There are at least four reasons why you should train for hockey. Injury prevention: The most important reason is injury prevention. Effective training will help prevent injury and offset premature fatigue. A player who has worked on his weaknesses through training will be better prepared for practices and games. A player who is able to delay […]
Speed Development: Sprint Technique
To be able to perform well in any sport, there needs to be a component of speed. Speed is the rapidity of movement and is an important aspect of all sports. Speed is developed in athletes by using their strength, flexibility, endurance and technique. The technique is performed numerous times at slow speeds and then […]
Is Strength Training Safe For Younger Athletes?
We train a lot of athletes in a team setting and have done fitness training with kids as young as 8 years old. Most of the kids we work with really enjoy a fun strength training session with their teammates. Occasionally we will have a player sit out of a training session because a parent […]
How to Improve Your Change of Direction Speed
If you watch a hockey game, it quickly becomes evident that the average time a hockey player skates in one direction at full speed at any time during the game is for less than 5 seconds followed by a change in speed or direction. This is not to say that hockey is not a very […]
How to Shoot Harder & Faster
Before we get into the issue of proper training to improve your shot, remember that having proper form and technique on the ice is important! Keep practicing, taking 50-100 shots per day off a piece of synthetic ice in your basement, garage or driveway if you do not have access to ice. As you master […]
Get More Speed in Your Game, Part 2
The key to increased speed is less contact time with the ground or ice due to a more powerful sprinting action. As simple as this statement is, athletes will spend most of their training time on increasing speed. Team sports such as hockey make heavy demands on sprint capabilities. The truly great players are able […]
Get More Speed In Your Game, Part 1
For hockey you need to be more than just fast. You need to be able to repeat your fast performance on the ice again and again. Most players will play between 10-30 shifts in a game with each shift lasting 30-60 seconds. During each shift, you may reach top speed 2-5 times. Many players I […]
How to Choose the Right Fitness Trainer
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 […]
A Pain in the Groin!
Groin injuries are among the most common injuries seen in hockey. A groin pull is a painful and debilitating injury to the muscles of the inner thigh. Research has shown that hip flexibility, and more importantly, strengthening, can help decrease the occurrence of groin strains. Hip strengthening should be performed during the entire season to maintain […]
10 Tips for Optimal Recovery after Workouts
We have identified 10 things that an athlete can do to assist their body in regenerating between workouts. This is a crucial element in a training regime, because the quicker you can recover between workout sessions, the more frequently you can train with a higher intensity. 1) Drink water before, during and after exercise. This […]
A Simple Exercise to Improve Skating Speed
The leg muscles are under a heavy load as your skate blades dig into the ice. These muscles are also among the strongest in the body, and if used correctly, can greatly enhance performance. Many beginner skaters have an exaggerated forward lean that comes more from the spine than from the hips. As a result, the […]
The Best Warm-up for Your Team
I’ve been seeing a significant increase in young hockey teams using what is called a dynamic warm-up prior to games. I definitely applaud this new trend. It is a great way to stimulate the central nervous system and prepare the muscles for a dynamic activity like hockey. It can help improve game performance […]
An Underestimated Training Tool For Hockey: The Jump Rope.
If you want to improve your hockey fitness, then get yourself a simple jump rope. It is a low cost, portable and highly effective piece of equipment. Jumping rope is a great cardio workout, but has the added benefit of improving coordination and foot speed (especially the way we do it at HockeyOT.com). A good […]
Off-Ice Training During the Season to Take Your Game to the Next Level
What Should I Do For In-Season Training? You worked hard all summer with off-ice training, and finally the season is here. “Do I need to keep up with the off-ice work now?” The answer is definitely yes. Over 60% of a hockey player’s time is spent in-season, so if you are not training with weights […]
How To Stay Committed To a Hockey Fitness Program
Many players begin an exercise program but very few actually stay committed. We all have our reasons for starting a fitness program. Some adult players tend to aim for weight loss and reduced body fat, while others target a healthier lifestyle or minimizing injuries. Youth hockey players often aim to get stronger and faster to enhance […]