| Hockey dryland training is something every 12-14 year | | | | Ladder drills are a type of interval training that changes |
| old player should be focusing on. By the early teen | | | | as you go along instead of being a consistent set of |
| years, unlike at younger ages, pure natural talent won't | | | | intervals. A standard ladder drill would be 10 seconds |
| be enough to consistently ensure any player is at the | | | | hard, 20 seconds easy, then 20 seconds hard, 30 |
| top of the game. When players hit their teens, focusing | | | | seconds easy, then 20 seconds hard and 20 seconds |
| on fitness becomes absolutely essential for any player | | | | easy, then work for 20 seconds, rest for 10 seconds, |
| that wants to separate themselves from the rest of | | | | followed by a long rest. These types of drills will |
| the pack. Here are three great dry land exercises for | | | | increase your endurance, and also provide great |
| 12-14 year old players to work on in the off season. | | | | benefits for your speed. |
| Shift Approximation Intervals: | | | | Squat Jumps: |
| Shift approximation intervals are a great way to build | | | | Part of the plyometric range of exercises, squat jumps |
| speed as well as endurance, and in a way that will | | | | are an amazing off-ice exercise you can do any time |
| approximate the demands players face in game | | | | of year, anywhere you have space to jump. Squat |
| situations. Hockey isn't a game of consistent moderate | | | | jumps, like all plyometrics, will increase your power and |
| output. Instead, players hit the ice at a very high | | | | the explosiveness of your movements, as well as |
| intensity for 40 seconds to a minute, and then head | | | | increase your foot speed. To perform a squat jump, |
| back to the bench to rest for a couple of minutes. | | | | simply stand upright and leap straight up into the air, |
| Incorporate similar intervals into your off-season cardio | | | | tucking your knees up to your chest at the peak. |
| training. 40 seconds to a minute hard and 1 and a half | | | | When you land, keep your feet on the ground for as |
| to two minutes easy is great. | | | | short a time as possible. The goal is to be constantly in |
| Ladder Drills: | | | | motion. |