach Ice Dogs (ECHL). For more information please visit hockeyot.com
