| Off-ice off-season training programs for hockey are | | | | hockey world as they are in the fitness industry. |
| much easier to find than ever before. However, | | | | Everywhere you turn there seems to be another ad |
| becoming more mainstream does not mean that these | | | | guaranteeing, "Amazing Abs in only 3 minutes a day!" |
| programs are any more effective for developing | | | | or promising that you'll, "Lose 10 pounds in just 1 |
| young hockey players. Most summer hockey training | | | | Week!". |
| programs fall victim to the same four problems and | | | | Many hockey training programs will promise players a |
| players, parents and coaches should do everything | | | | "Harder Slap-Shot in Only 6 Sessions!" and guarantee |
| they can to avoid programs that have any of these | | | | "Phenomenal Fitness in just 4 Weeks!". Just like the |
| fundamental flaws. | | | | weight-loss and stomach flattening programs, these |
| 1) NOT Youth-Specific | | | | hockey programs may work in the short-term. But |
| You can open up virtually any fitness magazine and | | | | inevitably, after a month or so, you are left asking, |
| find a strength training program. You could take this | | | | "What's next?". The types of changes that can be |
| program down to your local gym and start training right | | | | made in just 4 short weeks of training will not be |
| now. But you should NEVER give one of these | | | | long-lasting, unless they are properly taught and |
| programs to a young athlete. Odds are that the | | | | reinforced on a more long-term basis. |
| program you found in the fitness magazine was | | | | 4) NOT Easily-Accessible |
| designed for adults looking to gain muscle or lose fat, | | | | There are plenty of good training facilities and |
| not for a young athlete looking to increase their | | | | programs out there for young hockey players. |
| performance. Young athletes have unique | | | | Unfortunately, in most cases, you either need to drive |
| developmental needs and they need a specific | | | | to another facility or buy a bunch of expensive |
| program that addresses those needs. | | | | equipment in order to get the most out of the training |
| 2) NOT Hockey-Specific | | | | program. |
| Young hockey players looking to take their game to | | | | All a young player really needs to get faster, stronger |
| the next level over the summer need to be using a | | | | and fitter this summer is a little bit of space and their |
| program that addresses their hockey-specific needs. | | | | own body-weight. That's it - no expensive gym |
| This does NOT mean that they should just do | | | | memberships or fancy equipment and no more driving |
| exercises that replicate what they do on the ice or | | | | around to another training facility or rink. |
| spend the entire summer on the ice. Players need to | | | | Summer hockey training doesn't need to be |
| build strength and stability in the muscles and joints that | | | | complicated in order to be effective. In fact, simpler is |
| support and power hockey-specific movements off | | | | better. |
| the ice this summer if they hope to see an increase in | | | | Off-ice off-season training programs need to address |
| their on-ice performance in the fall. | | | | the specific needs of young hockey players, be |
| 3) NOT Long-Term | | | | accessible to all players and be appropriate for their |
| 'Quick fix' programs are as commonplace in the | | | | long-term athletic development in order to be effective. |