Hockey Fitness - The 5 Areas of Hockey Fitness You Need to Focus on and How to Work Them

Hockey fitness has come a long way from the olden3) CoreCore strength is one of the most common
days, and now, the top players dedicate themselves torequirements for all sport, especially hockey since the
training all year around in order to be at their bestgame is almost entirely unstable. Core strength will give
when they're on the ice. If you want to reach youryou the balance you need to play, and is also key in
maximum potential as a player, you need to hit thegenerating power in shots, passes and hits. To blast
gym regularly. Here are the top 5 areas of focus toyour core, try adding instability to your workouts by
take to the gym with you, and some tips on what tousing an exercise ball instead of a bench for your
do for each.weight training.
1) Lower body4) Cardio
It should be no surprise that your lower body is one ofYour cardio is where you'll build up speed and
your top focuses. Your legs are your best weapon inendurance for game time. The best way to do this is
hockey and training them is of utmost important. Toto work intervals heavily into your cardio. Intervals
build speed and power in your skating, focus onalternate between ferocious high intensity output and
exercises like squats, split squats and step ups that willlow output rest periods. Try running or biking at
blast the major muscle groups you use on the ice.absolute full speed for 20 to 30 seconds, followed by
2) Upper body45 seconds to a minute of rest.
In hockey, upper body strength is important, but power5) PlyometricsFocused around jumping and bounding,
is even more important than strength. When you trainplyometrics aims to teach your body to make fast,
your upper body, always make sure to incorporatepowerful, explosive movements. This kind of training is
exercises to increase your power. Instead of doing aextremely important and beneficial to hockey players. It
lot of reps with less weight, do fewer reps with morewill increase your power, speed and quickness and
weight and push through your positives explosively.highly benefit your on-ice game.