| Reaching the Next Level in Hockey through | | | | Focused training specific to the puck |
| Training is one of a series of articles | | | | control, shooting and stick handling skills |
| written by successful athletes and or | | | | that employ the stick stability and strength |
| trainers for Gripstik that briefly | | | | is critical for a player to develop. Quick |
| acknowledge the importance of work...hard | | | | hands, soft hands, and feathered passing with |
| work off the court or ice in order to | | | | control of the stick should be the goal of |
| accomplish your goals. These days, cross | | | | all young skaters to develop. The Quick |
| training is necessary for all sports to | | | | Released shot, with a short delivery will |
| strengthen all the "weak links" in your | | | | give the skater a huge advantage in the |
| personal program. Thanks go out to Frank | | | | scoring lanes. |
| Burggraf from "Buggraf Skating Skills | | | | |
| Training School" for this discussion. | | | | We have found that the GripStik is unique in |
| | | | our developmental programs for what it offers |
| To reach the next level of play in any sport | | | | the skater. The workouts balance out the need |
| takes more than just practice. | | | | for endurance while working the muscle |
| | | | recruitment for the quick twitch muscle |
| In hockey, there are many skills to master in | | | | firing skills. It allows the extensors and |
| order to impact the game. Skating is the | | | | flexors of the forearm to be targeted with |
| single most important aspect, but forearm | | | | the simulated muscle movements that hockey |
| stability and strength on the stick are very | | | | demands from its players. The Gripstik does |
| important as well. In every game there is a | | | | not bring in heavy resistance training. |
| battle between one, two or three skaters on | | | | Instead, it is specific to the requirements |
| the puck. The ability to exert power and | | | | of the game of hockey and covers all of the |
| strength over your opponent becomes | | | | needs of the sport. |
| increasingly more important the higher the | | | | |
| level of play. A player needs to possess very | | | | To make the next level of play, a player must |
| strong forearm strength and stability while | | | | improve in all his weaknesses and improve |
| maintaining a balance between range of | | | | upon his strengths. There is not a lot of |
| motion, endurance, quickness and speed, all | | | | difference between most players at one level. |
| while carrying the puck, protecting the puck, | | | | It would be in the best interest of each |
| or battling an opponent for the puck. Too | | | | skater to add or gain an advantage over the |
| many times we see young High School or junior | | | | opponent. We have seen great results in our |
| skaters coming out of exercise programs that | | | | clients using the Gripstik. From the NHL |
| focus solely on the weight room for power and | | | | down to the squirt player, all gain from |
| strength. Unknowingly, they have increased | | | | specific, targeted training and the Gripstik |
| their power at the sacrifice of their | | | | is an important aspect of our ability to |
| "fluidity". | | | | bring a skater to the next level of play..... |
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