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