| The rinks are full of hockey players loaded with natural | | | | Before leaving the topic of exercises, it might be good |
| talent who know little and care less about being in top | | | | to remind you that a medical examination is necessary |
| physical condition for their sport. They don't realize that | | | | before you take to the ice, if you have not had one |
| you just cannot be a top hockey player unless you | | | | within the year. This is a wise precaution to take |
| intelligently condition your body to the increasing | | | | before placing vigorous stresses on your body. |
| demands you make on it. | | | | Eight to ten hours of sleep are absolutely necessary |
| About a month before the ice is ready, you should | | | | throughout the hockey season. This cannot be |
| start on a daily exercise program that will improve | | | | stressed too heavily. If you do not get this much rest, |
| your strength and stamina. Whatever exercises you | | | | fatigue will surely hit you - probably around play-off |
| choose, do them daily and make them progressively | | | | time, too. |
| harder. | | | | Maybe you think you should hide injuries from your |
| You improve your strength by working your muscles, | | | | coach because you are afraid you will be considered |
| even after they hurt. You build your stamina by doing | | | | a sissy or will not be dressed for the next game. |
| work that makes you breathless - running, for | | | | Actually, you are not being tough, just stupid, to try to |
| example. Working with weights is valuable in producing | | | | keep going when you are hampered by a bad knee or |
| the grip, wrist, and arm strength used so often in | | | | a Charley horse. And the team is hurt, too, because |
| hockey. | | | | you cannot be effective when playing with a handicap |
| Your legs, ankles, and feet should get some special | | | | like that. |
| attention. Any exercise that will stretch and put strain | | | | Minor cuts and scrapes, especially on the elbows, hips, |
| on your ankles will help to get them ready for the | | | | or knee caps, should be cleansed and treated at once. |
| stresses of skating. Walking on the outside, or on the | | | | You cannot do much about bruises, except let them |
| inside, of your feet is an example of this kind of | | | | heal by rest. |
| exercise. Jogging and striding are excellent for building | | | | A twisted knee is a much more serious matter, |
| both leg strength and stamina. Start with short | | | | however, which should be examined and treated by a |
| distances and slow speeds, gradually building up both. | | | | doctor. Do not fool around with this type of injury; it |
| If you devote just 20 minutes a day to a well-designed | | | | can bother you the rest of your life, if not treated early |
| training scheme, you will be in good physical condition in | | | | and properly. |
| a month's time. | | | | To prevent such mishaps, get off the ice at the first |
| The thing to remember about the endurance needed in | | | | opportunity when you get tired. You will not always |
| hockey is that you must go at top speed for very | | | | have a play stoppage to help you do this, so arrange |
| short periods of time. Then you rest for a longer period | | | | with your coach a system of "changing on the fly." If |
| than you worked. During a game, forward lines are | | | | you tire while the play is going, look or call to your |
| usually on the ice for about 60 to 90 seconds. They | | | | bench first. As soon as the puck is harmlessly shot into |
| may rest for two minutes or so before returning. | | | | the other team's end, race for the boards and let your |
| Test your endurance in practice from time to time. | | | | next linemate replace you. |
| Can you go up and down the ice at top skating speed | | | | When you are in really good shape as a result of |
| for 20 seconds? 30? 60? Build gradually to this peak, | | | | carrying out these exercises, and have looked after |
| using regular rest times between bursts. This is a | | | | yourself in the ways described, you will be of much |
| well-known technique of track conditioning - a form of | | | | more value to your team. The results will speak for |
| interval training. | | | | themselves. Good luck! |