| Hockey performance is more than just learning how to | | | | in the 2nd overtime as they were in the 2nd period, |
| skate, shoot and score. | | | | teams must have a progressive on-ice hockey |
| While every coach has their own plans for on-ice skill | | | | conditioning plan in place. "Bag skating" isn't going to cut |
| development in place, there are six other critical pieces | | | | it - your on-ice hockey workout must be as well as |
| of the performance puzzle that you must fit into your | | | | planned as your skill session if you want players to |
| hockey training program if you want to guarantee that | | | | peak in time for the playoff-run.. |
| you have your best season ever. | | | | 5) Recovery Program |
| In order to take your game to the next level this | | | | Far too many hockey players will suffer from injuries |
| season, you have to address these 6 key areas of | | | | and burnout this season - and the worst part is that |
| player development. | | | | this is often completely preventable. Having a proper |
| 1) Mental Preparation | | | | post-hockey recovery routine in place, that includes |
| Elite players and coaches agree that 80% of | | | | proper hydration, nutrition, cool-down and stretching |
| performance is mental and 20% is physical. To ensure | | | | guidelines, will ensure that players recover better, avoid |
| that players are 100% mentally prepared for every | | | | nagging injuries and play their best day after day. |
| game and your team can perform their best, you need | | | | 6) Off-Ice Team Training |
| to have focus, confidence and composure-building | | | | Most players stop their off-ice training once the |
| strategies in place. | | | | season starts to focus on their on-ice skills - and that is |
| 2) Hockey-Specific Nutrition | | | | a big mistake. If you want to be better in February |
| There are certain foods that will fuel peak | | | | than you were in September, you must use specific |
| performance and others that will destroy it. Coaches | | | | hockey exercise to get stronger, faster and fitter |
| and parents must educate their players on how to | | | | throughout the regular season. |
| make the best choices possible whether they are at | | | | There is nothing worse than finishing the season feeling |
| home, at the rink or at the drive-thru. | | | | like you have under-achieved and not being able to |
| 3) Off-Ice Warm-Ups | | | | figure out why. Quite often it is the lack of attention to |
| Many players and teams are starting to get the | | | | these 6 key areas of hockey player development that |
| message about the importance of warming-up before | | | | mean the difference between finishing at the top of |
| hitting the ice. To ensure that you come flying out of | | | | the standings and starting summer vacation early. |
| the gate in the first period, you must complete a | | | | By putting an off-ice player development plan in place |
| pre-game off-ice warm-up that mimics the same | | | | in the fall, that addresses these 6 secrets of in-season |
| movements and intensity used on the ice. | | | | success, you will be well on your way to your best |
| 4) On-Ice Conditioning | | | | season ever. |
| To ensure that players are as energetic and explosive | | | | |