Flexibility For Hockey Goalies - How to Get it and Keep It

It is no surprise that flexibility training for hockey goaliesstretch 2-3 days per week for an additional four
is a key component of success. Although there is aweeks. At the end of the second four week block the
difference in the natural or genetic flexibility that goaliesgroup that stopped stretching lost on average about 7
have, every individual can improve to varying degreesdegrees of hip range of motion, but the group that
their current ability. I just finished reading a reallycontinued stretching 2-3 times per week did not lose
interesting journal article where the researchers lookedany of their initial range and it looks like they actually
at the "Effect of Intermittent Stretching Following agained about 4 degrees more.
4-Week Static Stretching Protocol." Yes, those are theSo like the other elements of training: strength, stability,
types of titles the articles I rely on to help build myspeed and stamina, flexibility training for goalies needs
training systems have - sad isn't it?to be consistent. If you are looking to make some
Back to the topic at hand; in the study they had allmajor gains in your mobility then work on it every day
individuals stretch their hamstrings daily for four weeks.until you see the results you are looking for, then
They used a standing hamstring stretch performingmaintain with stretching three times per week.
two repetitions of a 30 second stretch on each leg.If you love to stretch every day, then go for it. I like
After the four weeks of daily stretching the group assplitting up a stretch routine into two smaller programs
a whole had improve their hamstring flexibility asthat the goalie will complete every day. Instead of
measured by passive hip flexion by an average ofdoing a 40-minute stretching routine every other day, I
about 19 degrees.like doing a 20-minute stretching routine every other
From this point the group was subdivided into a groupday.
that would stop stretching and a group that would