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 […]
Do You Know How Much Water You Need to Drink?
This article is slightly scientific and has a few simple math calculations but don’t be afraid! If you read it and apply the ideas you will gain a significant advantage over your dehydrated competition. Failure to adequately hydrate on a daily basis, and especially during exercise, can lead to impaired heat dissipation. This can elevate […]
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 […]